One of the most intriguing and unusual groups of plants are those that eat meat: the carnivorous plants!

Stephen got into growing plants seriously when he got his first pitcher plant, and his collection has ballooned to include most of the common ones as well as some unique ones less frequently encountered. He shares how his interest grew with this fascinating group of plants.

Interested in getting started with growing carnivorous plants? Luckily, there are quite a few great choices common in cultivation, and many of these are conveniently easy to grow, as long as you know a few key things.

Stephen and Matthew talk about the basic care and cultural requirements of some of the varieties best suited for indoor or balcony growing.

Pinguicula, butterworts, pings... whatever you call them, these carnivorous plants with beautiful foliage and showy flowers have a secret: they moonlight as a succulent.

And they’re also one of the best carnivorous plants to get started with, as well as fun ones for dedicated growers! Bob Beer joins the Plant Daddies to walk through caring for these surprising, approachably easy houseplants.

Looking for a striking, easy carnivorous plant?

How about a beautiful companion to your tropicals that will pitch in and help catch those gnats? Stephen can't stop saying good things about this one. Grimly, Matthew tries to "improve his Drosera outcomes." Let's support him, yes?

Have we uncovered a carnivorous plant that Matthew likes more than Stephen???

There's Nepenthes care information in this episode somewhere, but prepare for emotional bombshells and debates about whether tropical pitcher plants should even be brought out of greenhouses and into homes in the first place. Is this what happens when a tropical foliage plant person and carnivorous plant person try to have an episode about the plants we BOTH care about?

You're in for a treat this week - it's another easy, common carnivorous plant we both love!

And wow - tangent city, OK? We each try to recall the same fateful plant shopping trip from years ago, but will we agree on the particulars? Matthew claims this is Stephen's Plant Daddy origin story. Oh, right, we're talking about the Purple Pitcher Plant. Is this a good first Carnivorous Plant? Do they need a dormancy? Can I grow one indoors? Well, at least for the last one, it's better to ask if you should.

The Plant Daddies finally give this iconic carnivorous plant its due time on the show.

And then some. What should you do with that struggling flytrap you bought in a sealed container? Are terrariums needed (or even appropriate)? What's the deal with dormancy? And when is the right time to massage them? Of course we're always right - but we may have some updates to the care advice we gave the last time we mentioned these a couple years ago...

This week we cover the Cobra Lily, Darlingtonia californica, a local native carnivorous plant that we both love… even if we didn't when we first saw them.

They can be tricky to grow in regions with warmer temperatures, so we explain some approaches, including zeer pots, ice cubes, and cisterns? Even if you don’t plan to get this plant, tune in for the interesting ways people try to keep these thriving! And to hear Matthew try to record after 10pm!

You may know about Sundews, but we believe these particularly tiny, beautiful members of the Drosera genus deserve their own special mention.

And we’re happy to report that their care and propagation is easier than you may have read! Will they thrive in terrariums? What does it sound like when Stephen tries to sell Matthew on a plant? And how many ways can we pronounce the word gemmae? Don’t underestimate us!