Author: Kellie

When I first got a Venus flytrap I struggled to figure out the optimal watering procedure and frequency. After some research, I learned a lot about Venus flytrap care and their unique requirements. In this article, I would like to share what I learned about watering Venus flytraps.

Venus flytraps can only be watered with distilled water (here is a guide on how to make distilled water), reverse osmosis water, or rainwater. The ground should always remain moist, but not wet. During dormancy, the watering requirement for Venus flytraps lowers significantly.

Employing the incorrect water source, under-watering or over-watering can kill Venus flytrap very easily. Follow the tips on this article to care for your plant properly.

Venus Flytrap Watering Procedure

Water Source

First, before you start watering your plant. You must purchase the correct water source. Venus flytraps can’t be watered with liquids that contain minerals, salts, or any type of nutrients. You can employ:

• Distilled water
• Reverse osmosis water
• Rainwater

Bottled water will kill your plant quickly as it contains other minerals for flavor and Venus flytraps can’t handle minerals. In most cases, tap water is unsuitable for Venus flytraps. However, it really depends on the number of elements contained in the water. The tap water quality and composition vary across cities and sometimes neighborhoods. In the US, tap water commonly contains elements such as copper, calcium, magnesium, and sodium.

You can employ tap water as long as it contains less than 50 parts per million (ppm) of dissolved solids. The only way you can test the ppm quantity is by employing a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) meter. You can buy a TDS meter for under $20 (here are some examples) and verify the ppm readings. The lower the number the better it will be for your plant. It is recommended to measure the ppm every time you collect water.

Where to buy water for Venus flytraps?

You can buy distilled water or reverse osmosis water in grocery stores, gas stations, or water and ice stores. Generally, it costs about $1 a gallon in grocery stores and about 25-50 cents per gallon in water stores (where you bring your own jug).

If you buy distilled water in the grocery store, make sure to read the label. Some brands add minerals to distilled water to improve the flavor. You should always purchase pure distilled water or reverse osmosis water, with nothing added. Also, you can collect rainwater for free.

Frequency

It is difficult to give an exact watering frequency for Venus flytrap since their needs vary across multiple factors such as seasons, weather, and plant size. The general rule is to keep the plant’s soil moist or humid at all times. However, you must always avoid flooding or completely saturating the soil.

The best rule of thumb is to water the soil until it has absorbed water throughout. Then, use your finger to press the ground on the surface. Your finger should feel moist soil, but it should not get wet.

If you follow this technique and realize you have over-watered your plant. Don’t worry! Unless is a flooding situation, your plant can handle a little extra water as long as you perfect your technique. Next time, slowly water your plant and feel the ground before you continue to poor.

After watering, you can let your plant be for a few days pr several weeks depending on the season. Once the soil is almost dry, but it hasn’t dried out completely, you can water your plant again.

Watering During Venus Flytrap Dormancy

Every year, in the winter, Venus flytraps should experience a period of dormancy. Dormancy for plants is very similar to hibernation in animals. The plant remains in a resting stage for several weeks (usually 8 to 12 weeks).

During this period, your plant requires less water and less exposure to light. If your plant is dormant, space out your watering routine. Keep in mind that the colder weather will keep the soil humid for longer periods.

How do I know if my plant is dormant? Venus flytraps experience dormancy if they are exposed to temperatures below 45 F for several weeks. When they go dormant Venus flytraps undergo some noticeable changes. The plant loses several leaves and in some cases, it reduces in size. Generally, the plant looks down for as long as the dormancy lasts.

During dormancy, you should never fertilize your plant, feed it, or over-water it.

Watering During Summer

It is a challenge to water Venus flytraps during hot weather. Keeping the soil moist during hot summer days means watering every few days without fault. Venus flytraps are resilient plants, they can handle high temperatures of up to the recommended 95F (32C), but they can only do so if they remain in a humid environment. Otherwise, Venus flytraps can dry out and die.

During summer, you must be especially careful about your plant’s exposure to extremely hot weather. Consider placing your plant indoor if necessary or implementing some shading mechanism such as a shade cloth. Also, you can employ the water tray method to secure enough humidity and water for your plant.

In the water tray method, you place a Venus flytrap pot with drainage halls on top of a plate or shallow container. Then, you add some water to the plate to keep the soil of your plant moist at all times. It is not recommended to leave Venus flytraps living in standing water. However, as long as you do not overfill the container, you won’t harm your plant. Keep the water level below an inch of depth.

During the winter, or when a Venus flytrap is placed indoors, it is very rare that it will need the additional water in the tray. This method is mostly recommended for the hot summer season or during vacation periods.

You can employ this method when you have to be away for several days or weeks. Your plant might not need all the water, but the chances of harming your plant for slightly over-watering once are very slim.

How to Save Your Venus Flytrap -Improper Watering

Wrong Water Source

Using the wrong water source can kill Venus flytraps very quickly. The minerals in tap water or bottled water contaminate the soil and burn your plant. The plant’s leaves start turning yellow before they blacken. Still, in many cases, you can salvage the plant.

If you used any other type of water other than distilled, reverse osmosis, or rainwater, you must act quickly to save your plant. Follow these steps:

1. Get new soil for your plant and bug a jug of distilled water or reverse osmosis water, which will be the only water for your Venus flytrap.
2. Remove your plant from its pot by gently removing part of the soil and separating the roots from the dirt.
3. Use the venus flytrap water to clean the roots of your plant. Rinse thoroughly.
4. Toss the old soil from the pot.
5. Clean the pot.
6. Grab the new soil and water it with the Venus flytrap water.
7. Place the new soil (already moisten) inside the pot.
8. Use your fingers or a longish tube to make a vertical hole in the ground
9. Place your plant’s roots inside the whole until the bulb is underground.
10. Finish closing the soil to secure your plant (without over compressing).
11. Add a bit more water to the soil.
12. Wait patiently.

Your plant can take several weeks to recover. Still, after using the wrong water source, the best reaction is to repot with new soil and employ the appropriate water.

Root Rot Due to Over-watering

It is difficult to identify a Venus flytrap that has been over-watered. There are usually no physical signs within the plant unless the over-watering has caused root rot.

An environment with excessive moisture together with the presence of bacteria or fungus cause root rot. The root of the plant starts rotting or decomposing until the plant dies completely.

Checking for root rot in Venus flytraps is very easy. The only thing you have to do is observe the bulb of the plant. The bulb is underground, so you will have to dig around the base of the plant or remove it completely from the ground. A healthy bulb is white or light pink in color. Sick bulbs exhibit black spots, a mushy texture, and an unpleasant smell.

If your plant is suffering from root rot, follow these steps to save your plant:

1. Remove the plant from the soil.
2. Rinse the plant roots and bulb with distilled water.
3. Identify the affected area within the plant’s bulb
4. Use small scissors to remove the rotting part of the Venus flytrap.
5. Remove any affected leaves too.
6. Rinse the plant again with distilled water and verify all the unhealthy matter was removed.
7. Toss the old soil.
8. Rinse the pot thoroughly.
9. Use new soil to fill the pot.
10. Water the soil until is it moist, but not wet.
11. Make a deep vertical hole in the center of the pot.
12. Carefully repot the Venus flytrap.
13. Wait patiently.

In new soil and without the unhealthy part of its bulb, your Venus flytrap has good chances to survive. Ignoring the root rot will definitely kill the plant.

Misting vs Watering Venus Flytraps

Misting and watering cover two different care considerations for Venus flytraps. The watering requirements for this plant are very specific. However, misting is not usually necessary.

When Venus flytraps are watered properly, the soil is humid and provides enough humidity in the environment for the plant to develop properly. However, in some extreme conditions, Venus flytraps can benefit from higher humidity indexes, and misting is beneficial.

Venus flytraps only grow in a very specific region of the United States, in the states of South Carolina and North Carolina. In their natural habitat, they are exposed to high humidity year-round, which exceeds 50%.

When living in an arid environment, like me (I live in Arizona), you should consider misting your plant manually with a spray. You do not need to do it every single day, but a sporadic misting can help our plant adequate for the environment. Also, some growers place open water containers close to their plant to increase the humidity levels in the environment.

Related Care Considerations

Carnivorous Plant Soil

The choice of soil and watering are key care considerations for Venus flytrap. Choosing the appropriate soil can help you avoid overwatering. Also, it can give your plant a better growing environment.

Venus flytraps require nutrient-free soil. Many people employ pure long-fibered sphagnum moss or peat moss as soil options. Those two are fine selections. However, adding one extra ingredient in the soil can benefit Venus flytrap. It is very useful to add perlite or sand and mix it with the selected moss. You can employ a 2:1, 4:1, 5:1 moss to perlite ratio (just to give a few examples).

The perlite or sand will serve two main functions: drainage and aeration. As draining agents they prevent the soil from holding water for long periods of time. Overall, better drainage will lower the chances of root rot.

Also, perlite and sand help keep the ground loose and uncompacted. Venus flytraps have difficulty growing and expanding their roots in firmly compacted grounds.

Growing Venus Flytraps in a Terrarium

Venus flytraps can be grown in terrariums, however, it is not always recommended. Enclosed terrariums provide a humid environment for Venus flytraps, which is a great fit. Also, fully enclosed terrariums do not require constant watering. Yet, in inclosed terrariums, Venus flytraps can not experience dormancy or catch prey.

The best terrariums for Venus fly traps are the greenhouse terrariums. In these terrariums, each plant is placed in its specific pot. In the case of Venus flytrap, the pot contains nutrient-free soil and the plant is only watered with pure water. You will still need to water your plant when placed in the terrarium as it won’t be a completely closed system.

Why Can’t Venus Flytraps Handle Minerals or Salts in the Water?

First of all, Venus flytraps require a nutrient-free environment to survive. They need a mineral-free nutrient-free soil and water. It is not only about, the water, but also about the soil.

In the wild, Venus flytraps grow in very poor soil. The soil lacks the nutrients most plants need to survive. As a result of these conditions, Venus flytraps have little to no tolerance to any type of nutrients in the ground or in the water. For that same reason, it is not recommended to fertilize these plants. Most plants thrive with fertilizer or plant food. Venus flytraps die if they are fertilized too often.

Since Venus flytraps can’t absorb nutrients from the soil, they have evolved to be successful predators. Their modified leaves are trapping mechanisms that lure and capture victims. Venus flytraps catch and consume bug to supplement their diet and obtain elements such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.

The best way to boost the growth if Venus flytraps is to water appropriately, provide plenty of sunlight and feed your plant to supplement their diet.

Venus Flytrap Care Tips

• Venus flytraps require a continuously moist environment. Never let the soil of your plant dry out completely. You can employ the water tray method to keep your plant’s environment moist at all times.
• Consider misting your plant periodically if you live in an arid climate. Misting increases the humidity in the environment, which is beneficial for Venus flytrap.
• Venus flytraps do not emit any smell. If you notice an unpleasant odor coming from your plant, it is not normal. It can be a clear sign of root rot.
• Black leaves in Venus flytraps are normal. However, yellow leaves or half yellow half black leaves are a warning sign. Root rot or over-watering cause the yellowing of leaves.
• Repot your Venus flytrap every year to prevent soil compression and ensure proper drainage. Good drainage prevents waterlogged conditions.
• It is much easier to underwater Venus flytraps than to overwatering. Your plant will only suffer due to too much water if the soil has a swamp-like consistency. Otherwise, Venus flytraps can receive lots of water!

The color of Venus flytraps can be associated with the health of the plant. I would like to share what I have learned while growing Venus flytraps on how certain color changes are great signs, and others are a warning.

Healthy Venus flytraps exhibit bright green colors in the leaves and burgundy or reddish colors inside the traps. It is not uncommon to spot black leaves within the plant as they are part of the plant’s life cycle. Also, poor growing conditions can turn leaves yellow or light brown.

However, not all color changes are strict indications of your plant’s health. Keep on reading to determine what do color changes in Venus flytraps mean and how to follow proper care instructions.

Venus Flytrap Colors

The Venus flytrap characterizes with bright green and bright red colors. However, not all varieties of Venus flytraps exhibit the green and red combination.

Some variations are fully red (all around) and some others are completely green (no sign of red). For example, the Akai Ryu cultivar of Venus flytrap is deep burgundy in color. Sometimes, you can spot some green in the border of the traps, but the majority of the plant is marron.

