Carnivorous plant to 30 °C to thrive. Carnivorous plants require appropriate nutrient-poor soil. Most appreciate a 3:1 mixture of "Sphagnum" peat to sharp horticultural sand (coir is an acceptable, and more ecofriendly substitute for peat). "Nepenthes" will grow in orchid compost or in pure "Sphagnum" moss. Carnivorous plants are themselves susceptible to infestation by parasites such as aphids or mealybugs. Although small infestations can be removed by hand, larger infestations necessitate use of an insecticide. Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is effective as a topical insecticide, particularly on scale insects. Diazinon is an excellent systemic insecticide that is tolerated by most carnivorous plants.
Plant breeding Plant breeding Plant breeding is the science of changing the traits of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. It has been used to improve the quality of nutrition in products for humans and animals. Plant breeding can be accomplished through many different techniques ranging from simply selecting plants with desirable characteristics for propagation, to methods that make use of knowledge of genetics and chromosomes, to more complex molecular techniques (see cultigen and cultivar). Genes in a plant are what determine what type of qualitative or quantitative traits it will have. Plant breeders strive to create a specific outcome of