Author: Kellie

Venus flytraps can be fantastic indoor or outdoor plants. They are beautiful, unique, and entertaining to own. When people consider growing Venus flytraps indoors, sometimes they question if these plants have any particular smell.

The Venus flytrap does not characterize by any particular smell. The traps of the plant secrete sweet nectar to attract prey, but that scent is undecipherable by humans. If your Venus flytrap smells, it might be caused by rotting soil, a rotting bulb, or insect carcasses.

If your plant is having some trouble and you are noticing unwanted scents, no worries. We can help you fix it! And for all the prospective new owners, do not get discouraged. Venus flytraps do not smell bad. When properly cared for, there is no odor.

Do Venus Flytraps Smell?

Venus flytraps can be grown indoors as they do not emit any unwanted smells. However, improper growing conditions can cause unwanted odor surrounding your Venus flytraps.

Natural Venus Flytrap Scent

Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants. They secrete sweet nectar inside their traps to lure potential victims.

The red color inside the traps together with the fruity scent confuses insects. Prey believes they have arrived at a flower, but instead, they end up becoming food.

The sweet scent produced by Venus flytrap can only be perceived at a tiny scale. Humans won’t be able to smell anything from Venus flytraps.

When I first learned about the trapping mechanisms of Venus flytraps, I was captivated. The sweet nectar trick seemed very neat. I even tried smelling the scent out of my Venus flytrap. But, as you just learned, I had no luck.

Unnatural Smells: Detect the Source

On some rare occasions, you might notice a bad smell surrounding your Venus flytrap. The scent might not be coming from your plant directly, but from some elements inside its grow container.

These are the leading causes of bad odors within your Venus flytrap plant or its environment:

• An insect’s body is slowly decomposing inside the pot
• The soil is holding bacteria or mold
• You have a root rot

Now, we will explain each item in detail. Go over the list below and determine which fits your case.

An insect’s body is slowly decomposing inside the pot:

Venus flytraps consume insects. In most cases, they trap a bug and seal it inside the lobes of the trap. Then, the plant continues to digest the insect using enzymes. This process does not emit any smell because the trap is closed shut. Yet, sometimes things do not go as expected.

Sometimes Venus flytraps consume large insects. When an insect is relatively large for the plant, and it sticks out of the trap or barely fits inside, then the plant might have trouble digesting the bug.

In those cases, the plant attempts to consume the prey, but it might be unsuccessful. In those scenarios, the plant abandons the effort and lets the whole trap and leaf wither. Then, the bug, still inside the trap will slowly decompose naturally. Unfortunately, in these circumstances, dead bugs can emit an odor.

The easier way to eliminate the smell is to trim the dead leaves and remove any insect remains.

The soil is holding bacteria or mold:

Depending on humidity indexes and the temperature, your soil might be holding bacteria or mold. Any of those agents can produce unwanted smells. Also, it is not healthy for your plant to live in moldy or infested soil.

When your plant is fully trimmed, and the soil is exposed, it is easy to smell it and detect unwanted scents. Also, try to think back when was the last time you repotted your plant. Maybe this is an excellent time to exchange the soil.

You have a root rot:

Venus flytraps require a lot of water to live and develop. They need moist soil at all times. But, Venus flytraps do not need boggy or swamp-like conditions. For example, overwatering venus flytrap can cause root rot.

Root rot emits a smell. When your plant has root rot, the bulb is slowly rotting and dying. It is a severe condition that can kill your Venus flytrap.

Sometimes the smell of root rot is not very clear because the rotting bulb is underground. You can dig the soil around the bulb of your plant or entirely remove your plant from the ground to check for root rot.

Once you can observe the bulb you can identify a root rot easily:

• The bub has a dark color or dark spots
• The rotting area stinks
• The affected area has a squishy texture

Root rot is dangerous for your plant as it will not stop and will eventually consume the whole bulb and roots. We have an article about Venus flytrap root rots and how to save your plant. If you are having this issue, follow the instructions in the section to save your precious flytrap:

How to Prevent Unwanted Smells in Your Venus Flytrap

In this section, we will explore solutions to prevent any bad smells within your plant’s pot and environment. These tips will also help you keep your Venus flytrap healthy.

Proper Feeding and Trimming

Sometimes large or improper prey gets stuck inside a Venus flytrap. But, in most cases, traps die with food inside them due to improper feeding. Venus flytrap owners tend to get too excited (especially as first-time growers) when feeding their new pet. Venus flytraps make two main mistakes during feeding: Improper prey size or improper food.

Follow these tips to properly feed your Venus flytrap and prevent any leaves from dying:

• Only feed insects or arachnids to your Venus flytrap: Please, do not experiment with human food such as meat, candy, bread, etc. Your plant won’t be able to digest it. Instead, the trap will die with the food inside of it. Then, the feed will decompose slowly while attracting bacteria and fungus.
• Feed your plant prey that fits inside the trap: Do not experiment with larger prey. Measure the bug before feeding your plant; make sure the bug is about 1/3 of the size of the trap. Larger insects won’t necessarily provide more nutrients. Also, when the plant can consume it in a reasonable amount of time, the trap will abandon the task and die. Then, you will be left with a dead bug’s corpse.

