How to Take Care of a Venus Fly Trap Plant

Venus fly traps produce two-lobed leaves.

The Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) plant belongs to a large family of carnivorous plants--Kingdom Plantae. Although the Venus fly trap is capable of sustaining itself on water and soil alone, a meal of insect proteins improves its health and vigor. Venus fly traps produce two-lobed leaves that contain stiff sensitive hairs that trigger the opening and closing of the lobed leaves. Insects that land on these leafy traps are squeezed to death by the closing trap. Enzymes released aid in digestion. Venus fly trap plants are hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10. In colder regions of the U.S., care of the Venus fly trap requires storage in an area that is free from winter chill.

Things You'll Need

• Mulch
• Soaker or garden hose
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Plant the Venus fly trap and its pot in an area that contains full sun throughout the day, as healthy Dionaea muscipula plants produce pink traps that require at least six to eight hours of sunlight to hold their color. Plant in a pot that has bottom drainage holes.

2. Surround the Venus fly trap with a 3-inch layer of mulch, such as bark chips, pine needles or straw, to reduce weed growth and protect the roots of the plant.

3. Water the Venus fly trap using a soaker or garden hose. Provide deep weekly waterings, maintaining moist soil at all times to a depth of 1 inch.

4. Cut flower stalks off at the soil line using a sharp pair of scissors. The flower stalks produce tiny white flowers that eventually yield seeds. Cut the stalks to the soil line before they flower and seed to allow the plant to store more energy for trap growth.

5. Remove the pot from the ground before the winter freeze. Remove the pot from the ground and store the Venus fly trap in an area that has a constant temperature between 30 and 50 degrees F, if your temperatures fall below 0 degrees F. Place the Venus fly trap back in its planting hole when the temperatures rise again in the spring.

Tips & Warnings

• Repot the venus fly trap when it outgrows its present pot. This will be evident when the soil dries out quicker than normal.

• Planting the Venus fly trap directly in the soil along with its pot allows for quick removal in cases where unexpected frosts are predicted. It also allows for easier relocating if the plant is not thriving in its present location.

References

• Pitcher Plant: Caring for the Venus Fly Trap- Dionaea muscipula
• Botany: The Mysterious Venus Fly Trap

Resources

• Grow It: USDA Hardiness Zone Maps