Author: Kellie

The traps of a Venus fly trap will open and close through the plant’s life. However, occasionally, a leaf might remain close for an extended period. In this article, I will explain why a trap will not open and how to fix this in the future.

The traps in a Venus fly trap won’t open when the plant is digesting an insect, or the leaf might be at the end of its life. Improper feeding can cause the leaf to stay close and eventually die. Also, a leaf reaching the end of life early could be due to stress or unsuitable growing conditions.

Now, let’s explore in detail the main two reasons why Venus flytraps won’t open:

• The trap has reached the end of life
• The Venus fly trap is digesting a meal

The Leaf Has Reached End of Life

Each Venus fly trap plant has several leaves. One plant will usually have 3 to 8 leaves. Each of those leaves has a trap that can close and reopen multiple times. However, the number of times the trap can close is limited.

After the leaf has close a finite number of times, usually about five times, the leaf will reach the end of life.

A trap can dry up and die at any point due to age, but activating the leaf multiple times will exhaust the leaf and eventually kill it. Sometimes, it can be very beneficial for the plant to close. If the plant captures a bug, the benefit outweighs the negative side of potentially losing a leaf.

Venus fly trap leaves will reopen after 2-12 hours when triggered by something, but they do not consume prey.

A plant not digesting something will reopen shortly unless the leaf is exhausted and might remain closed and wither.

Here are some tips to avoid causing stress to your plant and losing leaves for no good reason.

• Avoid triggering the traps from your plant to close
• Do not cause stress by repotting often; a yearly repotting is enough
• Grow your plant far away from pets and people that might cause stress and play with the leaves

I do not worry when a leaf remains closed and starts to turn black. It is its natural process. However, you must keep an eye on and confirm that your plant is not losing all its leaves. This article can help you with info on black leaf prevention.

The Venus Fly Trap Is Digesting a Bug

In most cases, Venus fly traps will be closed because they are digesting an insect. Venus fly traps lure insects with their bright colors and the sweet nectar they produce inside their traps.

If a bug triggers the traps, the leaves will close (hopefully), capturing the prey.

Once a Venus fly trap captures an insect, the leaf will take some time to extract critical nutrients.

As a general rule, it takes 1-2 weeks for Venus fly traps to digest an insect after closing its trap. Larger insects will require up to three weeks to digest. After the plant extracts the nutrients, the leaf will reopen to capture more insects.

In most cases, Venus fly traps will capture insects and take a few weeks to dissolve the soft parts of the bug. Then, they reopen, exposing the remains of the prey. However, in some scenarios, the plant might remain closed for extended periods or lead to a black leaf.

These are some common causes why a leaf will stay closed:

• The Venus flytrap is digesting an insect that is too large in size
• The plat is eating human food
• The insect inside the trap is hard to digest

The Leaf Its Consuming a Large Bug

Venus fly traps are built to consume bugs that fit within their traps.

When a bug is too big, the plant cannot fully digest it. After extracting some nutrients, the leaf will eventually give up, stay shut, and start turning black.

As a general rule, when feeding a Venus fly trap, you must select an insect no larger than 2/3 of the size of the trap. Smaller insects work well too!

The Trap Is Consuming a Difficult-to-Digest Insect

Some insects are just more challenging to digest. Beetles with hard shells, for example, can cause some stress to the plant.

When a Venus fly trap cannot digest a specific bug due to its size and composition, it will often abandon the task and let the leaf wither.

To prevent this from happening, consider employing nutritious but soft bugs for easy digestion for feeding your plant. This guide contains a complete list of what to provide and not to feed your plant.

The Plant is Eating Unsuitable Food

Finally, another common mistake that can cause a leaf to stay close and die is using incorrect food.

Venus flytraps should never attempt to consume human food. Cheese, fruit, beef, chicken, candy, sausage, blood, or any human food is unsuitable for carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps won’t be able to break those foods down; the leaf will turn black and wither.

Leafs can stay shut with rotten food inside for long periods. I recommend cutting the leaf off and throwing it away. Rotting matter can attract mold and pests.

Feeding Venus Flytrap Tips

If you own a Venus flytrap, you might be interested in feeding it. You can find a short overview below and a complete guide here: Venus Fly Trap Feeding Guide with Photos.

When feeding a Venus flytrap, employ bugs that can fit inside a trap and drop the insect in between the trap’s lobes. They can consume dead or live prey, but feeding with dead prey adds complexity.