Trimming Tip: Keep an eye on the traps that are consuming prey. If you notice one of them is turning black, make sure to trim it and remove it. Then, you won’t encounter any unwanted scents.

Use the Proper Carnivorous Plant Soil

Prevent bacteria, mold, or fungus from developing in your soil by choosing the right soil elements for your plant. Most Venus flytrap owners use a special mix for their plants. Venus flytraps grow well on a combination of long-fibered sphagnum moss or sphagnum peat moss and sand or perlite.

Make sure to include one type of moss and sand or perlite. Sand and perlite both are great draining agents. They also break up the soil and provide a well-aired medium.

Prevent Stinky and Dangerous Root Rot

The smell of root rot is nor pleasant, but it can help you save your plant. The unwanted smell is a warning sign regarding the health of your plant. Follow this advice to prevent root rot:

• Repot your plant once every year: Take advantage of the dormancy period to do some plant maintenance. Exchange old soil from the pot, clean up the roots, and set in new soil. There is no need to do this too often, just once a year or year and a half.
• Do not over-water your plant: Some people have the misconception that Venus flytraps live in swamps, but that is not true. Venus flytraps need a moist ground; the soil shouldn’t be damped or flooding. Test the ground after you water and make sure it is not saturated with water.
• Use nutrient-free soil with good drainage: Drainage in the soil prevents water stagnation.

Final Thoughts

I hope you found this article useful. A bad smell surrounding your Venus flytrap is an alert toward a care mistake. Maybe it is improper feeding, or perhaps overwatering. Regardless of the cause, you should take action to save your plant.

It is perfectly normal to make mistakes when growing Venus flytrap. Do not get discouraged. Venus flytraps can be tricky!

When you own a Venus flytrap, you know you will encounter dead leaves reasonably often. When you do, you have the option to prune your plant. I would like to share with you a short guide on pruning your Venus flytrap.

Venus flytraps can be pruned. Trimming is not essential to the plant’s survival, but it provides health and aesthetic benefits. Use sharp and thin scissors to cut the dead leaves from the base, and be cautious with the bulb and surrounding healthy leaves.

It is not a requirement to trim your Venus flytrap, but it can bring some benefits. Keep on reading to get more information in the proper trimming technique and considerations.

Venus Flytrap Pruning

The traps of Venus flytraps can only close less than a dozen times before they wither and die. This process is normal.

Venus flytraps are continually producing new leaves while old ones die. When Venus flytrap leaves wither, they turn to a dark black color. It takes several days for a trap to wither completely.

In the wild, the dead leaves tend to stay close to the ground and eventually decompose in the soil.

At home, you might want to consider pruning your Venus flytrap every now and then. The trimming process is entirely harmless when done correctly. After pruning, your plant will look healthier, have more room to grow, and more energy to produce new leaves.

When to Trim Your Venus Flytrap

Venus flytraps generate their food through the photosynthesis process. Even though they consume bugs, their survival depends on photosynthesis.

When a Venus fly trap leaf starts turning black, it might be unable to capture prey. However, it will still be able to help in the photosynthesis process. When the traps wither, they do not blacken all at once. Sometimes the top part of the leaf starts changing color, while the rest of the leaf is still green.

Even when only a fraction of the leaf is still healthy, the plant can still use that part of the leaf during photosynthesis.

Do not cut off traps as soon as they change in color. Instead, wait until they have wholly withered to take action. Once they have dried completely, then you can trim them out and remove them.

Also, during spring, your Venus flytrap will produce flowers. If you let your Venus flytrap flower, those flowers will also wither eventually. You should also trim the flowers. Flower stalks are thick and substantially heavier than the leaves. Removing them will save your plant some energy.

Venus Flytrap Pruning Considerations

Follow this list of considerations to trim your Venus flytrap properly:

• Do not pull the dead leaves out manually: Never pull the dead leaves! You can severely damage the plant. All of the leaves spur from a delicate center bulb. The black leaves are still attached to the plant. If you pull them, you can rip off the whole plant or a chunk of it. Instead, use small scissors or pruners to cut them out.
• Cut the black leaves close to the bulb, but without touching it: When you trim your Venus flytrap, do your best removing those dead leaves completely. Do not only cut the trap portion of the trap but the whole branch.
• Avoid setting up any traps: Venus flytraps employ significant amounts of energy controlling their traps. When you prune your plant, you will be in contact with healthy leaves. Avoid setting any traps with your fingers or tool. When you activate a trap at a random time, your plant will waste energy, and the trap will die sooner.
• Set up a trimming schedule to avoid stress: I recommend trimming your plant every couple of months or so, depending on the season. When you trim your plant, especially if you are a beginner, you will put some stress on it due to excessive movement and handling. I usually avoid pruning dead leaves too often. Instead, I wait until I see several black leaves. Then, I clean up the plant to avoid constant stress situations.