In this article we will focus on the standard varieties of Venus flytraps. Like this one shown in this image:

Lack of Red Coloring

Sometimes Venus flytraps lose the red coloration inside the traps, or the color starts fading. The lack of red coloring in the traps is due to light starvation or lack of enough lighting.

The primary food source of Venus flytraps is photosynthesis. When the plant does not receive enough light, then it abandons other efforts, such as catching prey to focus on photosynthesis. As a self-defense mechanism, the plant grows completely green leaves without the red color inside the traps.

When a plant loses the red inside the traps, it is a clear sign that it needs more lighting. The fix is usually very easy. You can place your plant in a better spot with more access to sunlight.

Twelve hours of light is optimal for Venus fly traps.

When you move the plant around and the lighting level changes, try to make a step-by-step transition. Slowly introduce your plant to more and more lighting. Besides sunlight, you can consider employing artificial lighting to supplement your plant’s needs This solution is practical and cheap.

I use this LED plant light for some of the Venus flytraps I own and my plants are thriving. The plant light has the appropriate lumen level (1500 lumens) and color spectrum (6500K cool white). Also, it comes with a built-in timer to turn on/off automatically.

Venus flytraps won’t die immediately if they do not receive proper, but the plant will start to weaken and can eventually die.

Bright Red Color

A bright red color inside the traps is a sign of good health. It means your plant is receiving all the lighting it needs. The red color inside the traps helps the Venus flytrap capture prey.

The plant attracts prey with sweet nectar and bright colors. The bright red color in the trap mimics a flower. Confused and hungry insects end up inside the traps.

When your plant shows the perfect color combination, then you can focus on feeding it. If you placed your plant outside, it can catch its own bugs. But indoors, Venus flytraps struggle to capture prey. To ensure the plant continues to thrive, I recommend feeding them once every month during the growing season. You can learn how to feed a Venus flytrap with this short guide: Venus Flytrap Feeding Guide.

The plant will conserve the colors as long as the environment does not change and it will have access to more nutrients thanks to the bugs.

For reference, here is an example of a unique variety of Venus fly trap that is almost completely red.

Black Leaves

Generally, black or brown leaves within a Venus flytrap are normal. Each leaf only lives over a certain period. For example, once a trap has closed a handful of times, then that leaf that contains the trap will start to wither and darken.

Many other factors can affect the plant and generate black leaves. When you observe an increasing number of black leaves, then it is a warning sign to take action. This article explains in detail the cause of black leaves and offers easy-to-implement solutions => Why Do Venus Flytraps Turn Black?- Reduce Black Leaves Today

These are the main causes of black leaves in Venus flytraps:

Improper Feeding

Improper feeding can cause black leaves. When the plant is fed with bugs that are too large for the trap or with human food, it will have problems. Human food can be meat, candy, or fruit, anything that is not an insect or a spider.

Venus flytrap will have trouble digesting large bugs or human food. First, the trap will start to digest the content inside its trap. But if unsuccessful after a reasonable amount of time, the plant will decide to abandon its efforts and will let the leaf wither.

It is normal to make mistakes when feeding a Venus flytrap for the first time. For example, selecting the wrong food for your plant is a common mistake. I wrote this article on Venus flytrap feed options to prevent common mistakes.. For example, selecting the wrong food for your plant is a common mistake. I wrote this article on Venus flytrap feed options to prevent common mistakes.. You should start by practicing and then perfect your feeding procedure to avoid hurting the Venus flytrap.

Mechanical Stress

Poking or touching the traps excessively can contribute to an increase in black leaves. Each trap can only open and close a certain number of times before it withers. If a human sets the traps just for being curious, then the plant will waist energy. Besides, the leaf will live for a shorten span. Avoid, exposing your plant to mechanical stress. The least contact with curious fingers or pets the better.

Dormancy

During the winter months, Venus flytraps undergo a dormancy process. During such a period, which usually lasts 2 to 3 months, many leaves turn black and die while the plant reduces in size. The presence of black leaves during dormancy is normal.

The Natural Cycle

Remember, black leaves are usually normal. Only take action when you notice a change in the appearance of your plant. Also, you can always trim the dead leaves of your plant. Trimming Venus flytraps help them have more space and make them picture ready!

Venus Flytrap Leaves Yellowing / Browning

Sometimes leaves in Venus flytraps start to yellow or brown before they blacken. Yellow leaves are common sign of poor growing conditions. If you notice one leaf yellowing, it could just be dying due to natural causes. However, if instead several leaves are yellowing and your plant is down. Then, your plant’s health is at risk.

The most common causes of yellow leaves are:

• Improper soil
• Wrong water source
• Overwatering

Now, let’s go over each item in detail:

Improper Soil

You can’t use standard plant soil for Venus flytraps. Venus flytraps need a mineral-free nutrient-free medium to grow. When you plant Venus flytraps in standard soil you poison the pant with minerals which the plant can’t process.

Incorrect potting media can be the cause of yellow and black leaves. Pot in a mixture of moss (sphagnums or peat moss) with a draining agent such as perlite or sand. You can also pot your Venus flytrap in just sphagnum moss or peat moss, but drainage can be a challenge in the future. When you buy the potting media, make sure no nutrients were added to it.

You can buy carnivorous plant soil online, like this one I use. It usually costs less than 10 dollars for a quart. Follow the link to confirm the price in Amazon.com.

Follow this link to get all the information about Venus flytrap soil, including where to get it: The Best Soil Options for Venus Flytrap

Wrong Water Source

Venus flytraps can only be watered with distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or rainwater. Straight tap water or bottled water can kill your plant. Venus flytraps die very quickly when they receive the wrong water source.

Overwatering

Overwatering can also cause yellow leaves. The ground for Venus flytraps should always remain humid, but you should never flood it. When the plant is struggling with the high amounts of water, some leaves turn yellow, and the roots might start rotting.

When you water Venus flytraps, you can test the humidity level by merely pressing the soil with your bare finger. The soil should be humid, but your finger should never get wet by simply pressing the ground. If you believe you have been over-watering your plant space out your watering routine.

To prevent making mistakes when watering a Venus flytrap, read this article where I teach all I know about watering: Venus Flytrap Watering Procedure: Source, Frequency and Tips

Red Coloring in Leaf Base

The Leaves of Venus flytrap should exhibit bright green colors. Any type of red coloring in the leaf base is a warning sign. It is usually caused by high heat exposure.

Red spots in your plant can be sunburn, which might be caused by natural or artificial lighting.

Venus flytraps are resilient plants, they can withstand heat over 95 F or 35 C without a problem, but temperatures exceeding those boundaries can dry out and burn your plant.

When you spot red coloring in the leaf base, you should consider moving your plant away from extreme temperatures.

I live in Arizona, and during summer season it is impossible to place my Venus flytraps outdoors without any type of shade. I have made the mistake before and lost a plant after just one day of heat exposure (it was 115 F / 46 C).

Avoid drying out your plant and burning it by follow these advise:

• I recommend changing the artificial lighting if you are using one to a cool color which does not emanate high temperatures. Recommended: High output fluorescent lights or high power LEDs.
• Avoid extremely sunny windows that intensify the intensity of the sun
• Consider misting your plant to increase humidity
• Use a gardening shade cloth or place your plant in partial shade if the temperatures exceed 90 F

Black Spots in Bulb

Black spots in the root bulb of your Venus flytrap are clear signs of root rot. First, if you can observe the root rot while your plant is potted. That is a problem, the bulb should always be underground.

The rot is usually caused by a combination of excessive moisture and the presence of fungus or bacteria. Besides the color changes on the bulb, you might also notice an unpleasant smell within your plant and a change of texture in the bulb.

How to Fix

Root rot can spread through your plant and kill it quickly. Follow these instructions to save your plant:

1. Remove the plant from the pot.
2. Rinse the roots and bulb with distilled water.
3. Use a sharp knife or scissors to remove the affected area of the root and leaves.
4. Rinse the plant again.
5. Ensure there is no root rot left in the bulb.
6. Empty the soil in the pot and clean it thoroughly. You need to remove any leftover fungus or bacteria.
7. Place the new soil in the pot.
8. Plant your Venus flytrap in the clean pot with brand new soil.
9. Water your plant until the soil is moist all around.
10. Monitor your Venus flytrap until it recovers. It will probably appear weak for several weeks. The spur of new leaves is always a good sign.

To prevent harming the bulb of your plant, in the future, avoid overwatering your plant. Many new owners believe Venus flytraps grow in swamps, and they tend to water too much. Venus flytraps do need a continuously moist environment, but the soil should never be damped.

Read the complete guide to prevent and eliminate Venus flytrap root rot.

Venus Fly Trap Care

Here is a quick overview on overall care that summarizes what was covered in the article and a lot more!

Light: Optimally they should receive 12 hours of sunlight, and the minimum is 6 hours of light. The light source might be natural light or artificial lighting (plant lights)
Water: Venus flytraps must be watered with pure water only, such as rainwater, distilled water, and reverse osmosis water. Tap water and bottled water kill carnivorous plants. 
The soil of the plant must always remain moist. Always keep the ground humid, but do not flood. Venus flytraps do not grow in swamps.
Soil: Employ nutrient-free soil for carnivorous plants. Never employ enriched soil, full of fertilizers. This article covers many soil options for Venus flytraps.
Feeding: Venus flytraps do not need to capture insects to survive, but they benefit from them greatly. Place Venus flytraps outdoors, and they will have plenty of access to food. Also, consider feeding your plant to provide extra nutrients.
Fertilizers: Do not fertilize Venus flytraps. The chemicals in the fertilizers can hurt the plant
Flowers: After reaching maturity, Venus flytraps start producing flowers every spring. Skipping it allows for further growth and development.
Dormancy: Venus flytraps must undergo a dormancy period for 2-3 months during the winter. Ensure your plant will experience this resting period by placing them in a cold location. For example, outdoors, in a cold garage, or porch.

Venus flytraps have evolved to be successful predators to survive in very challenging habitats. The different parts of this plant fulfill particular functions such as photosynthesis, mechanical support, reproduction, or feeding.

The main parts of the Venus flytrap are the leaf base, trigger hairs, traps, roots, nectar-secreting glands, special glands, and flowers. The trapping mechanism is one of the most impressive characteristics of the Venus flytrap. There, the trap and trigger hairs play a crucial role in successfully catching prey.

The Venus flytrap or Dionaea muscipula (scientific name) is the most identifiable and better known carnivorous plant. Yet, most people do not know much about them. Today, we will explore the different parts of the Venus flytrap.

Keep on reading to view the Venus flytrap diagram and read an overview on each part of the plant:

1. Leaf base
2. Trap
3. Nectar secreting glands
4. Trigger hairs
5. Flower
6. Special Glands
7. Root

If you would like to learn about carnivorous plant care, read this free Venus flytrap care guide where I share how I grow healthy Venus flytraps.

Venus Flytrap Parts Diagram

The diagram below illustrates some very characteristic parts of the Venus flytrap. The image shows some open traps ready to capture prey and some closed ones that are already consuming bugs. Also, it shows a Venus flytrap during the flowering season. Venus flytraps only flower during the spring.

Venus Flytrap Parts

Leaves

Mature Venus flytraps produce three to ten leaves at a time. Each leaf has two concrete parts: the trap and the leaf blade. Inside the trap, we find trigger hairs, nectar-secreting glands, and special glands.

The leaves of a Venus flytrap do not last long periods of time. The traps can be activated a handful of times before the whole leaf starts to wither. But, this is a normal process, as soon as a leaf starts to dry out a new one should spur from the center of the plant. Therefore, it is pretty common to observe dead leaves that have blackened slowly decomposing in the inferior area of the plant.

1.-Leaf Base

The leaf base extends from the ground and forms the lower part of the leaf. The leaf base is crucial for the photosynthesis process as it receives bright sunlight. The leaf base is heart-shaped as is can be observed in the photo.

When a plant is young, the leaf base stays close to the ground. Once the plant develops, the leaves will grow larger and start standing up. Still, Venus flytraps are not large plants, the maximum height they will reach is a foot.

