Buzz
The Venus Flytrap, also known as the flycatcher plant, is a fascinating carnivorous plant native to the United States. It thrives in environments where most other plants would quickly wither. This meat-eating plant has specialized leaves that 'trap' insects, and it is being cultivated in many places. With a bit of knowledge and care, you can grow this unique and beautiful plant to decorate your windowsill or backyard garden.
Steps
Purchase the Plant
Learn a bit about the Venus Flytrap before purchasing. This intriguing carnivorous plant consists of two parts – the stem, which functions like any other plant for photosynthesis, and the leaves, which are designed to catch prey. The leaves, which are the 'head' of the plant, are easily recognizable due to their shape, resembling a green clam shell with sharp 'teeth.' These 'teeth' are actually trigger hairs that signal to the plant when a tasty insect is nearby.
Purchase a Venus Flytrap from an authorized distributor. This protein-powered plant is widely available and can be found at supermarkets or garden stores. However, if you want an older plant or one with better disease resistance, seek reputable nurseries.
- There are also websites dedicated to selling carnivorous plants. While you won't be able to choose the exact plant you want, they will send it to you along with care instructions.
Never collect Venus Flytraps from the wild. The Venus Flytrap is an endangered species and is protected by law. You could face fines or even imprisonment for breaking this law.
Choose soil that meets the plant's needs.
Find a deep pot for planting, allowing the roots to extend into the soil. The Venus Flytrap has relatively long roots, so it needs to be planted in a deep pot. Generally, a pot with about 10 cm of space for the roots will suffice.
- Choose an insulated pot. The roots of the Venus Flytrap are sensitive to temperature changes, so it is best to choose an insulated pot. While plastic pots are also acceptable, it is advisable to look for insulated plant pots from specialized nurseries.
- Pick a pot that can filter and absorb harmful salts and nutrients that may affect the Venus Flytrap. Unglazed clay pots have tiny holes that allow the roots to breathe and function as a water filter.
- A self-watering pot is ideal for the Venus Flytrap.
- However, Venus Flytraps are not too particular about pots. You can use a deep, unglazed clay pot with a hole at the bottom or a bucket with a few drainage holes.
Choose soil that matches the plant's natural needs. Mix sphagnum peat moss and perlite in equal parts. Never use beach sand, as it contains nutrients and salts. Perlite is a form of obsidian that retains water and looks like small white pebbles. Perlite helps keep the plant moist in its pot.
- Native to the swamps and wetlands of North and South Carolina, Venus Flytraps prefer humid environments and nutrient-poor, acidic soil. The ideal pH for Venus Flytraps is between 4.9 and 5.3 (most other plants prefer a neutral pH between 5.8 and 7.2).
- Another popular mix among Venus Flytrap growers is 5 parts sphagnum peat moss, 3 parts silica sand, and 2 parts perlite. Silica sand helps aerate the soil and supports the plant's resistance to temperature changes and pests. Additionally, both silica sand (quartz sand) and perlite do not release harmful nutrients or minerals into the soil.
- Do not use organic soil or regular plant potting soil, as it can burn the roots and kill the plant. Avoid fertilizing the Venus Flytrap, as fertilizers can also cause "root burn" and harm the plant. Do not use nutrient-rich soils like Miracle-Gro, as they contain fertilizers and organic compost.
To ensure continuous fresh air circulation. You may consider placing a flytrap in your aquarium to increase the relative humidity in the air. However, don’t forget to open the vent in the tank to allow the plant to use its skills to attract insects, trapping them. Healthy, disease-free insects make the best food for the flytrap.
Select a planting location
Place the flytrap in an area with direct sunlight. During its growth period, the flytrap needs to be exposed to sunlight for 12 hours a day to properly photosynthesize and bloom, including 4 hours of direct sunlight.
- The more sunlight the plant receives, the stronger it will grow.
- Most flytraps will show a reddish color when they are healthy and satisfied with their location.
Choose a bright area inside the house, away from drafts. Besides sunlight, the flytrap also needs a high humidity environment and should be free from drafts. A location with sunlight but no draft indoors is ideal for placing your plant pot.
