How to Grow Venus Fly Trap

The Venus flytrap, despite its strange diet, can actually be a pleasure to grow. Beyond fulfilling some basic requirements--wet roots, high humidity, good sunlight and acidic soil--your plant can feed itself. The biggest danger to a Venus flytrap's health is actually human beings, as they try to overfeed their plants to watch their legendary appetite in action.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Prepare your soil. Unlike other plants, Venus flytraps like their soil poor and acidic. A 2:1 mixture of peat moss and sand works well, but a 1:1 ratio will suffice. Do not use more traditional potting soil and do not attempt to fertilize your flytraps.

2. Plant your Venus flytrap so the top of the bulb sits even with the soil.

3. Position your flytrap in steady light--anywhere from full sun to 50% shade, depending on the temperature or brightness. Introduce sun gradually to prevent sunburn. A few hours of sunlight should be enough during very hot months, or a covering to keep it warm during very cold nights. Fluorescent plant lights will also work, positioned 4 to 7 inches above the plant.

4. Keep your plant in humid or moist conditions; if kept inside, a terrarium is ideal. Flood your plant periodically with rain or distilled water and drain off the excess. Flytraps can survive in temperatures from 45 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit; higher temperatures require ventilation.

5. Trim your plant. In the spring, Venus flytraps send off a flower stalk--cutting this stalk off often boosts the growth of the trap itself. If the stalk is left untouched, the fly trap may grow more slowly, as small white flowers and black seeds develop. Remove dead leaves as normal.

6. If your fly trap has regular access to insects, allow it to feed on its own; when it catches its prey, the trap will remain closed for a week or two. If no insects are available, feed your trap yourself--but don't overfeed it. One small insect every couple months will probably suffice.

7. When winter rolls around, your flytrap will go dormant. Venus flytraps are fairly tough and can survive winters as far north as Maryland (or in hardiness terms, Zone 7). For borderline regions, add a three-inch winter layer of pine needles. If your winters prove too cold, store your plant in a storage place or cellar that averages 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tips & Warnings

• Over time, your flytrap will leach its soil of nutrients. To ensure a long life, replant your Venus flytraps every year or two into fresh soil.
• Do your feed meat to your flytrap. This may cause it to rot and die.

[boatst]

on 2/19/2009 very good article thanks