It’s that time of year again! All the garden centers are offering Venus Flytraps! Why? Because this is the time of year that carnivorous plants are coming out of dormancy! Believe it or not, carnivorous plants are NOT ALL TROPICAL PLANTS! Venus Flytraps actually grow in the wild in the southeastern part of the United States! They grow in boggy areas that are poor in nutrients, so these plants had to find a different way to get their nutrients. They adapted by passively capturing insects, and secreting chemicals that dissolve the soft parts of the insect body. From these dissolved soft parts, the plants get important nutrients needed for survival.
How much light should Venus Flytraps have: Bright sunny window
Water: Only use distilled, or rain water as chlorinated or tap water will kill your flytrap!
How often do Venus Flytraps need to be watered? Always keep the peat moss your flytrap is planted in evenly moist. Since mine is in a terrarium with high humidity, I only need to water mine once a week. If yours is out in open air with no dome over it, you should have it sitting in a tray of distilled water at all times.
How much humidity do Venus Flytraps need? The higher the better.
What should you grow Venus Flytraps in? If you have an old aquarium or fish bowl, you could nest the flytrap pot inside there to keep the humidity levels up. I have had mine inside a miniature terrarium along with my potted orchids. Everything is in its own pot. And then, to keep the humidity levels up, I have a few small unique vases filled with water. As the water evaporates, it fills the air, creating a nice greenhouse effect.
Do I need to fertilize my Venus Flytrap? No How often can I feed it a fly? Once a month only. Over feeding can kill it. Can I feed it hamburger? No, it will rot and kill it….and stink:)
How often can I touch the flytraps and make them close for fun? I would avoid doing this, unless you are actually going to feed it a fly. Making the traps close saps a lot of energy from the plant, which, could ultimately cause….yep you guessed it DEATH.
How do you repot a Venus Flytrap? Always repot in peat moss or sphagnum peat. You can find it at your local garden center.
My Venus Flytrap is dying back!
Is it dead? Not necessarily. Sometimes, Venus Flytraps undergo a dormancy period during the winter months. To test if it’s dead, feel below the soil. If the corm feels soft and squishy, it’s probably rotten and dead. If the corm is still firm, IT’S ALIVE! WOOHOO! Just give it a rest for a few months and put it in your fridge. When March rolls around, bring it out and start watering again and place it in its usual sunny spot. New leaves should begin emerging within a few weeks.
FLYTRAPS ARE FUN:) They are great plants for families looking for a way to get their kids excited about indoor gardening.