Venus Flytrap Trimming Benefits

When you prune a plant, you remove dead and dying branches or leaves to incentive growth and prevent pests. Here are some key benefits that arise from grooming your Venus flytrap:

• Better Aesthetics: Venus flytraps do not always look picture perfect. Most people are not familiar with the idea of black leaves in Venus flytraps. If they spot the dead leaves, they might assume your plant is dying, even though that is not true. When you prune your Venus flytrap, you highlight the traps and remove the excess. Routine grooming can give a positive aesthetic change.
• Promote growth: The general idea of pruning a plant is simple: remove the dead to encourage growth. Prune your Venus flytrap to promote its growth and development. A well-groomed plant will focus its effort on growing and developing, rather than supporting the dying branches.
• Prevent Pest and Mold: Sometimes, mold or bacteria can develop in dead leaves, especially when there are large amounts of dead foliage.
• Avoid Overcrowding: In the wild, dead leaves decompose at a higher rate than at home due to more exposure to microorganisms. In your home or a small plant pot, the dead foliage will take months or up to a year to decompose. Trim your Venus flytrap to give the traps more space to extend over and grow.

Pruning During Venus Flytrap Dormancy

Venus flytraps undergo a dormancy period every year during late fall or winter. This process is entirely normal, and it is analogous to animal hibernation. Venus flytrap experience dormancy when they are exposed to cold weather (32F to 45F).

During dormancy, your plant will change dramatically. Several leaves will die all at once. Also, your plant will stop growing and reduce in size. You might only be left with a couple of healthy leaves by the end of dormancy.

During dormancy, you will have several dead leaves to trim at first. Then, the growth rate will slow down significantly. Trim your plant when necessary and consider repotting close to the end of winter.

Remember, the dormancy period is completely normal. So, do not get worried if your plant experiences sudden changes during winter months.

Trimming Frequency: Black Leaf vs Healthy Leaf Ratio

Should you be trimming so many black leaves?

Pro Tip: Always keep an eye on your plant’s dead leaf ratio or cycle. There should always be a new branch spurring from the bulb for every dead leaf. If you notice an increase in black leaves, your plant can be sick.

Natural Causes of Black Leaves

• Standard Growth Cycle
• Dormancy: There will be an increase in black leaves during dormancy

Black Leaves Caused by Poor Growing Conditions

• Large prey: Leaves die when traps consume overly large prey that is difficult to digest.
• Poor lighting: Venus flytrap require a lot of sunlight. Without enough lighting new and older traps weaken and die
• Improper water source: Leaves die rapidly when Venus flytraps are watered with tap water. Only water your plant with reverse osmosis, distilled or rainwater.
• Wrong soil: Venus flytrap needs nutrient-free soil. Your plant will weaken and die if planted in standard soil.
• Excessive use of fertilizers: Venus flytraps can handle a light mist of fertilizer. But generally, fertilizer can do more harm than good and kill your plant.

Final Thoughts

The process of trimming your Venus flytrap is completely optional. There is no hard requirement that forces you to groom your plant. Dead foliage would definitely not kill your plant!

When trimming or caring for your Venus flytrap always inspect the leaves. Changes in the color of the leaves can indicate healthy or unhealthy conditions. Also, an increase in black leaves can be a warning sign.

Hope you found this article useful. Good luck growing Venus flytrap. Enjoy!

Venus flytraps require several elements to stay healthy. If your plant is starting to look sick or losing leaves, you might be experiencing root rot. I have grown Venus flytraps for several years. And, along the way, I have made mistakes and learned how to overcome them. With this article, I would like to share a guide to detect Venus flytrap root rot and give you advice on how to save your plant.

Venus flytraps can be affected by root rot when grown in humid environments. The root rot weakens the plant, and if the conditions do not change, root rot can kill the plant. The signs of root rot are abnormal smell, an increase in black leaves, and color and texture changes in the plant’s bulb.

If your plant is suffering from root rot, you can still save it. Do not get discouraged! Instead, read the guide below and follow some easy procedures to save your Venus flytrap.

Venus Flytrap Root Rot Causes

Root rot is caused by overwatering Venus flytrap or exposing them to fungus or bacteria.

Venus flytraps require substantial amounts of water to survive. The general rule is to keep the soil moist at all times. You should never let the soil dry out completely.

Even though Venus flytraps require constant watering, some people can give their plants too much love and accidentally harm them. The soil should be moist, but it shouldn’t be damped.

Over-watered soil promotes the growth of harmful bacteria and fungus. The bacteria and fungus consume your plant’s matter. When the soil is damped, fungus and bacteria start consuming the bulb of you Venus flytrap.

In the wild, Venus flytraps live in humid habitats. However, they are not aquatic plants, and they are not used to swamp-like conditions.

“Venus flytrap occupies distinct longleaf pine habitats in the two regions of the Carolinas – Coastal Plain and the Sandhills. In the Coastal Plain where it is more common, Venus flytrap occurs in wet loamy pine savannas and sand pine savannas. These sites are generally flat with wet or moist soils for much of the year. ”

Venus Flytrap
Under Endangered Species Act review
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Clear Signs of Root Rot

If you believe your plant is experiencing root rot, but are uncertain, you can use the following list to make an accurate diagnosis:

• Rotting smell: Get close to your plant and try to detect any strange smell. Usually, a trap decomposing a bug might exhibit a bit of a scent, but the plant shouldn’t have a rotting odor.
• An increase in black leaves: Venus flytraps naturally exchange leaves, older leaves blacken, and new ones spur from the bulb. Even though black leaves are a normal part of the plant’s cycle, an increase in black leaves is a warning sign.
• Changes in your plant’s bulb: Dramatic changes in the bulb of your plant are clear signs of root rot. The roots and bulb of your Venus flytrap are underground. Therefore, you must remove the plant from the soil to confirm a root rot. A healthy bulb is white and has some pink coloring in the edges. Rotting bulbs have dark spots or areas. Also, a rotting bulb has a squishy and slimy feel.