- Observe where the sunlight reaches in your home in the morning and afternoon.
- If you plan to place the flytrap indoors, select an east, west, or south-facing window. Remember that the plant needs at least 4 hours of direct sunlight every day.
- You can also plant the flytrap in an aquarium with ventilation holes, equipped with grow lights or fluorescent lights nearby. The closer the plant is to the light, the stronger it will grow.
Consider planting the flytrap outdoors. You can also grow the flytrap in a moisture-retaining garden. Be sure to plant it in a spot with direct sunlight, and avoid planting it in nutrient-rich soil.
- You may place the flytrap near a building or other plants that can withstand wind, offering protection from gusts.
Care for the plant during its growth phase
Recognize the plant's growth phase. The flytrap requires more water and sunlight from April to October, or whenever you simulate spring conditions for the plant. The growth phase is when the plant is most active, 'catching prey,' photosynthesizing, and flowering. Flowering can weaken the plant.
Use purified water to water the plant. Only purified water should be used to water the flytrap; distilled water, deionized water, and rainwater are also suitable options.
- Reverse osmosis filtered water is the best choice since most other sources, like tap water, contain added minerals that enhance flavor.
Avoid using tap water if possible. There are three reasons why tap water is unsuitable for the flytrap.
- Tap water contains substances like chlorine, sodium, and sulfur (and other chemicals) that can build up in the soil over time, leading to plant diseases and eventual death.
- Most tap water has a pH range of 7.9 to 8.3.
- Chlorine kills most microorganisms, including beneficial ones.
Test tap water if necessary. You can use tap water if you can measure the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) level with a TDS meter. The water must have a TDS reading below 50 ppm to be safe for the plant.
Water the plant according to its needs. Never let the soil dry out completely during the plant’s growing season. Try to keep the growing medium moist (but not soaked). There are three watering methods you can choose from, each with its own advantages:
- Placing the pot in a water tray: This is one of the best watering methods for plants during the growing season under direct sunlight. The plant must be in a pot with drainage holes at the bottom. You’ll place the pot in a water tray, and the growing medium will absorb the water like a wick, providing the plant with necessary moisture and increasing humidity around the pot.
- However, note that if your pot is relatively shallow (about 13 cm), this method may not be ideal, as the roots could become waterlogged, promoting fungal or bacterial growth.
- Watering from above: This is the most common watering method—pouring or spraying water around the plant’s soil and letting the excess drain from the bottom. The soil should always be moist but not waterlogged, meaning you’ll water the plant 2 to 5 times per month during the growing season.
- Double pot method: This is the most effective method for growing flytraps. Place the plant pot inside a larger pot. The outer pot acts as insulation, protecting the plant from sudden temperature fluctuations, increasing air humidity, and maintaining moisture. Only pour water into the outer pot that surrounds the inner plant pot.
- A terracotta pot with tiny holes inside will help moisture seep in and filter out harmful minerals.
Ensure the plant gets enough sunlight. As mentioned above, the flytrap needs at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day during the growing season. In addition to catching insects, the traps rely on photosynthesis to grow and stay healthy.
- Place the plant in a location that gets at least 12 hours of sunlight daily.
Care for the plant during its dormancy period
Recognize the plant's dormancy period. From October to March, the flytrap enters its dormancy phase. This occurs when the plant stops flowering or growing. Many flytraps die during dormancy because their owners continue caring for them as if it were the growing season.
Reduce watering during dormancy. You should not use the method of soaking the plant pot in a water tray when the plant is dormant. Water the soil directly. While the flytrap requires more water during its growing season, its water needs decrease significantly during dormancy. Most flytraps will need watering only every 10 to 14 days.
- The soil around the base and roots should be somewhat dry (but not completely dry). The soil around the plant’s base and roots should remain slightly moist, while the rest should dry out. Water the plant as usual, ensuring thorough watering.
- When watering, it’s best to do so in the morning, allowing the plant to dry out a bit before the night and cooler temperatures arrive.
- Don’t overwater—only water when the soil around the plant’s base begins to dry. Overwatering may lead to bacterial and fungal growth.