The feeding process is not too hard, but you must follow the instructions below to avoid harming your plant. For example, overfeeding can damage the plant.

Venus flytraps growing outdoors often capture their own food and do not need to be fed.

Generally, feed your Venus flytrap once every two to six weeks by dropping the bug inside the trap. Use a single bug and feed only one trap of the entire plant. The insect must be small enough to fit inside the trap.

To avoid losing leaves due to improper feeding, follow these tips:

• Outdoor Venus flytraps do not require feeding
• Feed your plant once every 2 to 6 weeks
• Only feed insects or spiders to your Venus Flytrap
• The insects must fit inside the trap
• Do not feed your plant during dormancy
• Baby Venus flytraps do not need to be fed

Venus fly traps are known for trapping insects with their leaves. They possess a mechanism to close their leaves and capture prey that provides vital nutrients. In this article, you will learn why Venus flytraps won’t work, meaning why they do not close their leaves.

Venus fly traps won’t close their leaves because they are either dormant, sick, or their leaves are exhausted. Dormancy is a natural process that does not affect the plant’s health. However, the leaves not closing can be a sign of poor health.

I have grown carnivorous plants for over five years and Venus fly traps for the same time. Here is a quick summary of possible causes for your plant not to close; keep reading to go step by step to figure out why your plant is not working and how to fix it.

First, let’s start by learning how Venus Fly traps work and what you must do for the leaves to close.

How Venus Fly Trap Work and Close Their Traps

In the wild, Venus fly traps attract bugs with their bright colors and the sweet nectar they secrete in their traps. Once an insect has arrived at the trap, it just needs to trigger the trap to close.

Each trap is made up of two lobes. In the interior part of the lobes, you will find three trigger hairs in each. They are thin filaments. When in contact with a certain amount of movement, the trap closes.

If a bug or you stimulate the trigger hairs inside the trap by touching them twice within a short period (usually 5 seconds), the plant closes. You need to touch the trigger hairs twice in a row. There is no need to touch all the trigger hairs; just one should be enough to activate the trap.

Venus flytraps employ large amounts of energy, activating their traps. The double stimuli mechanism is critical to saving the plant’s energy and livelihood. Each leaf requires two consecutive stimuli to close.

After the appropriate stimuli, a trap closes in a snap of a second, hopefully (for the plant) capturing the victim. The lobes come together while the cilia in intertwined, but the leaf if not wholly shut at first. The traps close in two stages…

First, the lobes come together, but they do not close completely. At this point, the plant is waiting for further stimuli: movement within its semi-closed trap. Without further stimuli, the plant reopens after a few minutes/hours.

If the trap receives further stimuli, the trap closes completely and starts digesting the insects.

The Venus Fly Trap Is Dormant

Venus flytraps go dormant during the winter months. Dormancy is a period of inactivity when the plant rest and recovers. it is very similar to hibernation.

When venus fly traps are dormant, their traps often stop working. Since the plant is inactive, it does not have any interest in capturing prey.

A venus fly trap not working due to dormancy is completely normal and shouldn’t be a concern.

How do you know f your Venus fly trap is dormant?

Venus fly traps go dormant in the winter after exposure to temperatures under 45 F (7 C) for two to three weeks. Once venus fly traps enter dormancy, they usually lose some leaves and start looking down.

The Easiest Fix: No fixes are needed; just make sure your plant experiences dormancy every year

Dormancy is not a concern; it is actually a very normal process that is needed for the plant’s health. Venus fly traps must go dormant every year to stay healthy. If your plant is dormant or you need to learn more about the process, read this article on Venus fly trap dormancy and care during dormancy.

The Trap Is Exhausted and Dying

Each Venus fly trap will grow multiple traps, usually 5 to 7 traps. Each of those traps has a limited capacity for opening and closing. Once the trap has reached its limit, it will stop working.

This can be a concern in some cases, while in others, it is a completely normal process. Let me explain…

Leaves will become exhausted naturally if they are triggered multiple times by insects, the wind, or even a human plating with the traps. It is common that when Venus fly traps are shipped in the mail, their traps are closed, and they might reopen but never close again. Due to the stress of the trip, the traps might have closed multiple times and become exhausted.

If you notice one or two traps are exhausted, and they won’t close, but the other traps are working fine. You shouldn’t worry. Your plant is not sick, but only a couple of leaves are exhausted. After they stop working, they will likely turn black. Don’t worry; they are just withering. After they dry up, new growth will be spurring too.