2.-Trap

Adult Venus flytraps have traps of about 1 inch in length. The trap is made up of two lobes. The exterior of the trap is bright green, and the interior characterizes by a deep burgundy color. Color fading in the traps is usually a warning sign to poor growing conditions. Also, some variations of the plant might not exhibit any red coloring at all.

Each lobe has teeth in the outer line, which are commonly called cilia. The teeth do not bite the prey. Instead, they interlock, close the trap air-tight, and prevent the bug from escaping. The air-tight trap enclosure also prevents bacteria from entering the leaf. Then, molding won’t occur.

The closing mechanism of the traps in Venus flytraps exhibit one of the fastest movements in the plant kingdom. It can catch off guard any potential victim that is lured by sweet nectar. The red color inside the traps also helps the plant lure insects as they confuse the traps with flowers.

In contrary to popular belief, the traps function is not only to capture prey but also to assist in photosynthesis. The Venus flytrap captures prey to supplement their diet, but it is not an essential function. Most of the time the traps will act as standard leaves and help with photosynthesis. In their natural habitat (South Carolina and North Carolina), Venus flytraps are exposed to more than 10 hours of sunlight most of the year.

Fun fact: Scientists are still studying the Venus flytrap trapping mechanism very actively as it exhibits a very unique behavior.

You can learn how to properly feed a Venus flytrap by reading this article: How to Feed a Venus Flytrap.

3.-Nectar-secreting Glands

Venus flytraps have nectar-secreting glands inside their traps. The interior part of the lobes is cover with sweet nectar to attract prey. Venus flytraps lure their prey with sweet nectar and wait patiently.

Insects get confused and believe the red interior of the trap together with the nectar scent are signs of a flower. Then, once a being is inside the trap, the bug will get distracted by consuming the nectar. Meanwhile, the lobes are ready to close as soon as they receive a signal from the trigger hairs.

4-Trigger Hairs

Each trap is made up of two lobes. Each lobe has three hair cells arranged in a triangular pattern [1]. The image below shows the hair cells clearly in the lobes. They are thin and highly sensitive filaments.

The hair cells are commonly called trigger hairs as they instruct the trap triggering mechanism. The trap only closes when something has touched the trigger hairs two consecutive times within 20 seconds.

The plant developed the double stimuli to avoid closing due to inanimate objects such as rain, a falling branch, or dirt. Venus flytraps spend a significant amount of energy controlling those traps, and they should always try to use their resources efficiently.

You can set the traps by introducing your finger or another object inside the traps. If you stimulate the trigger hairs, the trap will close. Yet, the plant will notice it hasn’t caught prey as the trigger hairs won’t receive any further stimuli once closed. Then, the plant will reopen.

5.-Special Glands

The trigger hairs activate the trapping mechanism to capture the prey. Then, the Venus flytrap secretes enzymes to digest the victim.

“Any mechanical contact with the hairs triggers an electrical signal that spreads across the trap in waves. From the third signal, the plant produces the hormone jasmonate; after the fifth signal, the digestive glands that line the inside of the traps like turf are activated.”- How Venus flytrap triggers digestion, University of Würzburg, Science Daily

The glands secrete enzymes, causing the victim to drown. Digestion is a very long process; it can take several days or even weeks to consume a bug completely. Once digestion is complete, the trap opens up again and exposes the skeleton of the victim. The plant can process the soft parts of the insect, but it won’t be able to digest the rest.

During the digestion process, Venus flytrap extract key nutrients from the prey. They obtain Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and other elements to supplement their diet. These elements are essential because Venus flytraps grow in inferior soil that lacks nutrients.

On rare occasions, Venus flytraps can consume animals other than insects and arachnids. For example, they can catch a tiny frog or very small rodents. Venus flytraps can consume these animals. However, they are difficult to capture due to their size and strength.

6.-Flowers

Venus flytraps are perennial plants; and they bloom every year. Venus flytraps undergo dormancy during the winter. After, they return to their original state and start to flourish in the spring.

Venus flytrap flowers are white, and the petals exhibit green veins. The flowers grow as thick cylindrical stalks that end in flower bunches. A single Venus flytrap produces several flower stalks every spring.

Venus flytrap flowers grow a lot taller than their traps. As shown in the picture below, the leaves extend only a few inches above the ground, but the flowers grow a lot higher. Venus flytraps evolved to keep prey and pollinators at two different levels.

The Venus flytrap flowers “adorn the tops of tall stalks that extend beyond the leaves, which prevents pollinators from being trapped and eaten by the plant. (Venus flytraps also have fruit, which comes in the form of round, green pods containing shiny black seeds.)” – Venus Flytraps Have Surprising Pollinators … and They Don’t Eat Them, Elaina Zachos, National Geographic

The Venus flytrap spends a significant amount of energy producing the flowers with the hope of reproduction. Owners sometimes opt to cut off the flower stalks before they flourish to save their plant’s energy. Also, some owners decide to manually pollinate their plant and harvest seeds.

You can learn more about Venus flytrap flowers and how to produce seeds with this guide: Venus Flytrap Flower Guide.

Also, there is a unique way to propagate Venus flytraps through flower stalks (learn how it works!).

7.-Roots

The leaves of Venus flytraps spur from a thick rhizome. The rhizome is a horizontal underground stem. Then, the roots extend from the rhizome to several centimeters underground (10-15 cm). They fixate the plant in the humid terrain.

The bulb of the plant is white or pinkish in color and should remain underground. It is very delicate and exposure to sunlight could damage it. Also, the presence of dark spots in the bulb is clear signs of root rot which is caused by fungus or bacteria.

The image below shows several young Venus flytrap before they were potted. All of the bulbs exhibit a healthy white color, and the roots extend through several inches (longer than the plant’s leaves).

Sometimes Venus flytraps grow substantially and exhibit more than a dozen leaves. Once the plant has acceded the maximum expected number of leaves, then it might be two plants instead of one. The roots of the Venus flytrap can extend in the soil and create a bulb root. Then, a new Venus flytrap grows from the bulb.

Seeds

The seeds are not a part of Venus flytraps, but a life-cycle stage. Still, I thought it would be worth mentioning the seeds for completeness

Venus flytraps produce seeds for reproduction. These plants can reproduce sexually through pollination and asexually via its rhizome. The Venus flytrap can self-pollinate, which means you only need a single plant to produce seeds. However, most growers prefer cross-pollination as the process produces more resilient plants.

During pollination, a pollinating agent (i.e., insect, water, the air, human) transfers pollen from the anther to the stigma of the flower. Then, the fertilized flowers produce seeds to reproduce.

When a flower is pollinated, it withers and it leaves behind the encapsulated seeds. Each flower can produce dozens of seeds. The seeds are tiny and of black color.

Overall Plant Dimensions

Venus flytraps are small plants. To get some perspective of the scale, these are the dimensions of some Venus flytrap parts:

• Horizontally, a Venus flytrap can grow 5 inches in diameter
• The traps can extend upward to about 1 foot
• The trap size for an adult plant is 1 inch

More About Venus Flytraps

Most people associate Venus flytraps to tropical habitats; however, Venus flytraps are native to the wetlands on the East Coast of the United States. There, they are only found in two states: South Carolina and North Carolina.

The most well-known characteristic of Venus flytraps is their trapping mechanism. Venus flytraps do not consume flies exclusively. They can feed themself with any bug attracted by the nectar that is small enough to fit inside a trap.

Some scientists and hobbyists have observed Venus flytraps consuming small frogs or rodents. However, those scenarios are very uncommon. The trapping mechanism is designed to capture bugs, not other animals.

Here are some interesting facts about Venus flytraps:

• Venus flytraps are an endangered species: An increase in poaching practices and urbanization is threatening the specie
• Venus flytraps undergo dormancy every year, which is similar to hibernation in animals.
• You can grow Venus flytrap indoors: The plant develops better in the outdoors, but can easily grow in an indoor setting.
• Most Venus flytraps are green and red, but one variation of Venus flytraps exhibits bright marron colors all around: Akai Ryu (red dragon)
• Venus flytrap require an abundance of sunlight to survive: Optimally they should receive 12 hours of exposure to light

Final Thoughts: Venus Flytrap Parts and Functions

Venus flytraps are fascinating creatures. They have evolved to be successful predators. Thanks to their trapping mechanism adaptation, they have thrived for years in a nutrient-free, poor soil environment.

Even though you might be most impressed by the carnivorous nature of this plant, remember that photosynthesis is still their primary source of energy. Venus flytraps produce their food through photosynthesis. They can survive without catching prey for months or even years because the nutrients they get from insects are only a supplement.

I hope you enjoyed learning about Venus flytraps. And maybe you are even considering growing one at home. I would totally recommend the experience of growing Venus flytraps. You can grow them outdoors if the weather permits or indoors. Make sure to read this guide before you get started. Good luck!

Read the Venus Flytrap Care Guide (with downloadable care sheet) HERE.

Sources

• [1] http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/146/2/694
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170421103741.htm#:~:text=The%20Venus%20flytrap%20digests%20its%20prey%20using%20enzymes%20produced%20by%20special%20glands.&text=Catching%20its%20prey%2C%20mainly%20insects,take%20up%20the%20nutrients%20released.

Many different factors can affect Venus flytraps’ health and threaten their livelihood. Unhealthy Venus flytraps usually show some key indicators that help us take action. I have grown Venus flytraps for several years and would like to share what I have learned so far, especially how to save an unhealthy Venus flytrap.

Unhealthy Venus flytrap exhibit faded colors, deformed leaves, an increase of black leaves, or unwanted odor. Owners should review their plant’s environment, especially the water source, water frequency, exposure to sunlight, and presence of pests.

In the next section, you can learn about the main reasons Venus flytrap look down or unhealthy. Also, I have included a brief explanation for each one on how to fix it.

12 Reasons Why Your Venus Flytrap is Unhealthy

1. The Soil is Poisoning Your Plant

The Venus flytrap needs nutrient-free mineral-free soil to survive. Any other type of soil (the regular kind) will kill your plant. It might be counter-intuitive, but the soil for Venus flytrap has to lack all nutrients.

Venus flytrap plants grow well in ground that contains either sphagnums or peat moss and a draining agent such as sand or perlite. You can mix the ingredients as a 4:1 or 2:1 depending on your preference. Also, some companies sell their own carnivorous soil mix, but in most cases is cheaper and easier to make it yourself.

Read this article to get all the details on soil for Venus flytraps: The Best Soil for Venus Fly Traps. Also, you can buy carnivorous plant soil online, like this one I use. Follow the link to confirm the price in Amazon.com.

If you used standard soil, you must fix this issue immediately. Venus flytraps die very quickly when exposed to nutrients. Follow these steps to save your plant:

1. Buy new soil for your plant. Follow the recommendations above to choose the right elements for the ground
2. Make sure to have distilled water on hand
3. carefully, remove your plant from the old soil
4. Clean your plant’s roots with distilled water, until all the first is out
5. Toss the old soil, or save it for other types of plants
6. Clean the pot, and do not miss any spot.
7. Soak your new soil with distilled water until it is very humid
8. Place the new land in the pot (should be moist)
9. Make a hole with your fingers in the middle of the pot
10. Carefully, introduce your plant’s roots and bulb underground and set with more dirt
11. You are all set!

Besides choosing the appropriate soil, pay attention to the pot you use. Some materials leach minerals into the ground. Here are my Venus fly trap pot recommendations.

2. The Water is NOT Mineral-Free

Using the improper water source can poison your pant, as Venus flytraps can’t process nutrients. You should only employ distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or rainwater for Venus flytraps. No other water source is acceptable, not even bottled water.

Make sure you water your plant properly, as it is a critical factor in your plant’s health. This guide can help you master the process: Venus Flytrap Watering Procedure.

Using the wrong water can kill your plant quickly, also that water will leave behind minerals in the soil. I recommend to follow this procedure to save your plant:

1. Make sure you have extra carnivorous plant soil
2. Buy distilled water, reverse osmosis water (collecting rainwater will take too long in these circumstances)
3. Remove your plant from the soil
4. rinse your plant’s roots with distilled or reverse osmosis water
5. Toss the old soil
6. Clean the pot
7. Make the fresh soil moist with the correct water source (distilled water, reverse osmosis water, rainwater)
8. Set the new soil in the pot
9. Make a hole for your plant in the ground.
10. Repot your plant in the new soil
11. Water a bit more to ensure the soil is humid
12. Never again water your plant with anything other than distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or rainwater

Tip: Buy a large water jug (3-5 Gallons) and refill it at water stores or grocery stores that sell distilled or reverse osmosis water. Each gallon doesn’t cost more than 20 cents, and it will last you for a while. Also, consider collecting rainwater, it is free!