Remember! Your Venus flytrap can be down for several reasons:

• Wrong water source
• Lack of proper sunlight
• Inappropriate feeding
• Dormancy

Regardless of having a root rot or not, you should always follow all the Venus flytrap care considerations. You can get the whole overview here:

How to Save your Venus Flytrap from Rotting

When your Venus flytrap has a root rot, you must act quickly. Follow the steps below to save your plant from rotting.

1- Remove your Venus Flytrap from the Soil

Carefully remove your Venus flytrap from the soil. Remove all the big chunks of soil manually and then wash the bulb and the roots with distilled or reverse osmosis water (rainwater is also an option).

2- Remove the Affected Area

Now, you will have to bring out your inner surgeon skills! Use a small pair of scissors to trim the affected area. Remove the rotting part of the bulb and roots attached to it.

At this point, you should also trim any dead leaves. Your plant needs to focus on recovering and producing healthy leaves and roots.

If your plant has been dramatically affected by root rot, you can consider trimming a few unhealthy looking traps (following these instructions) so that your plant can focus on maintaining the healthy ones alive and producing new ones.

3- Repot your Plant in Clean Soil

Discard the old soil. Clean the plant container thoroughly and place new soil inside the pot. Now, carefully plant your Venus flytrap in the new soil. Make sure the roots fit comfortably, and the ground fully covers the bulb.

Choose an appropriate soil mix to prevent rotting in the future. Venus flytrap soil usually consists of a combination of moss, either Long-fibered sphagnum moss or sphagnum peat moss and sand or perlite.

You can also consider using a fungicide spray to prevent any remaining fungal agents from spurring.

4- Water your Plant and Monitor its Condition

Venus flytraps need water. Therefore, you still need to water your plant, but be extra careful. Use your fingers and press the soil after watering. You should feel the moisture in the ground. Yet, your fingers shouldn’t feel water or a swamp-like texture.

Now, it is time to monitor your plant and make sure it recovers. Be especially careful in providing enough sunlight during this period. Your plant needs all the strength it can get to improve.

How to Prevent Root Rot

Soggy ground conditions and exposure to fungus and bacteria can cause root rot. Follow this advice to prevent root rot from happening in the first place.

• Use the right soil with enough drainage
• Repot your Venus flytrap every year to prevent soil compression
• Test the soil humidity after watering

Now, let’s explore each item in detail:

Use the Right Soil with Enough Drainage

Venus flytraps require nutrient free soil with good drainage. Most growers utilize a combination of these components to create a Venus flytrap friendly soil: 

• Long-fibered sphagnum moss
• Sphagnum peat moss
• Sand
• Perlite

You can find all of these components in any gardening store. The moss holds water to provide the moist environment we need. And the perlite and sand help with drainage and loosen up the soil.

Some growers plant Venus flytrap directly into Long-fibered or peat moss. I prefer to combine moss with sand or perlite. Sand and perlite both help air the soil. These components are vital to preventing excessive moisture and reduce the chances of root rot.

Repot your Venus Flytrap Every Year

When you keep plants in the same soil for long periods, the soil tends to compress. Soil compression slows the plant’s growth as roots have to fight their way through the ground. Also, when the ground is compressed it tends to hold more water.

Repot your plant every year to prevent soil compression. Also, the new soil has less chances of holding fungal or bacterial elements.

Test the Soil Humidity After Watering

Prevent root rots by always watering your plant appropriately. Use your fingers to sense the moisture in the soil after watering. Keep the ground moist, but not wet or damped. Then, wait until the moisture starts drying out before watering again.

Also, you should adjust your watering schedule to the season. I live in Phoenix, Arizona and the summer heat can be brutal. I water my Venus flytraps constantly during the summer. But during the winter, I space the watering a few extra days.

Some people use the water reserve strategy, where they place their Venus flytrap pot on top of a container or plate with water. This practice is common and it is very efficient. But, you must follow these considerations to prevent root rot:

• Do not fill the whole container with water. Venus flytraps do not grow properly on standing water.
• Let the water level lower until almost empty.
• Pour an inch of water in the container when you refill.

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.

I live in Phoenix, Arizona, and at my home, I have grown Venus flytraps for several years. Arizona is a beautiful state, but high heat during the summer can be a challenge when growing Venus flytraps. I would like to share with you some care considerations and tips to grow Venus Flytraps in Arizona and overcome the extreme heat conditions.

Venus flytraps can be grown outdoors in Arizona, where summer temperatures often surpass 110F. However, in this high heat environment, growers must take additional considerations such as placing Venus flytraps under partial shade, using appropriate potting containers and keeping a high humidity environment.

Even though Venus flytraps can be grown outdoors in high-temperature environments (such as Arizona), it is still a challenge. You must be careful about building a setup. Your setup will need some shading and cooling mechanisms to prevent your plant from drying out.