Sometimes leaves wither due to their natural lifecycle, but in other cases it is 100% preventable. Here is a complete list of the most common causes for black leaves plus prevention.

The leaf in this picture is fully opened outwards. When leaves look like this, it is a sign they are exhausted. It is an older leaf that has just closed enough times.

younger traps that are ready to close will have the lobes closer together.

The main issue arises if none of the traps are working and the plant is not dormant. In that scenario, I recommend reading the next section. Your Venus fly trap might be unhealthy.

Easy Fix: Avoid stress and triggering traps

Venus fly traps spend substantial amounts of energy controlling their traps. trigger the traps for no reason will cause a lot of stress and stress the traps. Avoid triggering the traps with your fingers to save your plant’s energy.

Also, try to avoid exhausting any type of stress that could trigger the traps without benefits. For example, your pet might be playing with the plant, or a curtain might be touching and triggering the plant.

Activating the leaves won’t kill the plant but will eventually make the leaves turn black. Doing this constantly can pose a significant burden to your carnivorous plant.

Your Venus Fly Trap Is Unhealthy

When venus fly traps are unhealthy, they start to suffer greatly. In some cases, they might become deformed, lose their colors, and their traps can stop working altogether. To grow healthy leaves again you can follow these instructions.. To grow healthy leaves again you can follow these instructions.. If you notice your plant is not working and it is looking down, make sure you check your plant’s health.

Unhealthy Venus fly traps are not interested in capturing bugs. Venus fly traps extract most of their energy from the sun through photosynthesis. Capturing insects is just a supplement. When the plant is in distress, it deprioritizes capturing insects.

Here is a list of common mistakes made when growing Venus fly traps. Do not worry if you have made one or multiple; there is a fix for all 😉

• The soil is not carnivorous soil and it is poisoning your plant
• The water you use is not mineral free
• The plant needs more light
• The venus flytrap has too much or too light water
• The feeding is out of control
• Extreme heat exposure
• Too much stress
• The fertilizer is unsuitable
• Your plant is not eating any bugs
• There is a pest infestation
• The Venus fly trap is suffering from root rot

This one of my articles covers all these growing mistakes and how to fix them: Common reasons Your Venus Fly Trap Is Unhealthy + Fixes.

The Fix: Adjust the environment of your plant

Go over the care instructions below and find the reason(s) why your plant might be struggling. Adjust the conditions as needed to bring your plant back to health. After your plant recovers, it will start looking healthier (brighter colors, larger leaves), and the traps should start working again.

• Light: Partial or direct sunlight for at least six hours a day. Not enough light will affect the traps and eventually kill the plant.
• Water type: Only water with pure water: rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water. If you used the incorrect water type, consider changing the soil as it might have mineral build-up.
• Watering frequency: Water frequently to keep the soil moist at all times but not saturated
• Soil: Only employ nutrient-free soil. Pure sphagnum moss or peat moss are viable options. Using the incorrect soil is very risk; swap the soil if you make a mistake.
• Feeding: Venus flytraps do not need bugs to survive, but access to feed promotes their growth.
• Pot Dimensions: Choose pots that match the size of the plant: 2 inches – 6 inches in diameter. And always employ deep pots (7 inches)
• Pot Materials: The best-suited materials are plastic, Styrofoam, and glazed ceramic.
• Repotting: For best result, repot Venus flytraps once a year (here is a guide on how to pot your plants)
• Trimming: Remove black leaves by cutting them from the base with scissors.
• Temperature: Venus flytraps can withstand high temperatures of up to 95 F and cold temperatures close to freezing
• Humidity: Venus flytraps can adapt to arid climates, but they benefit from high-humidity environments.
• Fertilizers: There is no need to fertilize Venus flytraps.
• Dormancy: Venus flytraps go dormant during the winter for 2-3 months.
• Terrariums: Venus flytraps can grow in a terrarium. However, close terrariums limit their access to insects and their exposure to suitable temperatures for dormancy which can end up harming your plant.

Feeding a Venus Fly Trap

Now that the traps in your plant are working again, you can think about feeding bugs to it.

When feeding a Venus flytrap, employ bugs that can fit inside a single leaf and drop the insect in between the trap’s lobes. If the insect touches the trigger hairs twice in a row the trap will close capturing the prey.

Venus flytraps growing outdoors often capture their own food, whereas Venus flytraps growing indoors often struggle to capture bugs. It is not a requirement to feed your plant as the nutrients extracted from bugs are just an extra boost.

