How to keep your garden insect-proof

Sundew plant

The Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula) is the plant for you. Sensationalised and vilified in many a fantasy cartoon and video game, this carnivorous plant is actually pretty cute in person and can make the perfect work desk or windowsill ornament. No, they won't bite your finger off… unless you're a fly. To add more colour to your garden and keep insects out, Sundew (Drosera spp.) is another option. They have a tendency to catch your eye and draw you in for a closer look. If you are an insect . . . watch out! Those drops of sparkling ‘dew' are in fact a very sticky glue.

Choose a pot up to twice the size of the selected plant. The wider the pot, the more potential humidity immediately around the plant, which it will prefer. Position in a well-lit protected area, ideally with about four hours direct sunlight per day, and fill with a low-nutrient quality growing media, such as Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix with some sphagnum moss mixed in. A kitchen/bathroom window sill may be ideal, with the added humidity a bonus.

To further assist with soil moisture retention, mix some Yates Waterwise Water Storage Crystals into the growing media.

Remove the plant from its container, minimising disturbance to the roots.

Position in pot and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Water in very well, but allow to drain freely.

Move outdoors into a sheltered position over winter as the plants enter dormancy. Watering can be reduced during this time (only add enough to keep the soil moist).

Choose a pot up to twice the size of the selected plant. Position in a well-lit area and fill with a low nutrient quality growing media, such as Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix with some sphagnum moss mixed in.

Rinse well several times to flush away any soluble minerals in the mix.

To further assist with soil moisture retention, mix some Yates Waterwise Water Storage Crystals into the potting mix.

Remove the plant from its container, minimising disturbance to the roots.

Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Water in very well, but allow to drain freely.

If insects are few and far between, you can try some Yates Thrive Orchid Liquid Plant Food applied at half the recommended rate, in a light spray directly onto foliage (avoid applying to growing media).

Sitting pots in a shallow tray of water is an easy way to maintain moisture in the growing media, but this should be refreshed daily. Where possible, regular watering (several times a day as required) of a freely drained pot would instead be ideal.

Avoid using water with high levels of dissolved minerals (‘hard water'). Rainwater is ideal, where available or alternatively use deionised water.

Trimming off flowers as they shoot up from the base of the plant should help to maximise plant growth.

While it's fun to ‘set-off' the traps, remember this reduces the plant's chances of catching a meal.

Drainage is more critical when growing indoors, but never let the potting media dry out.

You may need to slowly acclimatise your plants to full sun if they were previously grown in low/artificial light conditions.

Avoid using water with high levels of dissolved minerals (‘hard water'). Clean rainwater is often ideal, where available or alternatively use deionised water.