💬 Honestly - soil’s not the flashiest topic, but it’s one of the most important parts of keeping carnivorous plants happy. Every species has its own “taste” in soil and if you get it wrong… well, they’ll let you know!
The wrong soil feels like sleeping in wet clothes - you might make it through the night, but you’ll wake up cranky and cold. When the soil texture doesn’t match what a species needs, the roots can’t breathe, anchor properly, or grow the way they should in the long run. That’s when plants start to sulk.
We don’t just grow each plant with purpose - we also use soil with intention. Cultivo plants don’t just come in whatever’s on the shelf. Each mix is built from experience - purpose-made for its species, designed to mimic its natural growing habitat and tested in South African sunlight, humidity and water quality. These aren’t just standard or imported recipes - they’re proven mixes that actually work here. If you use pure, mineral-free water, that same soil should easily last you through the next growing season or longer. It’s the same soil mixes I use in my own collection - tried, tested and trusted to keep plants thriving year after year.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what each type prefers:
- Venus flytraps: mineral-free, airy, evenly moist.
- Sundews (Drosera): moisture-retentive but still breathable.
- Mexican butterworts (Pinguicula): fast-draining and mineral-free - they hate soggy feet.
- Nepenthes (Tropical pitchers): chunky, well-aerated and never sitting in water.
- Terrestrial bladderworts (Utricularia): love consistently moist, fine-textured mixes with no added minerals.
- Sun pitchers (Heliamphora): prefer cool, airy, well-drained media that stays just damp - never waterlogged.
- Cobra lilies (Darlingtonia): thrive in cool, oxygen-rich soil with excellent drainage and cold, pure water.
- Albany pitchers (Cephalotus): enjoy airy, fast-draining blends that stay lightly moist and never compact.
That’s why you’ll find mixes like Butterwort PROmix™ and Flytrap PROmix™ at Cultivo - blends that have been tested, tweaked and proven in our local climate to recreate those natural growing conditions. They’re not one-size-fits-all quick fixes; they’re habitat-specific growing media designed to last.
If you’re new to all this, our Beginner Range plants already come pre-planted in the right mix, so you can just unwrap, water with pure, mineral-free water and enjoy watching them grow.
Looking for more tips? Browse all categories in our Quick Answers Library.