Still, it is a fun process and it is a way to promote growth. The feeding process is not too hard, but you must follow the instructions below to avoid harming your plant. 

Here is a list of best practices when feeding Venus fly trap. You can view the full instructions with pictures herein this article: Venus Fly Trap feeding Guide.

• Outdoor Venus flytraps do not require feeding
• Feed your plant once every 2 to 6 weeks
• Only feed insects or spiders to your Venus Flytrap
• The insects must fit inside the trap
• Do not feed your plant during dormancy
• Baby Venus flytraps do not need to be fed

Recommended Products for Growing Venus Flytraps

• Carnivorous Plant Soil
  • Carnivorous plant soil: https://amzn.to/3uVbg39
• Artificial Lighting
  • Small plant light for 1-2 plants: https://amzn.to/2RsGlxr
  • T8 LED light fixture for multiple plants (6500k Cool White): https://amzn.to/3uWoeh2
• Pots and Miscellaneus
  • Nursery pots for single plants: https://amzn.to/34Q6byu
• TDS meter to measure water quality: https://amzn.to/3g8VKLI
• Dried crickets to feed carnivorous plants: https://amzn.to/34QEnKv

Venus fly traps commonly produce flowers in the spring. A general recommendation is to remove the flowers and stop the blooming process. Today, I will share with you when to remove the flower stalks, how to do this, and some general tips.

When Venus flytrap flower, they produce flower stalks. Those flower stalks look like tubular sprouts that eventually develop flowers at the very end. Producing the branch and, eventually the flowering takes a lot of energy from the plant; for that reason, it is recommended to remove those stalks if you are not planning to collect seeds.

Remove flowers from your Venus fly trap using a sharp and sterilized pair of scissors or small shears. Cut the flower stalk from the base. To minimize energy drainage, remove the flower bud as soon as it sprouts. Wait until the stem grows for at least 3-4 inches to cut if you would like to propagate through stalk propagation.

Because Venus fly trap flower stalks are pretty thin, the only utensils you need are a pair of scissors. I recommend disinfecting the scissors by rubbing some alcohol before you get started.

Removing the flowers from Venus flytraps is not very hard. This video shows the process step by step. Also, keep on reading for more information on how to remove the flowers and how to propagate through stalks.

Steps to remove Venus fly trap flower buds

1. Grab a pair of scissors
2. Disinfect the blades with rubbing alcohol
3. Do not wait until the plant has flowered to remove. Extract flowers when the stalk is growing.
4. Separate the stalk from the plant
5. Cut the stalk off as close to the bulb as possible without causing harm
6. Plant the stem if you wish to propagate or dispose
7. Stay alert for more flower stalks; Venus fly traps often attempt flowering multiple times
8. Remove all subsequent flower stalks

Removing Venus fly traps is easy; however, deciding to remove the flowers all not can be a challenge. This article can help you make the best decision: What to do when your Venus fly trap flowers. It includes a decision diagram to select the best alternatives.

When Should You Remove The Flower from Your Venus Fly Trap

Venus fly traps naturally produce flowers every year during the spring. It is an entirely normal process that does not harm the plant. However, it does take some energy from the plant.

This means that if your plant flowers once or even multiple times, it can continue to live without any issues. But, their growth will become stagnant through the growing season. Compared to a venus flytrap that got its flowers removed, that one will appear to be smaller.

The general rule is to remove flower stalks to stop your plant from blooming to save energy. However, if you are interested in observing the flowers, collecting seeds, or are confident with how well your plant is doing, there is no need to remove them.

For most Venus flytraps blooming is a sign of Maturity. Once Venus flytraps are mature (after 3-4 years), they produce flowers every spring. However, there are some exceptions that I should mention. In some cases, unhealthy Venus flytraps that are dying will make flowers as a last resort to reproduce. In those cases, the flower won’t kill the plant but will expedite the inevitable process. This article has a lot of information on this: What does it mean when your Venus flytrap flowers – Risks.

In this first photo, you can see a healthy Venus fly trap growing a stalk. It is easy to see the plant is happy as it has bright colors and several leaves.

Now, compare the first Venus fly trap with this other one. This one is also flowering, but it is not doing very well. The colors are off, it only has a couple of leaves, and one is dying. In this case, I wouldn’t risk letting the bud develop. Flowering could weaken the plant enough that it might end up dead. Of course, that is not the only problem. Besides removing the flower, the plant needs a healthier environment.

