Venus fly traps make wonderful houseplants because of their dual purpose. First, they look beautiful against the backdrop of a home or garden. And second, they are a great and effective fly trap because they quickly kill and capture many types of flies, including mosquitoes. As a result, many people who have adopted these plants into their gardens and homes have found that they are quite beneficial to the area and help prevent many insect problems. But are Venus fly traps good house plants?
The truth is, it depends on the species of the plant you choose to grow. In general, any type of flower that attracts insects will do well as a houseplant. On the other hand, certain kinds of flowers are known to be repellents, which can be very helpful if you want to keep some kind of insect out of your home or garden. Here is a quick look at some of the plants that can be used to repel certain insects and help keep your home clean.
Butterflies. There are actually several different kinds of butterfly plants, but the two that are most often used are the ladybirdberry and the redstart. These plants are native to Central America and are used by many tribes to repel flies and other insects. Many people use these plants, especially the redstart, as a way to attract not only butterflies but also bees and other insects as well. This is an added bonus, because the plants will actually help protect your yard or garden from other unwanted visitors.
Cricket Plants. Some people mistakenly think that a home with a cricket garden is a good place for those unwelcome flying bugs. However, this is not the case; these plants may actually harm the birds that may be eating from them. This is due in part to the acid in the stomach of certain types of insects that the plants contain.
Bugs. Many people believe that planting flowers will deter insects from visiting their home, however, this is not always the case. While it may deter insects from roaming the lawn or garden, it may actually attract more! That’s because the insects that you are trying to discourage will likely go looking for a feast of flowers, instead. The result is that you may end up with an overabundance of bugs in your garden or lawn, making it an unpleasant and unsightly addition to your home.
Moles and Other Mole People. These small creatures can pose as a nuisance to homeowners, because they are capable of causing a whole mess inside of your house. If you have a mole problem in your yard or garden, it is a good idea to consider planting some type of flower that will attract this critter to it, in order to get rid of the destructive critters before they ruin your home.
Other flying things. We have listed some of the other flying things that may be attracted to your Venus fly trap, but there are many others that might want to visit your new “trap” once it has been installed. Butterflies are just one of the many flying things that you will want to attract to your new garden and by planting flowers that will attract them you will be ensuring that you will be getting at least one visitor each day. This can be a great benefit if you have any pests or animals that may be trying to ruin your garden (such as snakes). Each time a butterfly or other flying creature comes to your trap, you will be increasing your chances of getting rid of the problem sooner rather than later.
However, is Venus fly traps really what you are looking for? If you have a large garden where you need to attract many different types of wildlife and plants, it may be a better option to purchase one and have them transported to your house instead. You can set up a few in your garden and let them go to work attracting whatever insect and/or plant it is that you may be looking to attract. When you come back to collect your “captures” you will find that you are not only having a greater chance of getting rid of these creatures but that the insects that you have attracted will have a wider range to choose from and may actually help you get rid of more insects that may be damaging your garden.