3. You Need More Light

In the wild, Venus flytraps have access to plenty of lighting. They need that much light to grow and develop properly. Venus flytraps can grow weaker and weaker until they finally die from light starvation.

Some clear signs of light starvation are:

• Lack of read coloring inside the lobes of the trap
• Deformed traps: the leaves grow , but the traps never develop

Venus flytrap must receive at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight. In the perfect scenario, they should receive 12 hours of direct sunlight. the lack of light exposure won’t kill your plant immediately but will weaken it until it dies.

To resolve this issue you can find a better outdoor spot to place your plant. A safe bet is to find a placement where your plant gets 6 hours of direct sunlight, plus some indirect sunlight, it is not the optimum scenario, but a safe place to grow your plant way above the minimums.

Also, you should consider supplemental lighting. You can employ artificial plant light to give appropriate lighting to your plants. I recommend the following specifications:

• High output fluorescent lights or high power LEDs.
• Cool colors that do not overheat your plant
• 6+ hour automatic timer that can automatically turn on and off

I use this LED plant light for some of the Venus flytraps I own and my plants are thriving. It has the appropriate lumen level and color spectrum. Also, it comes with a built in timer to turn on/off automatically.

You should observe positive changes just a few weeks after exposing your plant to appropriate lighting. For example, a bright red color inside the traps is always an encouraging sign!

4. Not Enough Water

The soil for your Venus flytrap should always remain humid. Venus flytraps do not develop well in dry or arid land. They need a constant water source.

Water your plant until the ground is moist, but not damp and then leave it alone. Water again when the soil is almost (but not) dry. Many plants can’t handle constant humid soil; Venus flytraps are not like that. If you are in doubt, I would recommend to water them. Under-watering is a far more common mistake than over-watering.

I recommend following a watering routine until you get the hang of it. Also, I employ a water saucer strategy. With this method, you place my plant’s pot on top of a shallow plate. After watering your plant, add an inch of water on the plate. The extra water lets the soil remain humid, but doesn’t saturate it.

5. Too Much Water

There is some misinformation out there that leads new Venus flytrap owners to believe these plants grow in swamps, and they should live in overly watered soil. The soil of Venus flytraps must be moist at all times, but it shouldn’t be saturated.

Sometimes the leaves of Venus flytrap start turning yellow, this can be caused by overwatering. And, an excessively humid environment is the optimal environment for mold and bacterial growth.

If you are in doubt, check for over-watering conditions:

Use your fingers and press against the soil of your Venus flytrap. Ask yourself, does it only feel humid? Or is your finger soaking wet? If you answer “yes” to the second question. Then, you must take action:

Do not water your plant again until the soil is almost dry. Then, water carefully and right after, check if the soil is moist but not soaked with your finger. Repeat this process until you have mastered it!

6. The Feeding is Out of Control

It is not unusual for Venus flytrap owners to harm their plant by feeding. Improper feeding can cause an increased level of black leaves and can even attract bacteria to your plant.

Improper feeding is a cause for black leaves together with bugs that are hard to digest and maybe even too big. Here is a complete list of the most common causes for black leaves plus prevention.

The most common problems when feeding Venus flytrap are the following:

• You are feeding your plant human food: Always stick to an insect and arachnid diet for your plant. Do not experiment with human food. The plant will attempt to consume it, but will likely fail and the leaf will die
• The bugs are too big: Only feed your plant with bugs that can fit completely inside a trap. Do not attempt to stick a bug inside a trap, if it won’t be able to close. A good rule is to choose bugs that are 1/3 of the size of the trap.
• Too much food: Venus flytraps can be fed too often. If they are, the plant will purposefully let some of the traps digesting prey to wither. Only feed your plant one bug at a time and wait for 3 to 6 weeks between each feeding.

Incorrect feeding causes more black leaves. the black leaves won’t affect the whole plant, but the fewer leaves you have the less likely your plant will thrive.

In this article I teach you how to feed a Venus flytrap properly every single time: How to Feed a Venus Flytrap.

7. Extreme Heat Exposure

Extreme heat exposure can affect Venus flytrap. They do require sunlight, but they shouldn’t be in contact with heat surpassing 95 F or 35 C.

Do not leave your plant outside if the temperature is surpassing 95 F (35 C); they will dry out very quickly. And it might even get burnt. Some owners leave their plants under extreme heat during the summer, but very quickly, they notice red coloration in the exterior of the leaves, this is basically a sunburn.

Avoid windows that get too hot. The glass intensifies the intensity of the sun and can also overheat your plant. Before placing a Venus flytrap in a very sunny window, monitor the temperature at that spot.

If your plant has suffered some burns or is slightly dried up, follow these procedures:

1. Remove them from the heat source.
2. Find a spot at home where they can get enough light without burning. Also, consider a plant light of cool colors.
3. Water your plant to hydrate and be especially careful during the next few weeks.
4. Avoid feeding your plant for a few weeks so it can focus on healing

Once your plant has recovered, you can reconsider placing them outdoors . But, this time buy a gardening shade cloth to reduce the temperature. Also, consider increasing the humidity of the environment.

8. Your Plant is Suffering From Stress

When your plant undergoes, it tends to look down and lose leaves. Some common causes of stress are:

• Improper feeding (covered on item 6)
• Constant movement or contact
• The traps are being set for no reason

Avoid placing your plant next to moving objects, such as a curtain or a window. Also, sometimes pets get very curious and try to play with plants. Place your plant in an strategic location so it is not bothered too much.

Finally, avoid touching the traps of your plant. Do not try to activate them for fun. Venus flytraps employ substantial amounts of energy controlling the trapping mechanism. If you use them in vain, your plant will lose energy for no reason. Instead, consider feeding your plant to observe the trapping mechanism.

There is no follow up method for this issue. The only advice is to reduce the amount of stress your plant is receiving to a minimum. More leaves should grow healthy as you make these changes.

9. The Fertilizer is Not Appropriate

It is a misconception that Venus flytraps shouldn’t be fertilize. They can be fertilized, but it has to be done carefully. Exposure to too many chemicals can harm your Venus flytrap.

Light fertilizers give Venus flytrap an extra boost, too much fertilizing can poison it. Go over this checklist to confirm you are fertilizing your Venus flytrap appropriately:

• Only fertilize Venus flytraps during the growing season
• Only plants that do not have access to feed
• Fertilize your plant by lightly misting the leaves
• Employ weak foliar sprays as fertilizers

If you fertilized your plant improperly, quit it immediately. Avoid fertilizing for the next coming months to give your plant time to heal. Once you are ready to fertilize again, follow the instructions above to do it carefully.

10. Your Plant Has No Access to Feed

When plants live indoors, they do not have access to feed. No access to prey won’t kill your plant, but it can weaken it as it doesn’t have access to critical nutrients.

Venus flytraps that do not have access to feed won’t look very unhealthy, but they might look down or not at their prime.

Boost your plant’s growth; you can consider feeding it now and then. Just one bug every month and a half can make a big difference. You can buy dried insects such as cricket or bloodworms to feed your plants or use live feed.

11. Pests, Pests, Pests!

Pests can affect Venus flytraps. Check your plant for signs of pests: spots, deformities, color changes, etc. Eradicating pests is not as straightforward, since many different types of diseases can affect your plant. Here are a few examples of pests and solutions:

• Get rid of aphids with pyrethrin insecticide
• Mitigate mites with a miticide
• Eliminate a fungus infection with fungicide based on sulfur

Identify the symptoms within your plant and research for the appropriate fungicides or insecticides.

12. Root Rot

Root rot is caused by overwatering Venus flytrap and exposing them to bacteria or fungus. Root rot can kill your plant as the root starts rotting, and the whole plant gets infected.

When your plant is suffering from root rot. Some clear signs of root rot are:

• A rotting smell coming from the ground and the leaves
• An increasing number of black leaves
• The bulb turns black in certain areas

You must take action immediately if you identify root rot. Follow these instructions to save your plant:

1. Remove your Venus flytrap from the soil: Manually extract your plant from the ground. Then, rinse the roots with distilled water.
2. Remove the affected root area and leaves: Use small scissors to remove the affected area of the bulb. The affected area will be blackened. Remove the whole affected area, including any dead leaves.
3. Repot the plant: Clean the old pot and remove the old soil (do not reuse). Add new ground to the pot and make a hole in the middle of the pot. Finally, repot the plant.
4. Water your plant: Once your plant is repotted, water it thoroughly with distilled, reverse osmosis, or rainwater.
5. Monitor the plant for the next weeks

You can also explore the complete article in how to save your plant from root rot.

Final Thoughts

I hope you found this article informative. Make sure you review it thoroughly and fix your plant’s setup. Best of luck growing Venus flytrap. Feel free to browse around the site and learn more about carnivorous plants. Enjoy!

Make sure to review the Complete Venus flytrap Care Instructions and the Indoor Care Guide for indoor growing!

I have owned a variety of different houseplants over the years, but the Venus flytrap is by far my favorite. In this article, I will go over the main reasons why Venus flytraps make up great indoor plants.

Venus flytraps can be grown indoors almost anywhere in the world. They are great indoor plants as their care in uncomplicated, they capture bugs inside your home, and they are entertaining. Venus flytrap can thrive with proper lighting, plenty of water, and carnivorous plant soil.

Keep on reading to go over 11 reasons why Venus flytraps are fantastic houseplants. Also, if I convince you to join the club and buy a Venus flytrap, make sure to read the care considerations below.

11 Reasons Why Venus Flytraps are Exceptional Houseplant

1. Venus Flytraps Help You Get Rid of Occasional Bugs

This is a unique feature of carnivorous plants. Some plants attract bugs; others (like the Venus flytrap) help you reduce the population.

Venus flytrap consume insects and arachnids to supplement their diet. Even when placed indoors, Venus flytrap will be waiting patiently to consume the next bug. One single plant can’t solve a whole bug infestation but will reduce the population for sure. So, if you have an occasional fly, spider, or gnat, your Venus flytrap will help you out.

Against popular belief, Venus flytrap not only consume flies, but they are open to any small creature that enters their leaves.

2. You Do Not Need the Spot with Perfect Bright Spot. Artificial Lighting is an Option.

Venus flytraps require plenty of lighting to thrive, but they can even be grown in a dark basement apartment if necessary. You can employ artificial lighting for your Venus flytraps. This solution is practical and economical. I use this small plant light (which cost me less than $30) to grow three very healthy Venus flytraps.

If you have the perfect sunny window spot for your plants, a Venus flytrap will fit right in. You can place them under direct sunlight or partial sunlight, the more, the better. Optimally, they should receive 12 hours of light a day. As long as your plant does get too much heat, it can be exposed to direct sunlight for hours.

When using artificial lighting, make sure you buy a plant light with an automatic timer. Then, the light will turn on automatically every single day for a 6 to 12-hour cycle. When I use artificial light, I always set it to 12 hours.

3. Venus Flytrap Can Survive Through Too Much Love

Have you ever killed a plant because you gave them too much water? With Venus flytrap, you will rarely experience a similar situation. These plants live naturally in South Carolina and in North Carolina, where they grow in very moist soil. Venus flytrap actually needs a continuously wet environment to live. With this plant the general suggestion is to water if you are in doubt as it is a lot more common to underwater than underwater.

On extreme occasions, new owners might give them too much water, but that is rare. A high watering frequency won’t hurt your plant. your only limit is not flooding the pot. You have to keep it moist, but not damp!

4. You Will Have Fun Feeding Venus Flytraps

Venus flytraps do not need to capture bugs to live, but they grow faster and healthier if they can consume an occasional meal. I always recommend owners to start feeding their plants if they can.

You can feed your plant pretty often and enjoy the experience. Do not worry! You don’t have to capture live bugs if you don’t want to, instead you can buy dry crickets or mealworms. Regardless, the experience is very entertaining.