The next sections will guide you through the process on how to ensure your Venus flytrap lives healthy through the hot summer.

Grow Venus Flytrap in Arizona

In the wild, Venus flytraps live through high summer temperatures between 75° F and 95° F. These plants are native to South Carolina and North Carolina in the United States. If you have visited those states, you might be familiar with the hot summer weather.

Venus flytraps require plenty of light. Most care guides suggest a minimum of 8 to 12 hours of sunlight. Sunny weather is a perfect fit for Venus flytraps. However, you must always remember that areas with high sunlight indexes tend to get hot and this can be a problem for your plant.

Optimally, you must keep your Venus flytrap’s habitat between these temperatures:

• Summer temperature suggested maximum: 95° F (35° C) 
• Winter temperature suggested minimum: 30° F (-1° C)

Even though Venus flytraps are resilient plants, they can be greatly affected by intense heat. In Arizona or in any other location where temperatures surpass 95° F (35° C), you must use preventative measures to lower the temperature of the plant, its soil, and pot. 

When growing your Venus outdoors, consider placing your plant in a strategic location where it is only exposed to indirect sunlight. Your plant will still need enough lighting, but over 8 hours of indirect sunlight should be enough to keep your plant healthy.

Also, you can consider placing your plant in a hybrid environment. There it can get a few hours of direct sunlight and plenty of indirect sunlight through the rest of the day.

5 Tips to Overcome High-Temperature Environment

The following list includes five different options to keep your Venus flytrap healthy through the summer. All five are alternatives to lower heat exposure.

• Use a shade cloth to decrease sun intensity
• Avoid placing your plant behind glass or a glass container.
• Choose plant containers that insulate.
• Keep a high humidity index.
• Consider growing Venus flytraps indoors

Now, lets explain each of them:

Tip 1: Use a Shade Cloth

A Shade Cloth is a loosely woven piece of cloth made of polyester or a similar material. People use them to get protection from the sun. Shade Cloths or Sun Shades are handy for home gardening and greenhouses.

You can employ a Shade Cloth to provide partial shade for your Venus flytrap during the summer.

There are many different degrees of Shade Cloth. When you buy one, you can choose between 5% and 95% density. For your Venus flytrap, I would suggest somewhere between 20% and 50% if it is going to be placed outdoors during the summer. The actual percentage will depend on the specific placement of your plant.

I always suggest trying a higher density when in doubt (so you don’t burn your plant). If the temperature under the shade is appropriate but your plant is weakening, then it is not receiving enough light. Now, you can try a lower density.

You can buy shade cloth in department stores, hardware stores or online. Here is a link if you are buying a shade cloth online: Sun Block Shade Cloth.

Tip 2: Avoid Windows and Glass

Glass can magnify the intensity of the sun and raise the temperature next to it. And this type of heat can certainly dry out your plant very quickly. Generally follow these practices:

• Do not use a glass pot or container for your Venus flytrap: it will only increase the temperature even more.
• Do not place Venus flytraps behind an extremely sunny window: monitor the glass’s temperature during a hot day before placing your plant behind glass.
• Never place Venus flytrap terrariums outside in the summer: the full glass enclosure will raise the container’s temperature and burn your plant.

Tip 3: Chose the Right Pot

The material of your plant container or pot can affect the temperature of your plant and the soil.

As mentioned in the previous Tip 2: “Avoid Windows and Glass”. Glass pots are not recommended. Also, metal containers can raise the temperature of your plant.

The best options for growing Venus flytraps in high temperatures are terra-cotta or ceramic pots. And for one step further, choose light color containers.

Tip 4: Water Reserve Strategy

Humidity can help lower the temperature. Venus flytraps do not require extremely high humidity levels, but they are used to humidity above 50%.

You can raise the humidity level of the environment by using a plate or container full of water.

Like in the image below, you can place your Venus flytrap pot on top of a container. Then, add some water to the container. Since the pot has openings in the bottom, the soil will always be moist, and the humidity will remain high.

Avoid filling the whole outside container with water. Generally, Venus flytraps grow better when there is a small amount of standing water, not large amounts.

Tip 5: Grow Venus Flytrap Indoors

Sometimes people feel like it is too difficult to place Venus flytraps outdoors due to environmental conditions. In that case, there is an easy solution to consider: grow your Venus flytrap indoors.

Venus flytraps can be grow indoors as well as outdoors.

I prefer placing my plants outdoors because they catch their own prey and are exposed to natural lighting, but it is not a requirement. You can set your plant near a sunny window (remember, not to close!). There, they can get enough light while remaining at room temperature.

Also, you can grow your Venus flytrap indoors without natural light. Venus flytraps can grow healthy with artificial lighting.

Plant lights are an excellent option to provide a stable light source. High-output fluorescent lights are optimal for Venus flytraps.

Venus Flytrap Care Considerations

Besides the temperature requirements, you still need to consider several other factors to care for your plant. This list is a short summary of Venus Flytrap care considerations.

Water: Venus flytraps need to be watered very often (here is a guide on watering that can help you use the optimal amount) (here is a guide on watering that can help you use the optimal amount). The soil should always be moist. In Arizona, this can be a challenge. For that reason, I always use the water reserve strategy (Tip 2)

Also, you can’t water Venus flytraps with tap water, instead use rainwater, reverse osmosis water, or distilled water.

