Activity

Insectivorous Terrarium

What You Need:

  • Rainwater
  • Glass jar with a wide mouth
  • Towel
  • Collection of small carnivorous plants (make sure to pick plants that require similar care)
  • Potting soil mixture high in sand and vermiculite
  • Sphagnum or peat moss

What You Do:

  1. Lay the jar on its side, nested in a towel. Pour a little potting soil into the jar, making sure to keep the soil level below the mouth of the jar.
  2. Help your child transplant the plants to the terrarium. Water with rainwater.
  3. Find a place with the appropriate sun for your plants. Outside is best where bugs are more plentiful. Brace the jar so it doesn't roll.
  4. Now comes the fun part—bugs! Put a piece of fruit inside the mouth of the jar to attract bugs. Don't try to force your plants to eat a bug. They don't need as many nutrients as other plants.

Did You Know? Charles Darwin's book on carnivorous plants, called Insectivorous Plants, was published in 1875.

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