One of the most unique attributes of Venus fly trap is their trapping mechanism. You can poke the traps and make them close, but that hurts the plant. Instead, introduce a bug inside the trap and let your plant capture it. You will observe an exceptionally fast motion for a plant (it takes Venus flytrap less than a second to snap!). Also, you will feel very proud!

If you are interested in learning more about the feeding process go ahead and check out the article below. It will guide you through the whole feeding technique and food options you can find in a pet store.

5. The Flowering is Beautiful and a Potential Project

Venus flytrap experience some changes during seasons. During spring, they undergo a flowering process. Venus flytraps produce a series of flower bunches. The flowers are white, and they have green veins.

The flowers in Venus flytraps are unique and cute. Observing a Venus flytrap with traps and flowers is definitely a rewarding experience. But, besides the look, the flowering process is an opportunity to propagate your plant.

Venus flytraps can easily be artificially pollinated. With only a q-tip you can fertilize the flowers and wait until they dry out and leave seeds behind. You only need one plant to harvest seeds and once you obtain those seeds you can start seedling and produce a whole family of Venus flytraps. In less than a year you could end up owning half a dozens Venus flytraps!

6. Kids and Adults Are Constantly Amazed by Flytraps

Kids go crazy when they see carnivorous plants in real life. They can be genuinely interested in completing some home projects with the plant such as feeding them or harvesting seeds. Also, adults get very excited too. I have met dozens of adults that claim that owning a Venus flytrap was their childhood dream. Not many people realize they can buy and grow Venus flytraps. They are very surprised when they find out growing them is not that hard and totally doable.

Owning a Venus flytrap is a unique talking point or maybe even a fun fact. You can show your plant to friends and teach them some science facts about venus flytraps if they are interested. At least, that is what I do as a science lover myself.

7. Venus Flytraps Do NOT Smell

Do not be worry about any unwanted smells. Venus flytraps do not produce any smell so that you can place them anywhere in your home.

Some people claim they can smell the sweet nectar Venus flytrap produce to attract bugs, but I haven’t been able to do so myself, so I can’t comment about it. Also, some people believe Venus flytraps attract bugs and might increase the number of bugs in the area. Venus flytraps do attract bugs, but their nectar is not stronger than any other small plant, like a flower. Venus flytraps won’t draw bugs to your home. They will just attempt to capture any insect in close proximity.

If you even do encounter a smell in your Venus flytrap it is most likely due to over-watering. Like most plants, when they are watered too much they can rot, but such experience is very uncommon.

8. Expect Your Pet Flytrap to Last for Years

Venus flytraps are not only easy to care for, but they can last for many many years. their life expectancy is estimated to reach over 20 years! your plant can be an addition to your houseplants for several years.

Do not be discourage by buying a fully-grown adult Venus flytrap. Even if it is a few years old, it will still last for decades. For new owners, I usually recommend adult Venus flytraps as they are already developed and are very resilient. Fully-grown Venus flytraps are easier to feed, as the traps are larger and can fit larger prey.

9. You Won’t Break the Bank… Venus Flytraps Are Very Cheap Plants

Purchasing an exotic plant is not always cheap, but Venus flytraps are an exception. You can buy young or mature Venus flytrap for less than $20. Some companies sell you a pack of several plants as a more economical option. Also, you might be interested in buying seeds and growing a Venus flytrap through the whole cycle. I would definitely recommend the experience! But, before you do so, make sure you do some extra research taking care of seedlings is slightly more involved.

You can buy Venus flytraps online at carnivorous plant shops or at a local nursery. The last section of this article gives you some good recommendations on where to buy Venus flytraps.

10. Venus Flytraps are Tough Against Seasons

Venus flytrap can withstand a wide range of weather conditions and therefore are very resilient. You can place them in balconies or cold basements without worrying too much.

In their natural habitat, they are exposed to very hot and humid summers and cold winters with light snow or frost. As long as you keep Venus flytraps between 30 F to 100 F (0 C to 38 C), your plants will live without any problems. Very sunny windows can be a deathtrap as the direct sunlight through the glass can burn your plant. Before placing your Venus flytrap in a very sunny window, monitor the temperature.

Due to their resilience, Venus flytraps can grow almost anywhere in the world. Still, if your home is exposed to extreme heat or cold, feel free to bring your plants indoors. They are a great indoor plant.

11. The Venus Flytrap is the Perfect Starting Point for All Other Carnivorous Plants

Venus flytraps are not the easiest plant to care for, but with proper instructions, most beginners can master their care. Within carnivorous plants, Venus flytraps are considered to be a beginner plant as they do not require too many unique considerations.

When you buy a Venus flytrap you join a community of carnivorous plant growers. And as you get more into this hobby you might be interested in experimenting with other carnivorous plants. I would encourage you to do so. Venus flytraps are the most popular carnivorous plant, but they are not the only ones out there. Also, many plant care knowledge relates to other species, such as appropriate soil, water source, feeding, etc.

Challenges from Growing Venus Flytrap

I like being objective. Even though Venus flytraps are awesome plants, not everything is perfect when growing them. You might encounter some difficulties. However, these are just minor challenges that you can easily overcome. Still, I just wanted to make you aware of them.

• Venus flytraps can’t be watered with standard tap water: You need to buy nutrient-free mineral-free water, such as distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or rainwater. You can get rainwater for free or buy the appropriate water for very cheap (approximately 20 cents a gallon)
• Venus flytraps should go dormant during the winter: During the winter, Venus flytraps go dormant. If you live where it can get cold (under 45F) for several months, then your plant can’t experience dormancy by leaving outdoors during the winter. Otherwise, you can explore the refrigerator method. This one is a lot more involved, though.
• A big temptation for small children: Small children can get interested in Venus flytraps, but unfortunately, sometimes they have trouble being careful with the plant. Sticking fingers inside the traps is very tempting. And, poking the traps it is not recommended. It won’t kill the plant, but it will weaken it significantly.

Venus Flytraps Indoor Care Considerations

I hope I helped you assess if a Venus flytrap is a good fit for your home. Before you go ahead and purchase one, make sure to read the care considerations below.

• Water: Only use nutrient-free distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or rainwater.
• Water frequency: Keep the soil moist at all times.
• Sunlight: 12 hours of direct sunlight is optional. 6 hours of indirect sunlight is the minimum acceptable level. Use artificial lighting as a supplement if necessary.
• Soil: Use nutrient-free soil with good drainage. A combination of peat or sphagnum moss with sand or perlite is a suitable option.
• Feeding: Feed one trap at a time every 2-6 weeks
• Fertilizing: There is no need to fertilize Venus flytraps
• Trimming: Prune dead leaves after they are completely dry.
• Black leaves: Black leaves are normal in Venus flytraps. Check growing conditions if there is an increase in black leaves.
• Terrariums: Venus flytrap grow well in greenhouse type terrariums.
• Temperatures: Keep the plant above 25 F and below 100 F. Also, avoid hot windows, glass can overheat your plant.
• Flowering: Do not let your plant flower if you are a beginner. Cut the flower stalks as soon as they spur (spring).
• Moisture: Manually mist your plant if you live in arid climates.
• Dormancy: Venus flytraps must experience dormancy once a year.

For more in-depth instructions, read this Complete Guide on Venus flytrap Care Instructions:

Where to Buy Venus Flytraps

It is not hard to buy a Venus flytrap. You can purchase them online or in brick and mortar stores.

Online: Specialized Stores

When looking for a vendor, I recommend specialized carnivorous plant growers. They know a lot about Venus flytraps, and the plants they sell are in excellent condition. You can buy your plant online through several vendors. To save you some time, these are some solid options:

• californiacarnivores.com
• carnivorousplantnursery.com
• petflytrap.com
• predatoryplants.com
• flytrapcare.com/store/

Online: Amazon

Amazon carries almost any product you can imagine. It might come at no surprise that you can find venus flytraps there too. they actually have a good selection and the review system helps you find reliable sellers. Also, read the reviews before you buy.

Plant Nurseries

Nurseries carry wide varieties of plants, and some even offer carnivorous plants. Make sure to call ahead to confirm their availability of Venus flytraps. Then, when you arrive, inspect the plant for any abnormalities. Since the majority of plant nurseries are not specialized in carnivorous plants, you must double-check the state of the plant. Keep an eye for deformed leaves, parched soil, and bad odor coming from the plant.

Avoid Hardware Store Venus Flytraps

Sometimes hardware stores or grocery stores sell Venus flytraps in their garden section. It is not always the case, but it is not uncommon that their Venus flytraps are stored for weeks without proper lighting or water. Experienced carnivorous plant growers might be able to save the plant, but as a new owner, you should aim for a healthy plant.

One of the most curious thing about Venus flytraps it’s their trapping mechanism. Their traps snap to capture prey, and they reopen when they are ready for the next meal. As a Venus flytrap owner, the trapping mechanism struck my curiosity early on. After doing some research, I would like to share with you what I learned so far in this post.

Venus flytraps can close their traps in a fraction of a second. Trigger hairs inside the leaves send electrical signals to activate the trapping mechanisms. After snapping shut, the leaves can remain close 24 to 48 hours if the trap is empty or 7 to 20 days if it caught prey.

Now, let’s get into the details on how the trapping mechanism works to the core. Understanding the mechanism will help you perfect your feeding technique and preserve more leaves.

The Venus Flytrap Trapping Mechanism

Venus flytraps grow naturally in South Carolina and North Carolina. In their natural habitat, they receive plenty of light and water, but no nutrients from the soil. As a result of the inferior ground, Venus flytraps have evolved to be successful predators.

The leaves in Venus flytraps have evolved to look like jaw-like structures. Each trap is made up of two lobes. And, the border of each lobe has cilia that intertwine when it closes.

At its resting position, Venus flytraps remain open. The trap snaps shut only when it is triggered by an object or hopefully a being inside the leaves.

The plants effectiveness as a predator varies and is affected by several factors, such as the plant’s size, the prey dimensions and position of the victim.

How and When Venus Flytraps Close

In each lobe Venus flytraps have three trigger hairs. As shown in the picture on the left. The trigger hairs are very thin and they are arranged in a triangular pattern.

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The trap closes when something has had contact with the trigger hairs twice within 20 seconds. Traps never close by a single stimulus, a second stimulus is required. The double stimuli mechanism reduces the chances of the trap closing due to an inanimate object.

With the double stimuli mechanism, the plant avoids closing due to stimuli coming from a falling twig, rain, or dust.

Venus flytraps spend large amounts of energy controlling the traps. The plant must ensure it is closing due to the presence of a potential victim. Still, sometimes, the double stimuli strategy fails. The trap or plant won’t die due to the mistake, but the plant will have less energy to grow.

Here is a summary of the Venus Flytrap closing mechanism:

1. The trigger hairs receive stimulus twice within 20 seconds
2. The trap snaps and closes almost completely (tiny insects might escape)
3. The trap snaps shut if it detects continuous movement
4. The trap remains close while digesting the prey

It is hypothesized that Venus flytraps test the size of the prey before they spend energy to consume it. The trap doesn’t close in a single stage. First, the lobes go into a semi-close stage. During that time, small insects can scape. Then, during the second stage, the trap closes shut and start the digestion process.

The Venus flytrap digestion process can take several days or even a few weeks, depending on the size of the insect. The trap will remain close shut during the whole process. When the hatch is closed, it fills with enzymes that slowly decompose the victim. Also, they prevent the entrance of bacteria or fungus.

Interesting Fact: The Traps Are Lightning fast

The traps of a Venus flytrap can snap shut very fast. They exhibit one of the fastest movements within the plant kingdom. The lobes can close in less than a second. Scientists explain the speed of the closing mechanism by transitioning from a convex position to a concave position. In simple terms, a Venus flytrap leaf works as a pop-up rubber cap. Overall, the motion is very fast as it has to be to capture the prey.

“Among carnivorous plants, the Venus flytrap is of particular interest for the rapid movement of its snap-traps and hypothesized prey selection, where small prey are allowed to escape from the traps (…) ” Understanding the Venus flytrap through mathematical modeling, Sami Lehtinen

Sometimes Venus fly traps won’t close their leaves to capture insects because they might be hibernating or sick. In this article, you can find more info on this: Why Venus Fly Traps Won’t Close Plus Easy Fixes.