There is one point that many miss about flower stalks. Generally, there is an ongoing debate if you should or shouldn’t remove the stalks—however, not many talk about how to use the stalks for propagation.

Venus Fly Trap Flower Stalk Propagation

It is possible to propagate Venus Flytraps through flower stalk propagation. And this propagation method is straightforward.

The process of propagating Venus flytraps through flower stalk cuttings is uncomplicated. First, cut flower stalks after they grow 2-4 inches. Then, plant the flower stalks in carnivorous plant soil. Plant them vertically or horizontally. Finally, provide water and lighting. Flower stalks exhibit growth within 2-5 months.

I have included a brief explanation below with the general steps. Read the complete article on Venus flytrap flower stalk propagation for an overview.

Suppose you wish to try this propagation method. First, you must know that the probability of success is low. However, the process is so easy that you might as well try it.

1.- To start with, you must have a flowering Venus flytrap.

2.- To increase your chances of success in flower stalk propagation, you must obtain the cuttings before the stalks flower. For best results, obtain the cuttings as soon as the flower stalks reach a length of 2-4 inches.

When the stalk is at that stage, it only costs the plant a fraction of the energy, and the stem is still very young and fresh.

3.- To extract the flower stalk, cut them with a sharp pair of scissors. Cut as close to the base as possible, but avoid harming the bulb or leaf.

4.- After you extract the flower stalk, cut it into smaller pieces. The number of pieces will depend on the length of the branch. The general rule is to divide the flower stalk into segments of at least 2 inches in length. If the stalk is skinny, try only dividing it into a length of a minimum of three inches.

5.- Plant the flower stalks into humid carnivorous plant soil. You can plant the stalk by sticking them vertically to the ground and blurring .5 of an inch. Also, you can place them on the soil horizontally and bury both ends with some soil.

6.- After planting the flower stalks, you are all set. If you provide appropriate care, just the same as a Venus fly trap, you should observe some growth within the next 2-5 months.

Without flowers, you will be unable to collect seeds. But cutting the flower stalks allows you to experiment with another reproduction method: flower stalk propagation. And, as you have learned, the flower stalk propagation process is uncomplicated.

Venus fly traps need a lot of light to grow. Sunlight is the best light source for fly traps; however, not all can provide long hours of daily sunlight to this unique plant. I have grown Venus flytraps indoors successfully with artificial lights, and I will teach you how you can do the same.

When employing artificial lights for Venus fly traps, choose LED or fluorescent bulbs of at least 1500 lumens. The preferred temperature is 6500K. Place the artificial lights 10-12 inches from the Venus fly traps and run the lights for 10-16 hours a day.

Growing Venus Fly Traps Indoors vs. Outdoor?

Because Venus fly traps need a lot of lighting to grow and be healthy, sunlight is the best light source. If you have the possibility of growing your fly trap outdoors and providing at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, choose the outdoor option. If you can’t provide a sunny outdoor location for your plant, then choose indoor growing with artificial lights or a combination of natural and artificial lighting.

For a complete overview of lighting for Venus flytraps, read my full guide in this article.

The Best Artificial Lights for Venus Flytraps

Venus fly traps require powerful lighting. You will need to look for bulbs or light fixtures that provide at least 1500 lumens. Then, you will need to keep those lights on for 10-16 hours a day. This table summarizes the spec to look for suitable lights for Venus flytraps. Also, you can check out my recommendations below.

Personally, I have used these different types of lighting successfully. Each of them adapts to different setups:

Cheapest Artificial Lights for Venus Flytraps

The cheapest lights for Venus flytraps are T8 fluorescent lights or single Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs. I recommend the T8 tubes for multiple plants and the single bulbs for single plants. Here is a direct link for the compact light bulbs: CFL, 6500K, 2100 lumens.

The unit price for this option is about $10-13, but keep in mind that you will need a lamp or a socket to mount it too.

Practical Artificial Light Fixture for 2-3 Venus Fly Traps

When I first started growing Venus flytraps, I only had three in a single pot. These lights have helped me provide appropriate lighting for them for over a year. Eventually, I switched to a larger lighting setup, but this light is perfect if you are just getting started or just have a few plants.

The light comes with time to set up the lighting cycle. I recommend choosing the 12-hour cycle. Place your plants 5-10 inches away from the light to maximize exposure, and make sure all the bulbs are pointing directly at your plants.