Place the plant under direct sunlight. While dormancy is often thought of as a period when a plant is inactive, the Venus flytrap still requires sunlight for photosynthesis during this phase. Therefore, your plant still needs light.
- If possible, bring the plant indoors and place it under bright artificial light during its dormancy period.
Protect the plant from freezing temperatures if you're growing it outdoors. The measures you need to take depend on your region's climate and whether the plant is inside or outside. For outdoor plants, you have two options:
- If the plant is grown outdoors in a relatively mild climate where temperatures do not drop below -1°C, you can leave it outside year-round without worrying about frost damage.
- If the plant is in a colder climate where frost occasionally occurs, it is best to plant the Venus flytrap in the ground during winter (the pot will absorb the surrounding air's warmth). Planting it in a garden with moisture-retaining soil or in suitable soil (as discussed in part 1) is ideal. You should also cover the plant with leaves or mulch to protect it in bad weather.
Bring the plant indoors if you live in a freezing area. In regions with extended freezing temperatures, you'll need to bring the Venus flytrap indoors during winter. Place it near a window in a room without heating, like a garage or porch. This is the best way to ensure the plant survives its dormancy indoors. If possible, place the plant on a south-facing windowsill so it can continue photosynthesizing.
Follow basic care guidelines.
There's no need to feed the plant insects. You may feed the plant to provide essential nutrients or use a very small amount of nutrient-rich fertilizer in the soil or occasionally spray liquid fertilizer onto the plant. Venus flytraps grown outdoors usually catch insects, grasshoppers (and occasionally small animals like frogs) to nourish the plant.
- Note that the traps might not close if the item inside remains still. This means that you should feed the plant live prey, such as flies or maggots. A helpful trick for feeding live prey is to freeze the prey for a few minutes to slow it down. Only feed one or two traps at a time, and only when the plant is healthy and strong.
- If you choose to feed the plant dead insects, place them in the trap and gently rub the trap every 20-30 minutes until it closes. This mimics the movement of the prey. However, this is not always necessary, as the Venus flytrap also uses chemical receptors to close its leaves when it detects nutrients inside the trap.
- Avoid feeding the plant unusual foods, such as a sandwich or cake. Doing so could harm the plant, especially if you feed it meat, as the Venus flytrap reacts negatively to fats.
- Fat and decaying meat can promote bacterial growth, which can harm the Venus flytrap.
Pruning the Plant. Pruning your plant helps it stay healthy. Dead leaves can block sunlight from reaching the younger leaves below that need it to grow. The leaves turn brown when they die – these are the ones you need to remove. You can use small scissors to trim off the brown leaves. Be careful not to cut the leaves that are still partly green – they can still photosynthesize.
- As leaves turn brown, they become weaker and will fall off. Typically, you can simply pull these leaves off the plant. For tougher leaves, you can use fabric scissors to cut them. Note that the trap leaves often die in clusters.
Repotting the Plant. If the plant seems too cramped in its pot, consider dividing it into two or more plants, or if it dries out too quickly, it may be time to repot it. Do this similarly to when you first planted it, using a suitable soil mix (see section 1).
Avoid Touching the Plant's Traps. Stimulating the traps to close when there’s nothing to “eat” inside wastes the plant’s energy unnecessarily.
- It will take about 2-3 weeks for the traps to reopen and be ready to catch prey.
- While you can gently rub the outside of the trap after feeding it insects, it’s best to minimize contact with the plant. Never place anything into the traps except for insects.
Warning
- In the first few weeks, do not suddenly expose the plant to direct sunlight for long periods. This will kill the plant.
- Never overwater the plant. If it gets waterlogged, mold can grow, and the plant can die.
- Sadly, despite its curiosity-provoking nature and demand worldwide as a rare plant, the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) in the wild has been severely impacted since the 1980s due to habitat loss, firefighting activities, and illegal harvesting.
- Do not discard the plant if it suddenly appears to be “dying” during fall and winter – it is simply dormant and will revive in the spring.
- The Venus flytrap is not a tropical plant. While it prefers high humidity, hot and humid conditions will cause it to rot and promote fungal growth.
- The Venus flytrap doesn’t need to be fed often; you should only feed it when it requires nutrients.