What Can Trigger Venus Fly Traps

A variety of things can trigger the traps, for example:

• Humans
• Insects
• Arachnids
• Small frogs or lizards
• Small rodents, such as mice
• Inanimate objects, such as dust, air, rain, debris, twig

Even though many small animals can trigger the traps of a Venus flytrap, their diet consists almost exclusively on insects and arachnids. Technically, Venus flytrap can consume meat; however, their small traps are designed to capture small arthropods.

How Venus Flytraps Lure Prey

Venus flytraps lure prey with two elements: a bright color and sweet nectar. The plant secretes nectar on the inside surface of their traps. The nectar is sweet, and it emits an enticing scent. Also, the interior of the trap exhibits bright red color shades.

Potential victims get lured by the bright color, the nectar scent, or both factors. In many cases, the prey gets confused and believes it has just landed in a flower.

Once a bug lands inside a trap it will start consuming the nectar. Meanwhile, the Venus flytrap is waiting patiently for stimuli.

How and When Do Venus Flytraps Open?

Once a trap is closed shut, the trap will open in a few days if it is empty or 10-14 days if it is digesting a bug.

False alarm

Sometimes the double stimuli mechanism fails and the trap closes while empty inside. Also, sometimes humans activate the trigger hairs out of curiosity. In this scenario, the traps might reopen immediately or it might take a few days.

In some cases, the plant notices the lack of stimuli after closing and it reopens after a few minutes. Also, it might remain in a half-open half-close position for some hours.

In other cases, external stimuli can trick the plant into closing and believing it has capture prey. In those cases, the Venus flytrap will reopen but might take 24-72 hours to do so.

After a good meal

Venus flytraps reopen when they have finished consuming their prey. The plant can consume most parts of the insects except for the skeleton. When the trap reopens, it leaves the dry skeleton behind.

The opening or reopening motion of Venus flytraps is not fast (like the closing). They open up slowly, as there is no need for speed in this case.

When they finally open, the trap is ready to capture another prey immediately.

What Happens to the Leaves After Closing/Opening?

The Venus flytrap is always changing leaves. The traps can close a handful of times before they wither and die (the exact number varies depending on the plant and the leaf). Once a trap has closed the maximum of times, then it will start turning dark and finally, it will dry up.

This process is completely normal. Leaves die all the time and new ones star spurring from the bulb. New Venus flytrap growers sometimes freak out when they see leaves turning black. They think it is a clear sign of a dying Venus flytrap. But, the leaf cycle is a normal process.

In the picture below, you can observe a healthy Venus flytrap exhibiting some vibrant colors. Also, you might notice some black leaves on the side of the plant. Those are the old traps that are slowly drying up and decomposing. Growers should only worry if leaves start dying, but there is no replacement growing.

Also, the black leaves won’t spread through the rest of the plant. It is not an infection, but simply traps completing their cycle.

Sometimes Venus flytraps capture large prey. In those cases, the trap will attempt to consume the bug, but it might be unsuccessful. If the victim is too big for the leaf, the plant abandons the cause and lets the whole leaf die.

Obviously, this scenario is not optimal. The plant is able to absorb some nutrients but ultimately loses a trap unexpectedly due to the size of the prey.

Why Do Venus Flytrap Need a Trapping Mechanism?

The Venus flytrap developed a trapping mechanism to capture bugs and supplement their diet. But, bugs are not an essential part of their diet.

Venus flytraps do not need bugs to survive, they produce their own food through photosynthesis (like other plants). The bugs they consume are an extra boost. Venus flytraps do not have access to key nutritious elements in the soil, but they can contain those same elements from prey.

Venus flytraps do not rely on the trapping mechanism to survive. However, it can be very useful to capture prey as the plant has a lot more energy to use of growing and developing.

Regardless of the status of a trap either when it is open, close, or is starting to die, it contributes to the photosynthesis process.

Related Recommendations for Venus Flytrap Owners

Follow the considerations below to keep Venus flytrap leaves healthy and let the trapping mechanisms function properly:

• Do not attempt to open a leaf forcefully. Instead, let the leaf follow a normal behavior. The strain on the trap can reduce its life span.
• Sometimes traps trigger due to inanimate objects or external stimuli. Do not worry if a trap is closed without a bug inside.
• Venus flytraps will only close shut if they receive stimuli from a live bug. Still, you can feed your plant dead bugs. However, you might have to follow some additional instructions to be successful. Here is a guide for that purpose.
• Do not remove dying leaves before they have withered completely. They should completely blacken and dry out.
• Avoid triggering the traps of your plant. Save your plant’s energy by letting your plant focus on capturing prey.
• When you buy Venus flytraps from a store or online, traps might be close due to shipping or excessive contact due to transportation. This is normal. Still, it would help if you were very careful with your plant to let it set in its new home.
• Keep your venus flytrap diet simple. You can trigger your plant’s trap with different types of feed, but you should stick to bugs and spiders. Do not attempt to feed your plant with human food. Harburger, candy, chicken, or anything similar can damage your plant.

Trapping Mechanism And Types of Carnivorous Plants

Each carnivorous plant exhibits a very particular trapping mechanism. All those mechanisms can be observed in nature and clarify into different types. Here are a few examples.

Adhesive traps: Some carnivorous plants characterize with sticky leaves. The leaves secrete an adhesive substance. When a bug comes in contact with the leaf, it gets stuck. Sundews and butterworts are some good examples of adhesive trap carnivorous plants.

Pitfall traps: Pitcher plants, for example, characterize with pitcher-like leaf structures. When a victim falls within the pitcher it encounters a slippery surface filled with enzymes. 

Suction traps: Bladderworts exhibit suction trap mechanisms. They have highly modified leaves in the shape of a bladder with a hinged door lined with trigger hairs.

Snap traps: The Venus flytrap is not the only snap trap carnivorous plant. The waterwheel plant has hinged leaves. These snap shut in response to stimuli from trigger hairs (similarly to Venus flytraps).

Related Questions

How many times can a Venus flytrap close before it dies?

Venus flytraps do not die when they close. Each trap has a set useful life. After that period has been fulfilled, then the leaf withers. Each trap is usually able to open and close five times before it dies.

Do Venus flytraps die when you touch them?

Venus flytraps do not die when you touch them. However, when you trigger the traps and make them close, you are wasting the plant’s energy. This won’t lead to deaf directly but will weaken the plant. If you are interested in activating the traps, consider feeding your plant to observe the mechanism.

Why do Venus flytraps not close?

A Venus flytrap leaf might not close because the leaf is dying or because the plant is adapting to a new environment. Once a trap is about to start withering, it stops being capable of snapping. Also, during extreme winters, summer, or maybe a change in environment, your Venus flytrap might be undergoing some changes and focusing on photosynthesis rather than capturing bugs.

Can a bug escape from a Venus flytrap after the trap is closed?

A trapped insect can escape from inside a trap if it is strong enough or if it can eat its way out (slugs for example). But, the victim will have to escape quickly before the plant kills them. When the trap is closed shut, the plant starts producing enzymes.

Glands secrete enzymes inside the trap and cause the victim to drown. Then, the enzymes start digesting the victim immediately, but slowly. The process can take a couple of weeks.

I have heard of slugs or caterpillars eating the traps from the inside to prevent their death. Main takeaway: avoid feeding your Venus flytrap leaf-eating insects.

Several wild plants are safe to be eaten by humans, but what about Venus flytraps? Are they edible? In this article, we will cover some interesting details about Venus flytraps and determine if they are a suitable emergency meal.

Venus flytraps are edible. They are not poisonous plants, and their consumption does not impose any type of risk to humans or pets. However, it is not recommended to consume Venus flytraps since they are an endangered species. Other plants are better suited for a balanced human diet.

We just learned humans could consume Venus flytraps. But, does it make sense to eat Venus flytrap? And what do Venus flytraps eat anyways?

Are Venus Flytrap Edible?

When you buy indoor plants, an important consideration is if they are safe to eat. The question doesn’t usually arise from the desire of eating your new plant, but due to the presence of curious kids and pets.

You will be surprised by how many house plants are poisonous. You can read this article and review an extensive list of poisonous indoor plants. The list even includes the Photos plant and the Tulip! However, Venus flytraps are a different story. They are not toxic, and they are edible. So, they can make a great indoor plant, and they do not pose a risk to pets or curious kids.

Venus Flytraps can be consumed without any issues, and you can touch it without any risk of rash or infection. Some people are scared about handling Venus flytraps because of their jaw-looking leaves. But, Venus flytrap can not harm humans.

Even if you put your trap inside a trap and activate it, your finger will be ok. You will barely feel it. Those traps are not designed to bite, but they are designed to capture tiny bugs.

In reality, Venus flytraps have a much better chance of being harm by humans than the other way around.

Where to Find Venus Flytrap

Venus flytraps are a very peculiar species. They grow in the wild in only a few locations.

Venus flytraps are native to South Carolina and North Carolina in the United States. There they grow in only two regions: the coastal plain and sandhills.

Coastal Plain: They are a flat and low-lying piece of land next to the ocean. They are separated from the rest of the interior by nearby landforms, such as mountains or hills.

Sandhills: They are an inland habitat type characterized by rolling hills with a thick capped by deep coarse sands. They are wedged between the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions. 

In their natural habitat, the Venus flytrap lives in very poor soil, which lacks nutrients. Also, there they have access to plenty of light and a humid environment. Due to the lack of nutrients in the ground, Venus flytraps developed trapping mechanisms to capture and consume prey. Even though capturing prey is not crucial for their survival, Venus flytraps benefit from consuming a bug every now and then.

Encountering carnivorous plants in their natural habitat is a very memorable experience. For Venus flytrap, however, it is difficult to accomplish as they only live in a small region of the United States.

The Venus Flytrap Is Endangered

Even though we can consume Venus flytraps at no risk, you should avoid harming Venus flytraps. The Venus flytrap is an endangered species. About ten years ago, it was added to the endangered species list.

Many factors are affecting the Venus flytrap natural habitat and have led to a wild population decrease:

• Poachers
• Environmental changes
• Urbanization and agricultural expansion

Poachers

Poachers remove plants from their natural habitat and sell them for profit. Poaching Venus flytraps is illegal (it is a felony in five North Carolina counties), yet it is still a common practice.

Environmental Changes

Due to global warming and climate cycles, the natural habitat of Venus flytrap has changed dramatically during the past decades. Temperatures in the Carolinas reach more extreme levels, and there had been an increase in tropical storm and hurricane exposure.

Urbanization and agricultural expansion

Cities have expanded and now occupy the previously untouched territory where Venus flytraps lived. Also, the expansion of agriculture has taken over large amounts of land and reduced the number of wild species.

Fun fact: The Venus flytrap is North Carolina’s state carnivorous plant

As a way to promote the preservation of the species. North Carolina declared the Venus flytrap their state carnivorous plant in 2005. North Carolina is the first state to declare a carnivorous plant as a state symbol.

If you ever encounter a Venus flytrap in the wild, admire it as much as you can, but do not attempt to remove it. There is no need to remove Venus flytraps from their natural habitat. Instead, browse online or at your local nursery for responsibly grown Venus flytrap.

We all need to wok together in preserving this fascinating specie of carnivorous plants.

Where to Get a Venus Flytrap

The Venus flytrap is endangered, but you can still own a Venus flytrap without harming the wild population. Breeders all over the world propagate and sell different varieties of Venus flytrap.

You can buy a Venus flytrap at your local nursery (if they carry carnivorous plants), online, or in brick and mortar stores. Preferable, buy Venus flytrap from reputable sources and when in doubt ask how do they propagate their plants. They should be able to give you a detailed answer.

You can learn more details about where to buy Venus flytrap with this article: Venus Flytrap Shopping Guide. Also, make sure to review the Venus flytrap care instructions before you own one

What Do Venus Flytraps Eat?

Humans and animals could consume Venus flytrap. But how does it work the other way around? What do Venus flytraps eat?

First, like most plants, Venus flytraps produce their own food via photosynthesis. Second, Venus flytraps capture prey to supplement their diet and gain key nutrients.

Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants. Their leaves have evolved over thousands of years to be capable of capturing prey. The Venus flytrap is a small plant, it can reach a height of a foot tall, and the size of an adult trap barely exceeds 1 inch.

