Genlisea, better known as corkscrew plants, are closely related to bladderworts (Utricularia), both in the same plant family, Lentibulariaceae, and they're grown the same way as terrestrial bladderworts. Above the soil you'll see a small rosette of little green leaves and, in good conditions, pretty little flowers on thin stalks. The real action happens out of sight. Below the soil, Genlisea grow open-ended, root-like traps that tiny creatures crawl into and can't find their way back out of. Corkscrew plants are easy and beginner friendly, and this guide covers everything in plain language.
Quick care summary
- Light: Low to medium light, such as a bright windowsill, around 6–10 hours a day, or a grow light on 14–16 hours a day.
- Water: Distilled, rain or reverse osmosis (RO) water, or any water with a TDS under 100. Keep the soil wet at all times; the pot can sit in a tray of water 24/7.
- Soil: Peat, perlite and sand. Peat and perlite works fine too.
- Temperature: A minimum of 40°F, ideally above 60°F. Warmer means faster growth.
- Winter: No dormancy indoors under grow lights.
How corkscrew plant traps work
Unlike bladderworts, which suck prey into tiny bladders, Genlisea use open-ended traps that look like roots growing down into the soil. They're actually modified leaves, often twisted like a corkscrew, which is where the name comes from. Tiny soil creatures crawl into the open end, and inside are little hairs that all point toward the plant, so the creature can only keep moving further in. Once it travels all the way up to the main part of the trap near the plant, called the digestive chamber, it gets digested.
You'll rarely see these traps, since they stay hidden in the soil.
Light
Corkscrew plants like low to medium light, around 6–10 hours a day. A bright windowsill counts as low to medium light. High light means direct, unfiltered sun all day, and Genlisea don't need that the way a Venus flytrap or Sarracenia does. A bright windowsill or a spot under a grow light works well.
When they're in good conditions, corkscrew plants grow full rosettes and send up flowers. If your plant isn't growing or flowering, more light is usually the fix.
Growing corkscrew plants under grow lights
Corkscrew plants grow great indoors under a grow light. Run your light about 14–16 hours a day. On this schedule, they keep growing year-round, with no forced dormancy.
Which light should you get? For most people, I suggest Barrina T8 shelf lights or Sansi grow lights. They're affordable and give plenty of light for a shelf of plants. Bigger brands like Mars Hydro and Spider Farmer work too, but they're way more powerful than most home growers need, so they're usually a waste of money unless you're lighting a large area. For more detail, see our guide to lighting for carnivorous plants.
Water
Tap water and bottled drinking water contain minerals that build up and harm carnivorous plants. Use only:
- Distilled water (cheap at most grocery stores)
- Rainwater
- Reverse osmosis (RO) water
Any water with a TDS reading under 100 is fine too.
Keep the soil wet at all times. The pot can sit in a tray of water 24/7, which makes corkscrew plants very low maintenance. The traps live in that wet soil, so it should never dry out.
Soil
Corkscrew plants are pretty flexible about soil. The mix I usually use is peat, perlite and sand, but they grow fine in peat and perlite as well. Never use regular potting soil or anything with added fertilizer.
Temperature
Corkscrew plants do best in tropical conditions. Keep them at a minimum of 40°F, and ideally above 60°F. They can handle cooler temperatures, but growth slows down. A normal home is usually just fine.
Winter
Corkscrew plants don't need a dormancy. Indoors under a grow light on 14–16 hours a day, they keep growing all winter.
Ordering in the cold months? Add a shipping heat pack to help protect your plant in transit.
Feeding and fertilizer
You don't need to feed your corkscrew plant. Its traps are so small that they catch microscopic prey living in the soil and water all on their own. Like other plants, it gets most of its energy from light.
Want to fertilize? A foliar spray of MaxSea 16-16-16 works well, diluted to 1/4–1/2 strength and sprayed every other week or so. You can also buy nematodes to add, but honestly they're not worth the cost. Get a small amount of MaxSea in our shop, or a full-size bag on Amazon.
Common problems
Why isn't my corkscrew plant flowering?
Usually not enough light. Move it to a brighter spot or closer to its grow light.
Why is my corkscrew plant drying out or shrinking?
Genlisea need wet soil all the time. Keep the pot sitting in a tray of water, and refill the tray before it runs dry.
Why are the leaves turning brown or black?
The most common causes are minerals from tap water, letting the soil dry out, or getting too cold. Switch to distilled, rain or RO water, keep the tray filled, and keep it above 40°F.
I can't see any traps. Is that normal?
Yes. The corkscrew traps grow underground and stay hidden in the soil. If your plant is growing, it's doing its job.
Choosing a corkscrew plant
Corkscrew plants are easy and beginner friendly, and every type in our shop is grown the same way. There are all kinds of clones and crosses, but the care is the same across them. Varieties we grow include:
- Genlisea violacea
- Genlisea aurea
- Genlisea hispidula
- Genlisea margaretae
- Genlisea flexuosa
- Genlisea metallica
- Genlisea repens
- Genlisea pygmaea
- Genlisea filiformis
Browse every variety in our Genlisea collection, or find more easy starters in beginner plants. Want a closely related plant that's grown the same way? See our bladderwort care guide.
Every corkscrew plant ships potted in a 2.5" pot, ready to grow. During cold months, add a shipping heat pack to help protect your plant in transit.
Corkscrew plant care FAQ
Are corkscrew plants hard to grow?
No. Genlisea are easy and beginner friendly. Give them pure water, wet soil and decent light.
Where are the traps?
Underground. They look like roots, but they're open-ended trap leaves that tiny creatures crawl into. Hairs pointing toward the plant keep the creature moving further in until it reaches the digestive chamber near the plant. You'll rarely see them; what you'll see are the leaves and flowers.
Can corkscrew plants sit in water?
Yes. The pot can sit in a tray of water 24/7. Keep the soil wet at all times.
Do corkscrew plants go dormant?
Not indoors under a grow light on 14–16 hours a day. They keep growing all year.
What temperature do corkscrew plants need?
A minimum of 40°F, ideally above 60°F. They grow faster when warm.
Are Genlisea and Utricularia the same thing?
No, but they're closely related, both in the plant family Lentibulariaceae, and they're grown the same way as terrestrial bladderworts. The big difference is the traps: bladderworts suck prey into tiny bladders, while Genlisea have open-ended, root-like traps that creatures crawl into.
Can I use tap water?
No. Use distilled, rain or RO water, or any water with a TDS under 100.