Grow Your Own Venus Fly Trap

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Caring for Venus fly trap has some added difficulty beyond most easy houseplants, however I would consider it a moderate difficulty level (you will see why below). I have grown Venus fly traps for 5 plus years and will share key information so anyone can grow Venus fly traps at home with success. Regular pruning is not necessary as parts of the plant that are damaged or dying will most likely fall off, but if they do not, you can use a small set of sharp scissors to snip them off and dispose of them. Venus flytraps remain compact and won’t become overgrown, even in ideal conditions. If you happen to come across a Venus flytrap growing in the wild, don’t attempt to feed it, and never dig one up, or you could be responsible for destroying one of the few existing specimens found in the wild today. Even though the Venus flytrap needs consistently moist soil to survive, it does not tolerate overwatering. This may seem like a contradiction, but in reality, these are bog plants that need access to water but don’t grow well in water.

How to Grow and Care for Venus Flytrap Houseplants

Fill a container with distilled water to a depth sufficient to fully submerge the plant, and put it inside. It’s not necessary to remove it from the potting medium as long as it drains well. Make sure the entire plant is submerged, and leave it there for 24 to 48 hours. Plants can survive on their own for a long time during a traditional growth cycle. Venus flytraps should be dormant for a minimum of three months. Cold winter can be experienced in some locations for only a few weeks or barely two months. You can make your Venus flytrap go dormant by either putting it outside during the winter months or in the fridge for a few months. Venus flytraps must be exposed to temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) for 3-4 months before fully dormancy can take place. Plants in dormancy undergo a number of changes. Plants lose their leaves and shrink in size as they enter hibernation. Venus Flytrap Dormancy Temperature Make a small slot-shaped hole about three-eighths of an inch deep in the sand and place the rhizome end of a cutting inside.Remove the seeds and utilize them as soon as possible. You don’t need to stratify or store your venus flytrap seeds for a later date for best results. In fact, using them immediately means they are at their most viable and most likely to germinate! The growing medium that you use is vital too. Regular potting soil is a big no-no. Instead, go for a 1:2 mix of sand and peat moss. This will give your plant what it needs to thrive while also ensuring good drainage. Once your plant is about four years old, it will start to flower each spring. This isn’t a bad thing, but it means that your plant will be putting the majority of its energy into producing flowers, rather than into growth. So, if you want to make your Venus fly trap grow as big as possible and aren’t too fussed about saving seeds from your plant, cut off any flower stalks as soon as they appear. Preparing for Winter Dormancy

How To Plant And Grow A Venus Flytrap - Bunnings Australia How To Plant And Grow A Venus Flytrap - Bunnings Australia

While many houseplants hail from tropical climates, the Venus fly trap’s natural environment would be classed as warm temperate. This means that the plant does enjoy a little bit of extra humidity, but doesn’t require as much as many other houseplants do. If they were propagated via tissue culture, they’ll arrive potted in a gelatinous substance known as agar. It’s perfectly safe to touch, and you’ll want to wash it off as much as possible prior to transplanting. The two major signs of too little light are droopy leaves and inside of the plant loosing its characteristic red color. If you notice these problems try giving your plant more light. Though they can withstand some frost or brief temperatures below 32°F, rhizomes will likely be killed by prolonged freezing temperatures.Dionaea ‘52’– considered to be the largest Venus fly trap cultivar, with traps that often exceed 2 inches in size If your venus flytrap plants flower, you can help them along and create more seeds for planting. However, Venus flytraps don’t always produce seeds on their own, so here’s how you can accomplish it: If you don’t have a suitable location inside your home to provide light on this schedule, consider purchasing a grow light to meet this requirement.

Dionaea muscipula|Venus flytrap/RHS Gardening Dionaea muscipula|Venus flytrap/RHS Gardening

Make sure the water is completely pure. Some companies sell distilled water that is enhanced with minerals, electrolytic, or elements for flavor. Such water is unsuitable for carnivorous plants due to the added components. It’s likely that your flytrap’s leaves are dying in late autumn, allowing it to start dormancy. Your flytrap’s leaves will stop growing during dormancy, but it will continue to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. If you want your Venus flytrap to return to dormancy, ensure it is well-established and growing properly. Venus Flytrap Dormancy Most plants are at the bottom of the food chain, but not this little guy. With our Grow Buddha Venus Flytrap Kit, you can grow your very own fly-trapping, insect-eating, meat-digesting carnivorous plant. Easy to grow, fascinating to watch, and unique addition to your plant collection. And they're great at pest control; despite the name, they also feast on spiders, ants, grasshoppers, and beetles. It's kind of like growing your own exterminator. A number of Dionaea muscipula cultivars have been bred for specific features and many of these are available to home growers. I’ll offer some selections below, so keep reading! Propagation of Venus Flytraps Since the dormancy process is essential for Venus flytraps, owners must ensure their plant undergoes dormancy once a year. How to Grow Venus fly Trap FasterWhile they need consistently moist soil, the leaves and other parts of the plant should not remain wet for long periods of time.

Growing a Venus Fly Trap Of Your Own | The Indoor Gardens Growing a Venus Fly Trap Of Your Own | The Indoor Gardens

Here is a guide to pot dimensions for a mature fly trap (seedlings can grow in much smaller containers) Before we begin, it’s important to keep in mind the natural environment of the Venus flytrap. The plant is only native to the coastal bogs of the Carolina’s here in the United States. This is important to know, and you’ll see below much of the care for the plant goes into replicating this environment. Keep this in mind when growing your plant, and look to provide an environment that mimics it as closely as possible. Venus fly traps are sometimes easier to cultivate when grown outdoors in the ground, so long as your climate allows for this. Growing outdoors means that the plant isn’t restricted in terms of space and also ensures a steady and natural supply of food, water, and circulation. Choose a container that is one to two inches larger than the one it is currently growing in. A container that does not transpire much is the best choice to prevent the potting medium from drying out, so plastic or glazed ceramic pots with drainage holes work well. It’s best to keep dormant rhizomes in cold temperatures between 35 and 40°F, but avoid letting them freeze.Sandy soil (peat moss, perlite, or silica bases), indirect light initially, and keep above 75 degrees Fahrenheit