The traps are designed to capture insects and arachnids, however, Venus flytrap can capture many other beings. For example, they can capture and consume tiny frogs, mice, or even birds. In the end, they are carnivorous plants, not insectivorous plants.

Venus flytraps can consume meat, but the event when this occurs is very unlikely. The vast majority of times their diet relies solely on insects and arachnids.

Fun fact: Venus flytraps not only eat flies

Venus flytraps eat crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, slugs, ants, worms, and of course, flies. As long as the prey is small enough to fit inside the trap, the Venus flytrap will attempt to capture it.

Could a Venus flytrap eat a human?

Technically, yes Venus flytrap can consume a human, but only parts of it. Venus flytraps can consume flesh, but due to their size and resilience limitations, they can only consume very small pieces. Also, the digestion process takes a long time.

The Venus flytrap takes a week or two to digest a single bug. So, yes, Venus flytrap can eat meat, but it is unfeasible to think Venus flytrap can consume a large mammal.

Related Question

What happens if a human eats a Venus flytrap?

Probably nothing besides a stomachache. Venus flytraps are not poisonous to humans; you shouldn’t expect any type of allergic reaction.

Still, Venus flytraps do consume bugs and they hold them inside their traps for several days to complete the digestion process. If a human or pet consumes a Venus flytrap which was digesting a bug, then they will be consuming the bug too.

It can be very frustrating when you are growing Venus flytraps, and they are either dying or looking down. Venus flytraps can be quite tricky to grow due to its unique requirements. In this article, I will give you some advice on how to bring your sick Venus flytrap back to life.

Standard plant soil, tap-water, and lack of sunlight can kill Venus flytraps very quickly. Other factors such as excessive humidity, extreme temperatures, aggressive fertilizing, and improper feeding, can significantly affect Venus flytraps.

Is Your Venus Flytrap Dying?

First, let’s verify the state of your Venus flytrap.

A dead Venus flytrap has no green leaves, has wholly blackened, and has a squishy consistency. Yet, some people tend to confuse a dying Venus flytrap from a healthy Venus flytrap undergoing some changes: dormancy or leaf rotation.

Dormancy Period

During the winter, Venus flytraps experience dormancy. The dormancy period is similar to hibernation for animals. During this time, your Venus flytrap will stop growing, it will reduce in size, and several leaves will die. 

If your plant has been exposed to temperatures below 40F (4.4C) for a few weeks, your Venus flytrap might be experiencing dormancy. A yearly dormancy period is crucial for your plant’s development. It will last about three months, and then your plant will start flourishing again in the spring.

Many people get confused during Venus flytrap dormancy. They believe their plat is dead, and they throw it away. Your plant might have experienced sudden changes, but it is because it is in its rest period.

Do not throw away your plant during dormancy. If you are uncertain of its state, keep your plant until spring. Then, it will either exit dormancy and continue to develop or never recover. Follow these considerations to care for your plant during dormancy properly:

• Do not fertilize: Your plant is not growing; avoid fertilizing your plant altogether.
• Do not feed your plant: During dormancy, your plant doesn’t need to be fed. If it catches prey on its own, that is fine, but do not feed manually.
• Lower the watering frequency: Venus flytraps still need a moist environment to live. During dormancy, continue to water, but lower the rate and adapt to weather conditions.
• Avoid freezing temperatures: The Venus flytrap needs exposure to cold weather during dormancy. However, you should avoid letting your plant freeze or experience temperatures below 25-30 F (-4C to -1C)

Standard Leaf Rotation

New Venus flytrap growers tend to get confused about the presence of black leaves. They mistakenly associate the sole existence of dead lives with a sick plant. 

Venus flytraps grow quickly; old leaves wither while new ones spur from the ground. When Venus flytrap leaves wither, they turn dark in color until they have blackened completely. They dry out and decompose slowly.

Black leaves are normal. You shouldn’t worry about your Venus flytrap unless the number of black leaves has increased significantly, and new leaves are not growing fast enough. Also, remember that during dormancy, your plant will exhibit an increase in black leaves. It is just part of your plant’s life cycle.

7 Steps to Bring Your Venus Flytrap Back to Life

In this section, we will cover the necessary steps to bring your Venus flytrap back to life. The first two steps are essential care considerations. They are critical as improper soil and water can kill your Venus flytrap very quickly. Read over the whole list to determine the reason or reasons why your Venus flytrap is not thriving.

1. Examine the soil 
2. Check the water source
3. Create a watering schedule
4. Inspect lighting requirements
5. Perfection your feeding technique
6. Examine your plant for pests and  root rot
7. Be Patient and avoid these actions

Step 1: Examine the Soil

In the wild, Venus flytrap grow in very poor soil. Throughout the years, they have developed an intolerance to nutrients. Therefore, you can not use standard ground for Venus flytraps. 

If you are using standard soil with minerals and nutrients, you will have to repot immediately. Standard soil can kill your Venus flytrap very quickly. For your Venus flytrap, you can buy a nutrient-free carnivorous plant mix or make your own. To make your own, employ moss, such as peat or long sphagnum moss and a draining agent, such as sand and perlite. 

This type of carnivorous plant soil is safe for Venus fly traps.

Besides choosing the appropriate soil, pay attention to the pot you use. Some materials leach minerals into the ground.

If you would like the exact Venus fly trap pot recommendations I use and a guide to select the best containers, check this article.

Step 2: Check the Water Source

Venus flytrap are particular about the water you can employ. Never water your plant with tap water or bottled water. Instead, you need nutrient-free mineral-free water. Chose between:

• Distilled
• Reverse Osmosis
• Rainwater
• Filtered water, but not with any filter, use ZeroWater

If you have used the wrong water source, you will have to make a few changes. First, repot your plant with new soil while moistening it with the correct water source. Then, continue to water with nutrient-free water only. Make sure you read the water tag and verify, it has no nutrients added (not even for flavor) before you use it.

Tap water or bottled water can kill your plant very quickly. You should make the transition right away and always use the correct water source.

Step 3: Create a Watering Schedule for Your Venus Flytrap

Venus flytraps live in humid climates. They are used to moist soils and humid weather. Some people mistakenly believe Venus flytraps live in swamps, but this is not true.

When you water Venus flytrap, the solid should remain moist. But, you shouldn’t saturate the ground with water. Excessive watering can damage your plant and potentially create an optimal environment for mold and bacterial growth.

Check the soil for your Venus flytrap. Test the moisture with one of your fingers. If the ground is damped, do not water again until it is almost dry. But, this time, only water until the soil is humid. 

The best strategy is to create a watering schedule that you adjust through the seasons. For example,  I water my indoor plants once a week, but my outdoor plants every 2-3 days.

All in all, keep the soil moist at all times but do not saturate or flood the ground.

Step 4: Inspect Lighting Requirements

Venus flytraps need a lot of light. Optimally, they should receive 12 hours of sunlight a day. Sometimes Venus flytraps appear to be droopy, or the leaves do not develop properly due to light starvation. 

Examine the current light situation and adapt your setup so your Venus flytrap can have access to light at least 4 hours a day. You can always supplement natural sunlight with a plant light. I have used high output fluorescent light, and high power LED plant lights (like this) without a problem. If you are in doubt about lighting, it is better to expose your plant to more light rather than less.

Improper lighting won’t kill your plant right away but will weaken it over time. Color fading in your plant is a sign of light starvation. Healthy Venus flytraps exhibit a combination of bright green colors outside their traps and deep red inside its traps.

Step 5: Perfection your Feeding Technique. Feed Your Venus Flytrap Correctly.

Now, it is time to perfect your feeding technique. Outdoor Venus flytraps can catch their prey and be more self-sufficient. Indoor Venus flytraps will need your help with feeding. Venus flytraps do not need to capture prey to survive; however, consuming them can boost their health and increase their growth rate. 

Improper feeding is one of the leading causes of black leaves. Follow this advice to feed your Venus flytrap correctly:

• Only feed your plant insects or arachnids: Do not feed your plant any human food such as candy, raw meat, or chicken.
• Feed your plant only if it has no access to feed: Outdoors, Venus flytrap capture their own prey; they do not usually need supplemental feeding.
• Do not overfeed: One bug every 4-6 weeks is an acceptable frequency.
• Feed one trap in the whole plant at a time: You do not need to feed every single trap, feed only one at a time.
• Pick the right size prey: Choose bugs that are about ⅓ of the size of the trap. Anything more significant can be too much for the plant.

Here are some dehydrated insects you can use to feed your plant.

For more information, read this guide on Venus flytrap feeding:

Step 6: Examine Your Flytrap for Pests and Diseases

Carefully examine your plant for any signs of pest infestation or diseases. 

This step doesn’t have a straightforward resolution as your plant might be affected by many different pests of diseases. Identify the symptoms in your plant and research solutions. Here are a few examples.

• Eliminate aphids with pyrethrin insecticide
• Get rid of mites with a miticide
• Employ sulfur-based fungicide to eliminate a fungus infection.

 For example, Aphids produce twisted and deformed leave in Venus flytrap. You can eliminate Aphids with pyrethrin insecticide. Also, your plant might be affected by mites, fungus, mold, etc. Identify the symptoms in your plant and research solutions. 

Step 7: Be Patient and Avoid Harming Your Flytrap With These Actions

After you have gone over the previous six steps, you should have a proper Venus flytrap setup. Follow all those instructions to save your Venus flytrap and take it to the next level. It might take a few weeks to notice any changes, but be patient. Also, while you wait for a full recovery, avoid these actions: 

• Do not fertilize your plant: It is possible to fertilize Venus flytraps with Maxsea 16-16-16 as long as you dilute the fertilizer. But, at the time, I will recommend avoiding fertilizing altogether. Instead, focus on feeding your plant correctly.
• Avoid repotting: I recommend repotting every year to a year and a half. Repotting helps keep the ground fresh and loose to stimulate growth. However, when your plant is struggling, it is better to wait before you change the soil.
• Place your plant in a quiet location with unwanted stress: Avoid mechanical stress at all costs. Place your plant somewhere where it is not exposed to constant movement. For example, avoid moving curtains and curious pets.
• Skip the flowering process: Venus flytraps produce flowers during the spring. The flowering process is entertaining, especially for novice growers. Yet, this process can drain your plant’s energy. If your plant is struggling to survive, I would recommend skipping the flowering process. Cut off the flower stalks as soon as you spot them (before they flower). The flower stalks are easy to spot as they are thick tubular structures.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed this step by step guide on Venus flytrap care. When your Venus flytrap is sick or appears to be dying, you must make changes immediately. Small mistakes can affect your plant’s health and ultimately kill it.

Do not get discouraged about growing Venus flytraps. Instead, perfect your setup over time. Feel free to comment if you have any questions.

When you own a Venus flytrap, you must water your plant properly to keep reasonable humidity levels. Since I live in a very dry place, I was curious about the benefits of misting. Should you mist your Venus flytrap? Here is an explanation.

The Venus flytrap does not usually require misting. A light mist is appropriate when Venus flytraps live in an arid environment. Also, you might consider misting your Venus flytrap with foliar fertilizer during the growing season to strengthen the plant.

In the wild, Venus flytraps grow in humid environments. You can mist your plant to up the humidity index; however, you must be careful with the amount of water in the soil. Keep on reading; this article will help you achieve the balance between misting and watering your plant!

Misting Venus Flytraps

In the wild, Venus flytraps live in humid environments. They grow in South Carolina and North Carolina in the United States. There they encounter humidity levels of over 50% regularly.

Even though Venus flytraps are used to humid environments, they do not require swamp-like conditions. They are not aquatic plants or used to boggy environments.

Misting your plant is an easy solution to up the humidity level surrounding its environment. It is only a good idea when living in very dry climates. For example, I live in Phoenix, Arizona, and the weather is dry year-round. I sometimes struggle to keep the environment for my Venus flytraps adequately moist. I have sprayed my plants, but I prefer to use alternative solutions to keep humidity levels high. Here are the two reasons why I prefer alternate solutions rather than misting:

1. It is challenging to be consistent: Where I live, the weather is dry all the time. It is hard for me to mist my plant manually on an ongoing basis.
2. Humidifiers keep the exposed soil moist: I considered using a humidifier in the past, but I got discouraged after some research. Humidifiers help you level the humidity in the environment. Yet, with plants, they can sometimes moisten the exposed layer of the soil. The problem with that is that you won’t be able to identify when do you need to water your plant. The ground might be dry throughout, but moist on the very top.

