Bhubaneswar engineer cultivates over 200 species of carnivorous plants

Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar-based engineer Pradip Mohanty always takes a keen interest in gardening. It attracts him a lot, growing over 200 colourful and unusual carnivorous plants. Hanging pots packed with pitcher plants quietly trap unsuspecting insects, creating an almost magical scene.

Mohanty’s passion began 25 years ago, but his early attempts ended in failure. “I bought seeds online, but nothing grew. I kept learning from books, internet forums, and global growers. After five years, one plant finally sprouted, and I was overjoyed,” said the 55-year-old.

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Currently, this man has a collection of over 60 varieties of carnivorous plants, along with over 500 related books. Cultivation of such plants takes place in tropical regions. Mohanty has got the techniques to grow them in Bhubaneswar’s hot, humid climate. He grows these plants on moss or coir pith in place of soil, using colourful traps, scents, and slippery surfaces to catch insects.

He doesn’t know about the future of these collections; he likes to donate his plants, books, and skills to the government or institutions so that they can preserve them for educational purposes and encourage children to know about science, biodiversity, and conservation.