How to Water a Venus Flytrap

Owning a carnivorous plant is fun and the Venus flytrap is popular with kids and adults alike. Often, people become discouraged when their flytrap dies less than a month after they bring it home. This can be prevented if you understand how to care for flytrap's needs and properly provide it with the moisture it needs to thrive.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Plant a Venus flytrap in a soil that holds a lot of moisture. Planting in peat moss or pH-neutral sand work well for this. It must be able to drain, though, to prevent fungal growth.

2. Keep the flytrap in a pot in a tray of water. Venus flytraps need a lot of water, and this will ensure that they can constantly absorb moisture. Replenish this water frequently to avoid stagnation.

3. Water the flytrap with rainwater or distilled water. Water with any salt or acidity will quickly kill your plant.

4. Place the flytrap in a large fishbowl or terrarium. The shape of the container will help to keep the air moist around the plant. Make sure air can circulate, as stagnant air will kill a Venus flytrap.

5. Plant the Venus flytrap outside if you live in a warm, moist climate. Make sure to plant it in bog-like conditions and care for it indoors during the winter.

Tips & Warnings

• If using peat moss to care for a Venus flytrap, mix it with bark to prevent it from making the water too acidic for the plant to survive.
• If you grow your flytrap in a terrarium, you may need to feed it if it can't get insects on its own.
• Never use tap water to water flytrap.
• When collecting rainwater, don't use any runoff. Place your container out in the open, and don't collect water that falls from the roof.