The Best Artificial Lights for Multiple Venus Flytraps

Once your collection of Venus flytraps or carnivorous plants grows, you will need a powerful and large setup with lights. Here is a link to the LED lights I use so you can check the price and reviews.

These LED light fixtures are some of my favorites for a few reasons:

– They provide enough lumens for Venus flytraps when placed directly over the plant (5-10 inches away)

– They do not get hot and can be placed close to plants without burning

– They are energy efficient

To install these LED tube lights, I suggest using a plant shelf. It is a solid way to get organized, and you can connect multiple lights to each other to provide even more lighting to your Venus fly trap.

You will also need a timer to manage to turn the power on and off for these fixtures. You can get a smart outlet like this one and run the lights daily for 12 to 16 hours.

LED vs. Fluorescent Lights for Venus Fly traps

LEDs and fluorescent lights are both suitable for Venus flytraps and most carnivorous plants. However, there are some benefits why I prefer LEDs over fluorescent alternatives.

LEDs are much more energy efficient than fluorescent lights. When you have a lot of lights, all running for over 12 hours a day. Efficiency is critical.

It is critical that you keep the light source close to your plants. LEDs do not overheat, so you can place them very close to your plant without risking burning them.

Still, fluorescent lights are a viable option. Do not be afraid to use them if you have some in hand. Also, they are cheaper alternatives to start with, even though the energy bill will be higher.

How To Build An Indoor Setup for Your Venus Flytrap

Follow this section step by step to set artificial lights and your Venus flytraps in the appropriate environment.

1- Find the right place for your Venus flytrap.

Find a spot where your Venus fly trap can grow without stress. Consider that pets are usually curious about Venus fly traps and might like playing with them. I recommend a place that keeps the plants away from pets, and that has access to natural light.

Even if you know you will need artificial lights, look for a place where your plant has access to some sunlight to supplement its growth.

2- Select the artificial lights for your Venus flytrap

Use LED or fluorescent lights that provide at least 1500 lumens at 6500K.

3- Mount the artificial lights directly over your Venus fly trap

Mount the lights 5-10 inches away from your plant. Depending on the lumens your plant receives, you might be able to either move the lights farther away or bring them closer together.

4- Set up the light timer

Since artificial lights are not as powerful as sunlight, you must have them on for extended periods of time. Set the timer to turn on your lights for at least 12 hours. In my current setup, I run them for 14 hours.

5- Adjust the lighting distance

As your plants adapt to the new lighting, you should monitor them to determine if they are happy with the lighting or if they might require more. Usually, plants take 2-4 weeks to show signs the light might not be enough.

This next chapter outlines some clear signs your Venus fly traps need light.

8 Signs Your Venus Fly Trap Doesn’t Receive Enough Light

When Venus fly traps do not receive enough light, they suffer greatly and start exhibiting signs. Here are some to keep an eye on:

• Your Venus flytrap is losing its colors
• The petioles are growing wide
• Venus fly traps are not producing traps
• The plant is droopy and wilting
• The traps have lost all red coloring
• The traps stop working; they won’t close
• The plant is losing leaves and reducing in size

This article covers each of these signs and outlines how to fix these problems: 7 signs your Venus flytrap needs more light.

 Venus Fly Trap Indoor Care Tips

Growing Venus flytraps indoors can be quite challenging, there are several considerations to be aware of when growing Venus fly traps inside your home:

Lighting: Provide at least 12 hours of artificial lighting and, if possible, supplement with direct or indirect sunlight from a window sill or a glass door

Watering: Water Venus fly traps often to keep the soil always humid but not flooded. When growing indoors, avoid overwatering and leaving the soil soggy for extended periods of time. Overwatering can cause root rot and mold issues.

Feeding: IndoorsVenus flytraps will have little to no access to bugs. Employ a single insect to feed your Venus flytrap once every 1-2 months to encourage growth.

Dormancy: Venus flytraps need a period of inactivity called dormancy every single year. In order to go dormant, they need to experience cold temperatures for 3-4 months. The temperatures must be lower than 45F. When growing Venus flytraps indoors in a heated location, consider moving your Venus fly traps outdoors or to an unheated location so they can experience winter and dormancy. Dormancy is critical to keep your plant alive in the long term.

Terrariums: Avoid growing Venus fly traps in terrariums. Closed terrariums do not provide enough air circulation and can cause many issues.

Access my complete guide on Venus fly trap care here.