Light: Venus flytraps require plenty of sunlight. You must place them in a  spot where they can receive at least 4 hours of sun a day.

If you do not have access to natural light, employ artificial lighting: high output fluorescent lights.

Feeding: Venus flytraps need to consume bugs to grow and develop. Outdoors, Venus flytraps catch their own prey. But, indoors, you will have to do the feeding. Here is a guide if you are unfamiliar with the process: Venus Flytrap Feeding Guide.

Trimming: Routinely, the traps of your plant will wither as new ones grow. When the traps die, they change in color and turn black. You can trim your plant by cutting the dead leaves.

Do not pull the dead leaves, use a small plant pruner or scissors. Also, avoid activating the trap while handling the plant.

Soil: Venus flytraps require nutrient-free soil with good drainage. You can buy a carnivorous plant soul mix of make one yourself. For the DIY strategy, combine long-fibered sphagnum moss or sphagnum peat moss with sand or perlite.

Fertilizer: There is no need to fertilize Venus flytraps.

Final Thoughts

It is possible to grow Venus flytraps anywhere in the world. You can grow them indoors if you live through challenging environmental conditions. Or perhaps, you can grow them outdoors, but adapt to the circumstances.

You must always remember that Venus flytraps need several key elements to survive. Make sure you are fulfilling all the care considerations to let your plant thrive.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Have fun growing Venus flytrap!

Sources

• D’Amato, P. (2013). The Savage Garden. Berkeley, Unites States: Ten Speed Press.

Most people are familiar with the Venus flytrap. However, very few have heard about the B52 Venus Flytrap. Several different variations of Venus flytraps have been developed. The B52 Venus flytrap is a unique specimen. I have owned standard Venus flytraps and the B52 variety. Both kinds are beautiful, but the B52 can surprise the viewer due to its unique characteristics.

Standard Venus flytraps are small plants with adult traps of just 1 inch long. Over the years, botanists, scientists, and growers have developed different cultivars of this species. For example, they have bred the B52 Giant Venus flytrap.

Did you know you can buy B52 Venus flytraps commercially? Continue reading to find some reliable sources. Also, if you already own one or another type of Venus flytrap, I have included a Care Consideration section below.

The B-52 Giant Venus Flytrap Cultivars

The Venus flytrap or Dionaea muscipula is a specie original from the coastal areas of North Carolina and South Carolina. In the wild, Venus flytraps have lived for centuries in poor soil, and as a result, they have developed a prey trapping mechanism.

The Dionaea B52 is a Venus flytrap clone, which is considered a giant Venus flytrap. Dionaea B52 traps can reach the size of two inches, which is double the size of standard Venus flytraps.

The Dionaea B-52 is “A formidable clone produced by Henning Von Schmeling of the United States. The cultivator doesn’t signify the giant jet bomber but happened to be the code for plants he was needing. Vigorous and impressive, these large specimens also clump, producing a mass of large, yawning traps.”(D’Amato, 2013).

What is a Cultivar?

A cultivar is a cultivated variety of a particular plant. Cultivars do not grow naturally in the wild. Instead, humans develop them under special conditions. The Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS) website lists many different registered Venus flytrap cultivars.

B52 Venus Flytrap Sizing Comparison

Venus flytraps are not large plants; they grow in the forest floors of the Carolinas. Most Venus flytraps grow five to ten traps at a time.

When they reach maturity, most plants reach the following dimensions: 5 inches in diameter, 1 foot vertically, and a trap size of 1 inch. The B52 Venus flytrap variation exhibits larger traps, which can surpass the 2 inches long.

Standard Venus fly traps have no trouble capturing small prey such as ants, flies, crickets, and spiders. But, the B52 has a lot more capacity to capture prey. Usually, the Venus flytrap aims to capture prey that can be entirely enclosed inside the trap.

The B52 clone can capture larger insects and arachnids, and they might even capture other beings.

Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants, not insectivorous. Their diet is not restricted to bugs; giant Venus flytrap can catch small frogs, rodents, or even birds.

Other Venus Flytrap Cultivars

The B-52 giant Venus flytrap is not the only cultivar out there. There are actually several dozen registered variations of Venus flytraps. Here are a few examples of some unique varieties.

Venus Flytrap Variations

• Akai Ryu or Red Dragon
• Dionaea Green Dragon
• Dionaea Dente
• King Henry
• Dionaea Ginormous

Continue reading to get a brief description of each Venus fly trap cultivar.

Akai Ryu or Red Dragon

Ron Gagliardo developed a completely red Venus flytrap at the Atlanta Botanical garden. This variety of Venus flytrap exhibits a deep red color through the leaves.

We have a full article on the Akai Ryu variation, which includes information about its origin, physical appearance, and care instructions. Follow this link to learn more.

Dionaea Green Dragon

This variation of Venus flytrap is similar to the Red Dragon. It is almost entirely maroon, but the edges of each trap have a green border

Dionaea Dente

The Dionaea Dente produces medium-size plants with unique traps. The teeth within the traps are short and pointy. Some say, their appearance resembles a shark or vampire teeth.