It is not harmful to mist your plant, but if your main goal is controlling the humidity level surrounding your plant, there are other options. First, you must focus on watering your plant correctly. Then, you should explore how to increase the humidity index with some of the methods below.

Humidity Requirements for Venus Flytraps

One of the primary considerations when caring for a Venus flytrap is watering.

Venus flytraps grow naturally in humid environments. Watering Venus flytraps at appropriate levels is the most crucial factor in regards to soil and environmental humidity. You will have to water your plant often to keep the soil moist.

There is no watering frequency rule that I could share with you because each location is different. For example, growing Venus flytraps in hot temperatures will require a lot more water than in cold places.

The best rule of thumb for watering your Venus flytrap is to water all around the pot until the soil is moist. You should be able to press your finger in the ground and feel the wet, yet not damped soil. Then, you should let the soil almost dry-out before you water again.

Venus flytraps require special water. You can’t water your plant with tap water or even standard bottled water. You must always use nutrient-free mineral-free water, such as:

• Rainwater
• Distilled water
• Reverse osmosis water

Just by following this watering advice, your plant will have all the water and humidity it needs. Still, you can help your plant adapt better to the climate by introducing more humidity by using a water container.

The Water Tray Strategy

Find a large plate or container that can fit your Venus flytrap pot inside of it. Make sure the container is not very shallow. It should be similar to the one shown in the picture below.

Now, you can add some water to the container. Remember! It should always be mineral-free water. Only add a thin later of water (1-2 centimeters). The water in the recipient will help moisten the environment and will act as a water reserve.

I personally use this strategy, and it works very well. I employ it half of the year, during early summer, summer, and early fall as temperatures are very high where I live. During winter or late fall, there is no need to add extra water, especially during dormancy.

Terrariums and Humidity

Terrariums are trendy nowadays, as plant lovers start to experiment with this close environment concept. Venus flytraps can live in a terrarium, but it is not optimal.

Venus flytraps appreciate the humidity inside a terrarium, which resembles their natural environment. Yet, moisture and water are not the only factors.

Venus flytrap should go through a dormancy period in the winter. Inside a terrarium, it is challenging to achieve dormancy. Also, Venus flytraps need to consume bugs to thrive. Close terrariums do not offer the possibility of feeding.

Fertilizer Mist for Venus Flytraps

The general advice towards fertilizers and Venus flytraps is to abstain from fertilizing your plant. The only reason why this advice is so strict is because it is targeted towards novice growers.

It is possible to lightly mist your plant with fertilizer to strengthen its growth. Yet, new Venus fly trap growers tend to get overly excited with fertilizer (as they should be with most plants) and they forget Venus flytraps have a low tolerance towards nutrients and minerals.

You can mist your plant with fertilizer as long as you follow these considerations:

• Only fertilize your plant during the growing season
• Only fertilize indoor plants or plants that do not have access to feed
• Do not saturate the soil with fertilizers
• Employ weak foliar sprays as fertilizers

Now, lets go over more detail in those items:

Main Considerations

Only fertilize your plant during the growing season

There is no need to fertilize your plants during dormancy. During such a period, your plant is hibernating and should be left alone for a few months. Your Venus flytrap won’t grow during this period; it will shrink instead.

Only fertilize indoor plants or plants that do not have access to feed

When Venus flytraps grow outdoors, they do not require an additional boost to develop as they can cratch insects. Venus flytraps consume bugs to boost their diet and thrive.

Indoor Venus flytraps need the extra boost with fertilizers due to the lack of access to prey, but outdoor Venus flytraps are better off without it.

Do not saturate the soil with fertilizers

A good rule of thumb is to fertilize your plant once every 2 to 3 months during the growing season. Always do it lighting, never saturate the soil.

In their natural habitat, the Venus flytrap grows in impoverished soil. They are not used to handling minerals or other nutrients. Over-fertilizing can kill your plant, so do it carefully.

Employ foliar sprays as fertilizers

Mist your plant with foliar fertilizer to provide the extra boost. Foliar fertilizers are meant to be sprayed on the leaves of the plant. Maxsea is a gentle foliar fertilizer suitable for Venus flytraps and other carnivorous plants.

Alternatives to Fertilizers

It is not necessary to fertilize your Venus flytrap if you follow these care considerations:

• Focus on proper feeding: Venus flytrap gets essential nutrients from prey thy capture. Outdoors, Venus flytraps can capture their feed, but indoors they tend to struggle. Feed yous Venus flytrap when they are placed indoors. Feeding your plant can be a lot more effective than fertilizing your plant as it is a natural process. Check this guide on Feeding a Venus flytrap if you are not familiar with the process. it is not too hards, but it should be done correctly.
• Do not let your plant flower: During spring, Venus flytraps produce flowers for reproductions. Your plant will spend substantial amounts of energy producing those flowers. If you want to accelerate your plant’s growth, then you should cut off the flower stalks as soon as you spot them. Your plant will save energy and focus on growing and developing. More information about the subject here:

Sources

• https://www.fws.gov/southeast/pdf/fact-sheet/venus-flytrap.pdf
• D’Amato, P. (2013). The Savage Garden. Berkeley, Unites States: Ten Speed Press

Not all Venus flytraps exhibit a bright red color inside the traps. When I was getting started growing Venus flytraps, I noticed some of my plants didn’t even show any red; they were just green. So, why do Venus flytraps turn red?

The Venus flytrap characterizes with bright green colors in its leaves and a deep red color inside its traps. Venus flytraps only exhibit bright red colors when they receive an abundance of sunlight and proper care. Also, not all varieties of Venus flytraps display these colors.

Bright red and green colors in your Venus flytrap is a sign of good health. With this guide, we can help you achieve those colors and take your plant to its prime.

How Do Venus Flytraps Turn Red

Venus flytraps are native to South Carolina and North Carolina in the United States. There, they have grown for centuries in moist and nutrient-free soil, receiving plenty of light.

One of the most essential care considerations for Venus flytrap is lighting. The Venus flytrap requires several hours of sunlight to live.

When Venus flytraps undergo a light-starvation period, their colors change. Instead of exhibiting green and red colors, they turn to only green. The red coloring inside the traps is lost.

Why Do Venus Flytraps Turn Green?

Venus flytraps produce their own food through photosynthesis. When Venus flytraps turn entirely green, it is a sign their main focus at that time is light exposure.

Why Should Traps Be Red?

Venus flytraps consume insects to supplement their diet. They attract prey with the red color inside their trap and sweet nectar. Once the photosynthesis requirements are met, then, Venus flytraps can focus on capturing prey.

Achieving the red coloring inside the traps is not impossible.

First, you must fulfill the lighting requirement. Then, you should review all other care considerations. Good lighting is important, but your plant will need several elements to remain healthy. Make sure to explore all aspects, and you will have a happy Venus flytrap!

Venus Flytrap Lighting Requirement

Providing the appropriate amount of light for your Venus flytraps is critical.

Venus flytraps require a lot of sunshine to thrive. Optimally, they should receive 12 hours of light. They can live under indirect sunlight as long as they receive at least a few hours of direct sunlight every day.

There is no limit on how much light Venus flytraps need. For example, if you live in a sunny area with more than 12 hours of light, that will be great for a Venus flytrap.

Venus fly traps are great candidates for windowsills as long as the window has good sun exposure.

Employ Artificial Lighting

It is not always possible to have access to natural light. Some apartments have no windows, or you might live in a commonly dark place. But, that is not a problem for Venus flytrap enthusiasts.

Venus flytrap can be grown with artificial lighting. High output fluorescent lights work well for Venus flytraps. Always pick cool light colors to avoid overheating and place your plants close to the light source.

You can also employ LED plant lights (like these) to grow Venus flytraps. LEDs bring some benefits, for example, they do not heat up, and they consume little electricity. In terms of power, choose 40-50 Watt LED lights.

After a few weeks of proper light exposure, you should start noticing some changes in your Venus flytrap. Some types of Venus flytrap exhibit extremely bright colors others have some mild tones. Still, you should be able to spot some red coloring inside the new trap.

Tip: Balance Light vs Temperature

Sometimes bright and sunny areas can be too hot for Venus flytraps. In the wild, Venus flytraps bear high summer temperatures of about 90-95 F (32-35C). This should be the upper-temperature limit for your plant.

Avoid outdoor areas or windows that heat up over 95F (35C). Improper lighting will weaken your plant, and eventually, it could kill it, but extremely high temperatures can be more dangerous. Direct sunlight with temperatures surpassing 100F (37C) can burn and dry out your plant in a few hours.

Other Venus Flytrap Care Considerations

With appropriate lighting, you will get that burgundy color in the traps; many other factors can affect your plant. Any care mistakes can cause negative color changes in your plant. For example, leaves might turn yellow or start to turn black.

Now that you know how much light your Venus flytrap needs, you can go over this checklist to verify your plant’s setup.

Fertilizer: Venus flytraps are unique in this aspect. Do not fertilize your plant. Fertilizers have nutrients and minerals your plant won’t be able to process.

Water: Venus flytraps need a moist environment. Water your Venus flytrap, so the soil is always humid. Also, you can’t use tap water. Venus flytrap can only be watered with nutrient-free mineral-free water, such as:

• Rainwater
• Reverse osmosis water
• Distilled water

Feeding: Venus flytraps grow healthy when they consume insects or spiders. Place your plant outdoors so it can catch its own prey. Or, feed it yourself if it lives indoors. The feeding process is easy but should be done correctly. Here is a quick guide of how to feed your plant: Venus Flytrap Feeding Procedure.

Indoor Environment: There are no restrictions on growing Venus flytrap indoors. They are great indoor plants! The only challenge usually falls in the lighting requirements. But, remember you can employ artificial lighting.

Soil: Venus flytraps require nutrient-free soil with good drainage. Most growers employ a mix of moss, either long-fibered sphagnum moss and sphagnum peat moss and sand or perlite.

Indoor Living: You can grow Venus flytraps in an indoor environment. Still, you must make sure you can find an indoor area that can fulfill all the other environmental considerations.

Containers: Pick the right plant pot. Ceramic, terracotta, or plastic are suitable materials. An adult Venus flytrap can grow well in a 4 to 5-inch container. Also, make sure the container is at least 5 inches deep.

For a complete Venus Flytrap Care Guide, we have a whole article. Check it out here: Complete Care Guide

Venus Flytrap Varieties and Red Coloring

Not all Venus flytraps are identical. There are several different varieties of Venus flytraps. The majority of these varieties are cultivars. Cultivars do not live in the wild, but humans have bred them.

The color and size of Venus flytraps also depend on genetics. For example, here are some Venus flytrap varieties that exhibit unique green or red coloring.

Akai Ryu or Red Dragon

Akai Ryu or Red Dragon is one of the most famous Venus flytrap cultivars. This variety, as shown in the picture, exhibits a deep red color all around.

The Red Dragon sometimes exhibits some green around the edges of its lobes. Guess what does it mean? You probably got it! Yes, green coloring is a sign of inadequate light exposure.

Are you interested in learning more about this unique variety? Read this article and find where to buy them: Akai Ryu Guide.

Dionaea Green Dragon

The Green dragon has similar looks to the Red Dragon. However, this variety characterizes by maroon color all around and a green line at the edge of the lobes of the trap.

Dionaea “Justina Davis”

This variety of Venus flytrap is fully green. These plants can never gain the red coloring inside the trap. The Justina Davis Venus flytrap is not the only all-green Venus flytrap. For example, the Dionaea “Gremlin” is a fully-green Venus flytrap clone.

Related Questions

Is it normal to have a mix of green and green and red traps within one plant?

Yes, it has happened to me before. Sometimes the lighting changes, especially if you rely on natural light. Then, some older traps might still exhibit red lobes, while young traps are just green (or vice versa).

Final Thoughts

The color in your Venus flytrap is not as important from a purely aesthetic perspective. Yet, being attentive and detecting color changes can help you keep track of your plant’s health.

A lack of red in the trap lobes is a clear sign that your plant needs better lighting. Yellow coloring can be a sign of over-watering and an increase in black leaves is commonly due to improper feeding procedures.