Lighting is extremely important for Venus fly traps. Lack of proper sunlight or artificial light will have negative effects on your plant. In this article, I will cover some clear signs your Venus fly trap needs more light.

Venus fly traps need at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight to survive. 12 hours of direct sunlight is optimal for Venus fly traps. When Venus fly traps are light starved, they often lose their colors and might even become deformed.

It is possible to grow Venus fly traps indoors without sunlight by using strong LED or fluorescent lights of at least 1500 lumens that run for 12- 16 hour daily cycles. This small LED plant light has worked for my Venus fly traps.

Even though many factors influence your plant’s health, improper lighting is one of the most common mistakes. Here are the signs your Venus Fly trap needs more lighting with tips to resolve.

The Venus fly trap is losing its colors

Most Venus fly traps characterize by bright green and deep red colors. Some cultivars will have lighter color schemes, but not the vast majority. If your plant is suddenly losing its colors and looking faded, it might be due to not enough lighting.

The Venus fly trap petioles are growing wide

Venus fly traps have long petioles that connect the root bulb with the trap of the plant. Sometimes the petioles start to grow wider and wider to increase their area. Wide petioles are usually a sign of poor lighting.

The plant is trying to grow wider leaves to have higher exposure to sunlight. The wider petioles won’t affect the plant immediately, but they are a sign that your plant is unhealthy. As soon as you introduce extra lighting, your plant should start growing more proportional petioles.

Venus fly traps are not producing traps

Under very poor growing conditions and lack of lighting, Venus fly traps will stop producing traps altogether.

The plant is suffering greatly and aims to focus on photosynthesis. It won’t produce any traps because capturing bugs is not a priority.

If your plant is not growing any traps, you must correct the environment. Place it under bright sunlight for a few hours a day and slowly introduce more lighting until you reach 10-12 hours. Your plant should start producing leaves as soon as it starts recovering.

The Venus flytrap is looking droopy and wilting

Venus fly traps droop for three main reasons: not enough water, lighting, or both! Assess the water and lighting when your plant is looking down.

Venus fly traps need to be watered often. The soil must remain humid at all times. Completely dry soil can harm Venus fly traps (you can find more information on watering here!)

Lack of lighting will also make your Venus fly trap wilt, but reintroducing it to light will bring your plant back to normal again.

Venus fly traps growing in Walmart or Home Depot are often droopy because they grow on dark shelves and are never watered.

Once your plant is at home, it can sometimes also look droopy. This guide can help you find out what is wrong..

Once your plant is at home, it can sometimes also look droopy. This guide can help you find out what is wrong..

The traps have lost all red coloring

Varieties of Venus fly trap have different shares of color inside the traps. Some have very deep burgundy shades, and others are all green.

When Venus fly traps have red coloring inside their traps, and they suddenly start losing it, it can be a sign of poor lighting. The red color inside the traps is designed to attract insects. When a Venus fly trap requires more light, it will stop worrying about capturing prey; therefore, it can stop producing traps with red shades.

The traps of the Venus fly trap stop working

Non-working traps are not always a sign of poor lighting, but they can certainly be. Venus flytraps often develop traps that do not close when triggered when they are dormant, have had a lot of stress, or are not receiving enough light.

Venus fly traps go dormant in the winter when exposed to weather below 45 F. While dormant, most traps might not work.

Shipping, repotting, or abrupt temperature changes can cause stress in your Venus flytrap that can consequentially make the traps stop working.

If you believe the traps in your plant are not working due to improper lighting, watch for additional signs to confirm before making abrupt changes in your plant’s environment.

The plant is losing leaves and reducing in size

When growing conditions are not optimal, Venus fly traps will stop dividing and stop producing as many leaves. In some cases, you might notice an abrupt reduction from having 6-8 healthy leaves to only a couple.

The small number of leaves is not always a sign of improper lighting but a sign of poor growing conditions. Assess the overall setup and check for the lighting and watering requirements with special attention.

Now that you have learned about the signs your Venus fly trap needs more light, it is time to fix the setup and provide appropriate lighting.

The recovery time will vary in length depending on the severity of the light starvation. Some plants can recover in just a few days, while others might take 4-5 weeks. A slight fade in color it’s a pretty mild sign. When a plant stops growing traps altogether, it’s a pretty serious sign.

First, start by learning more about the light requirements for Venus fly traps in this article: Venus Fly trap lighting requirements explained

Then, introduce your plant to more lighting slowly. Add one to two hours every couple of days if your plant is growing outside.