King Henry

Don Elkins of Mesa Exotics bred the Dionaea muscipula ‘King Henry’ cultivar. This variation was selected through size and was given an original name. The variety is named after King Henry from the show The Tudors.

King Henry Venus flytrap grows at a fast pace. They mature quickly and flower within two growing seasons.

Dionaea Ginormous (Another Giant Venus Flytrap)

This cultivar is similar to the B52, but its trap scale is more massive. Yet, the traps are not fully functional. Since the lobes within the trap are massive in size, the traps sometimes malfunction. One flap might close faster than the other. As a result, the prey escapes.

Where can I buy a B52 Venus flytrap?

It is relatively easy to find Venus flytrap stores online. Make sure to include the B52 term when browsing for plants.

I have listed some useful websites to buy a giant Venus flytrap. Also, you can visit a local nursery and ask about these exotic plants. Sometimes nurseries carry not only the B52 variety but also other large Venus flytrap varieties.

Remember that you can also buy B52 Venus flytrap seeds. Growing the plant from seedlings will definitely take longer. But, you will get to experience the whole life cycle.

Specialized Websites

• https://www.flytrapcare.com/store/venus-fly-trap-b52
• https://carnivorousplantresource.com/product/venus-flytrap-b52/
• https://predatoryplants.com/products/venus-flytrap-b52
• https://www.growcarnivorousplants.com/B52-Flytrap-p/14051.htm

Amazon

You can find B52 Venus flytraps in Amazon.com. They sell the seeds and the actual plants. I bought plants through Amazon before and was not disappointed. The B52 is worth it; the traps are captivating! Make sure to check for good seller reviews before you make a purchase.

B52 Giant Venus Flytrap Care Considerations

The care for most Venus flytrap variation is standard. The main difference between the Dionaea Muscipula and its B52 clone is the large size of the traps and the short length of the leaf base.

Care Considerations:

Water: Venus flytraps need to be watered very often (here is a guide on watering that can help you) (here is a guide on watering that can help you). The soil should be moist at all times; it can never dry out. Also, you can’t water Venus flytraps with tap water, instead use rainwater, reverse osmosis water, or distilled water.

Light: Venus flytraps require plenty of sunlight. You must place them in a  spot where they can receive at least 4 hours of sun a day. B52 plants exhibit bright red colors inside the traps when exposed to sufficient lighting.

If you do not have access to natural light, you can employ artificial lighting: high output fluorescent plant lights.

Feeding: Venus flytraps need to consume bugs to grow and develop at an optimal rate. Venus flytraps do not need daily food; instead, feed them once every two to six weeks.

Also, the feed must fit entirely inside the trap. A good rule of thumb is to pick an insect or spider that is not larger than 1/3 of the size of the trap. The B52 Venus flytrap has large traps and can consume larger prey. Still, stick to a bug-based diet. Do not experiment with human food.

Trimming: Routinely, the traps of your plant will wither as new ones put from the center of the plant. When the traps die, they change in color and turn black. You can trim your plant by cutting the dead leaves.

Do not pull the leaves, instead use a small plant pruner or scissors. Since the B52 has very short leaf bases, be extra careful when trimming. You should always avoid activating traps.

Soil: Venus flytraps require nutrient-free soil with good drainage. You can buy a carnivorous plant soul mix of make one yourself. For the DIY strategy, combine long-fibered sphagnum moss or sphagnum peat moss with sand or perlite.

Fertilizer: There is no need to fertilize Venus flytraps. Fertilizer can kill your plant.

Related Content

Is the B52 Venus flytrap the largest Venus flytrap?

The B52 Venus flytrap while very large, is not the biggest variety of Venus flytraps. The Dionaea Ginormous cultivar exhibits larger traps.

Related Articles

For a complete Venus flytrap care overview, read this article: Complete Care Guide.

• Red Venus Flytraps Exist and They Are Awesome
• 10 Hacks on How to Keep Venus Flytrap Alive
• 13 Fascinating Facts about Venus Flytraps

Sources

• D’Amato, P. (2013). The Savage Garden. Berkeley, Unites States: Ten Speed Press.
• https://legacy.carnivorousplants.org/cpn/Species/v25n2p50.html

In this article, I will resolve some common questions within the community: Do Venus flytraps eat gnats? and, can they serve as gnat controllers?

Venus flytraps can certainly consume gnats as they attract them with the sweet nectar inside their traps. Venus flytraps can act as gnat controllers, but other carnivorous plants are better equipped to eradicate gnats like for example the Mexican butterworts and Sundew.

There are a few considerations that reduce Venus flytrap’s success rate as a gnat controller. Here are a few options to eradicate gnats with carnivorous plants.

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

Do Venus Flytraps Eat Gnats?

It is a big misconception that Venus flytraps eat flies exclusively. Venus flytraps consume a wide variety of insects or arachnids such as ants, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, worms, flies, and spiders.

At home, Venus flytraps can help you reduce the number of occasional bugs, including gnats. Here are a few items to consider before using Venus flytrap as nat controllers.

