Pinguicula — the butterwort, whose soft, greasy-looking leaves are living flypaper. “Ping” to growers, and an easy, charming starter carnivore.
Bright light — a sunny windowsill or a grow light.
It depends on the type. Cold-temperate butterworts stay constantly wet. The common Mexican butterworts stay damp through their summer carnivorous phase, then go nearly dry in their winter rosette phase. Always use mineral-free water.
Mexican butterworts like a mineral mix — sand, perlite, and pumice with only a little peat. Temperate species prefer a peat-and-sand mix.
Mexican butterworts shift into a winter “succulent” dormancy — a tight, dewless rosette that wants much less water. Don’t panic, and don’t keep watering it heavily. Temperate species take a true cold dormancy.
They catch fungus gnats and small flies on their sticky leaves entirely on their own — excellent natural pest control. No feeding needed.
Overwatering during the winter succulent phase is the classic mistake and causes rot. The main skill is simply recognizing which phase the plant is in.
Carnivorous plants are wildly diverse. Within every group, individual species can have their own specific needs — particular light levels, temperatures, dormancy triggers, or water depth — that aren’t covered here. Treat this as a starting point: check a species-specific guide, or ask the community, before committing to a particular plant.