Venus Flytraps 101 - The Ultimate Care Guide

Venus Flytraps 101 - The Ultimate Care Guide

-Carnivorous Plant Series-

The Venus flytrap is nature’s perfect blend of beauty and brutality — a species that blurs the line between plant and predator. This tiny green hunter lures unsuspecting insects with sweet nectar, only to snap shut! This is one of the most fascinating mechanisms in the plant kingdom. Both delicate and deadly, the Venus flytrap is a reminder that the reality of nature is a matter of survival of the fittest.

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Growing Environment

Venus flytraps typically thrive in bright, direct sunlight for 4-6 hours minimum every day. If being grown indoors, make sure they are set up in a sunny window to ensure proper development and growth. (Alternatively, grow lights CAN be used).

As for temperature, flytraps prefer warm climates - although they enter a dormancy period in the colder months (more on this later) and can survive low temperatures. Flytraps enjoy humidity levels of around 50-70%, but can adapt quite well to lower humidity environments. To maintain humidity, you can use a humidifier nearby the plant, or, consider placing your little, carnivorous friend into a terrarium.

Watering

Venus flytraps are quite picky when it comes to water! They should only be given distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water. Tap water contains minerals which are extremely harmful for the plant (especially salts)! Ensure the soil is always moist, but never waterlogged. Venus flytraps are accustomed to growing in damp environments, so contain consistent moisture.

Soil Requirements

These plants are picky buggers, aye? Not only do they require special water to thrive, they need nutrient-poor soil. Never use regular potting soil, this will quickly kill your flytrap! Ensure proper drainage in your pot, as well, this will help prevent root rot. (Fun fact: Venus flytrap roots are black)! 

Feeding

Now for the fun part! Venus flytraps are known for their iconic trap that springs to catch prey. They drown their prey to digest it. Small insects like gnats, ants, flies, and spiders all make great tasty treats for your little friend. You can feed them live or dead bugs, though if they are alive, this will help with the digestive process. If you are feeding them an insect that will not move, carefully rub the "hairs" with the prey (with tweezers) until the trap snaps shut. The digestion process, give or take a few days, will take about a week. Do not try to force open the trap, it will reopen in its own time! Never feed your flytrap something bigger than the pod ("head") of the plant.

Dormancy Period

In the winter, Venus flytraps will enter a dormancy period for about 3-4 months. This phase may be alarming to plant parents who are unsure of what is going on, but this is normal and crucial for their long-term health. The plant will grow slowly and some pods may turn black. To help them through their winter dormancy, reduce watering - but don't let the soil dry out completely. They will require colder temperatures (NOT below freezing), so we recommend putting your friend into the fridge while they snooze through the winter. Don't worry about providing your flytrap that consistent light, either. We want to mimic what it would be like for the plant in the wild. And, outdoors, it's much darker during the winter months! So, put that flytrap of yours into a plastic bag (with breathing holes!) and slap them into the fridge for a couple months!

Potting (and Repotting)

Be mindful when repotting your plant! When it grows to be too big for its current pot, give it a bigger home. Ensure you do not damage any of the traps. Cut back any rotting roots when repotting - we don't want the rot to spread to the rest of the plant! Gently fill the pot with either a carnivorous plant mix or sphagnum moss, and bam! Transplant completed!

Common Problems

Venus flytraps aren't for the faint of heart - they are picky and require attention. Oftentimes, the biggest problem plant parents experience is the pods withering or turning black. Don't panic! Cut (don't pluck) off the trap and discard it. We don't want it to travel to the base of the plant. The traps can turn black for a variety of reasons, namely: feeding too often, stress, and cold. Root rot is a problem with most plants, as well. But it's ESPECIALLY an issue with flytraps given the damp environment it requires. Make sure the pot its in drains well, and remove excess water. 

Flowering

Yes! Venus flytraps DO bloom. The flowers it produces are white, small, and delicate. While these are very pretty, you will want to cut the flower stalks back once they start to wilt as it drains a lot of energy from the plant to create a flower.

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Aaaaaand that's about it! You're now a well-educated Venus flytrap plant parent. Follow these tips and tricks, and your little friend will thrive! Keep in mind - these plants are relatively low-maintenance once properly set up. They don't need to be fed prey very often and can go quite some time without them, thriving off sun and water alone. Enjoy their beauty!