• Gnat sizing: Gnats are small in size. They usually reach a size of 1/8 – 1/4 of an inch. Due to their small size, they can escape easier from inside the leaves of Venus flytraps. With that said, Venus flytraps consume ants, which are smaller than most types of gnats.
• Limited trapping number: Venus flytraps can only consume a limited amount of bugs at a time. Since Venus flytraps have 3 to 10 traps, the maximum amount of bugs that a Venus flytrap can capture at a time is its number of traps. Yet, filling up all traps is very unusual.
• Slow digestion: It takes Venus flytraps several days or even a few weeks to consume a victim. Do not expect a Venus flytrap to be capturing prey daily.
• Prey selection: Venus flytraps employ prey selection to select the right meal. For example, sometimes, they let small prey escape as they weigh the cost and benefits of capturing and digesting their prey [1].

Venus flytraps can consume gnats and serve as a gnat controller in a limited way. If you have a problem with gnats, other carnivorous plants are used as a gnat controller. These are a lot more successful than Venus flytraps and will help you with your problem.

If you plan on feeding your Venus flytrap with gnats, that is a good option. However, there are some alternatives. Here is a list of food options for Venus flytraps. Also, make sure to check out the instructions to feed Venus flytraps.

Best Carnivorous Plants to Control Gnats

“Mexican butterworts and some larger sundews have been known since the Victorian age to be grown in greenhouses as a gnat controller” [2]. These two species are the recommended carnivorous plants to reduce the gnat population in your home or garden.

Mexican butterworts: These carnivorous plants have beautiful flowers and adhesive leaves. When an insect walks through or lands on a leaf, it gets stuck.

The bug can try to fight the sticky nature of the surface, but it will most likely get stuck more and more as it triggers secretive glands in the leaves. The glands produce enzymes and start digesting the bug.

Butterworts passively trap victims in their leaves. They do not select their prey or release them purposefully.

Sundews: these plants trap prey in sticky hairs that come out of their leaves. They have large tentacles that extend from the leaves. The tentacles have a sticky gland at the very end. Sundews produce nectar to attract their prey.

First, the insects get stuck to the tentacles thanks to its adhesive surface. Then, the tentacles twine around the insect and secure it. Finally, Sundews produce enzymes to digest the prey.

Both of these carnivorous plants employ adhesive leaf/tentacle mechanisms to trap their prey. The gnat size won’t impede them from capturing it. Also, because gnats are flying insects, they will be caught immediately as they land.

Related Questions

Do Venus flytraps eat fruit flies?

Yes, Venus flytraps can trap and consume fruit flies. But, we kind of answer this question earlier as fruit flies are a type of gnat, and Venus flytraps eat gnats.

There are several different types of gnats. In its majority, they reproduce quickly and can cause problems when it is an infestation. For example, fungus gnats gather in gardens or potted plants with organic material. Fruit flies feed on overripe or rotting food.

Can Venus flytraps help control bug plagues at home?

Venus flytraps can help you control the bug population at home. Yet, it won’t help you with all types of plague. Venus flytrap will only control the bug population of insects and arachnids they can consume.

Venus flytraps can consume bugs that they can completely enclose in their traps. Most cockroaches or large beetles are too big to be captured by Venus flytraps. Flies and other flying insects are the perfect targets.

Also, there is a limitation of how many victims they can consume at a time. And once the insect it captures. Your plant will take several days to consume it and be ready for the next prey fully.

Can Venus flytraps get infested with gnats?

Yes. Gnat’s larvae can be harmful to Venus flytraps as they can feed on the plant’s leaves. Fungus gnats grow indoors, and they like high moisture environments. For that reason, they can settle in the moist soil of Venus flytrap pots, and it can be challenging to get rid of them.

The consensus is to repot the plant to eliminate the fungus gnats. First, you must remove the soil altogether. Then, inspect the plant for any egg, larvae, pupae attached to the leaves. Finally, repot.

Conclusion

Carnivorous plants won’t solve a full bug infestation problem at your home or in your garden but can reduce the bug population on a small scale. For gnat specifically, Mexican butterworts and sundews are the best carnivorous plant species to control them.

Venus flytraps eat gnats, but they won’t serve as a gnat controller. Also, remember that gnat at their larva stages can harm seedlings and young plants. So, make sure you are not exposing your more delicate plants to a gnat infestation.

If you grow Venus flytraps or are interested in starting a new hobby, make sure you learn about the Venus flytrap requirements. This article is a good start: Complete Venus Flytrap Care Instructions

Complete Venus Flytrap Care Instructions

Recommended Products for Carnivorous Plant Growing

• Carnivorous Plant Soil
  • Carnivorous plant soil: https://amzn.to/3uVbg39
  • Pure peat moss for carnivorous plants: https://amzn.to/3vTqirs
  • Pure perlite: https://amzn.to/3ppckLF
• Artificial Lighting
  • Small plant light for 1-4 plants: https://amzn.to/2RsGlxr
  • T8 LED light fixture for multiple plants (6500k Cool White): https://amzn.to/3uWoeh2
• Pots
  • Nursery pots for single plants: https://amzn.to/34Q6byu
  • Net pots for single plants: https://amzn.to/2TMqgDJ

Resources

[1]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022519318300560

[2] D’Amato, P. (2013). The Savage Garden. Berkeley, Unites States: Ten Speed Press.