For indoor plants, consider placing the light source closer to your plant. LEDs can be mounted a few inches away from your plant without burning the leaves. I recommend bringing the lights closer by a couple of inches every few days until you reach the desired light exposure.

It is also possible that your artificial lights are not suitable for Venus fly traps. In this article, I share my recommendations for Venus fly trap plant lights and a guide to check the specs.

After you have increased the lighting, your Venus fly trap should start looking bright and happy again. For more care information, read this complete guide on growing Venus flytraps.

Giving Venus flytraps enough lighting is critical to keep them alive and healthy. They are exposed to many hours of direct sunlight in their natural habitat, often over 12 hours in the growing season. When growing Venus flytraps at home, you must try replicating the high lighting conditions.

As a general rule providing over 12 hours of direct sunlight is optimal for Venus flytraps. The minimum recommended amount is 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. Venus flytraps can be grown indoors or outdoors as long as they receive enough light.

Growing Venus flytraps indoors is possible but a lot more challenging due to the need for artificial lighting. If you live in a sunny area, growing your Venus flytrap outdoors is your best bet!

I have grown venus flytraps outdoors and indoors for over five years and I can assure you: mastering the lighting setup is critical to growing carnivorous plants. In this article, I will share with you exactly how much light to give your Venus flytraps whether it is inside your home, on a windowsill, or outdoors 🙂

Venus Flytrap Outdoor Sunlight Requirements

Growing Venus flytraps outdoors is very beneficial for many reasons: airflow, plenty of bugs, seasonal temperature changes, and most importantly: natural lights! Sunlight is the best type of lighting you can provide to your plants.

For best results, grow Venus Flytraps under direct sunlight. Over 10 hours of daily sunlight are optimal for Venus flytraps. The minimum recommended daily hours of sunlight is 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight.

Periods of partial shade throughout the day are acceptable as long as your plant has access to enough direct sunlight.

The more hours of sunlight, the better. There is really no limit to the lighting you should provide. When Venus flytraps grow under strong direct sunlight they grow rapidly, develop beautiful colors, and often divide and replicate, creating more and more traps.

Acclimation:

Before introducing a new plant to direct sunlight or increasing the amount of lighting, make sure to go through an inclination period. Slowly introduce your plant to more lighting by transitioning from partial shade to direct sunlight. Add 1-2 hours of direct sunlight per week until you get to complete direct sunlight.

Introducing new plants to direct sunlight right away can burn them or take them into shock. Venus flytraps love direct sunlight, but abrupt changes can harm them.

Temperature Considerations:

Venus flytraps have no issues withstanding hot temperatures as long as the soil is properly watered (you can find more information on watering here!) However, once the temperatures rise over 100F, your plant could be at risk of drying out or burning. A way to prevent harmful heat exposure is to use pots made of good insulation materials (plastic, styrofoam), use4 a shade cloth when temperatures rise above 110F, and keep your plants in a tray with water.

Venus Flytrap Indoor Lighting Requirements- Artificial Lighting Setup

Venus flytrap can grow indoors; however, providing enough indoor lighting can be challenging and expensive. In this section, I share my method and setup elements to grow venus flytraps indoors successfully and under a friendly budget.

First of all, if you have the chance to grow your Venus flytrap outdoors. Please do it. It is a lot easier 🙂

But if you don’t have that option… this is the way to do it:

When growing Venus flytraps indoors, first try to find a spot in your home that might have some access to natural light. Sunlight is very strong, and it’s free, so any would be very helpful to grow your Venus flytrap.

Artificial Lighting Venus Flytrap

As a general rule, Venus flytraps can remain healthy if exposed to more than 6 hours of artificial lighting. For optimal results, provide over 10 hours of artificial lights with LEDs or fluorescent bulbs of at least 1500 lumens.

Since artificial lighting can be a lot less effective than sunlight, you should aim to provide light for very long periods. You can run your lights for 16 hours; Venus flytraps will benefit from the extended exposure. I have used this small LED plant light to grow some of my Venus flytraps, and they are doing great. For multiple plants, you can employ these light fixtures: T8 LED light strips (6500k Cool White): https://amzn.to/3uWoeh2. Here is a picture of some of my Venus flytraps growing under these lights:

When growing Venus flytraps inside your home, consider buying T8 high-output fluorescent or LED lights of cool colors. The optimal temperature is 6500K.

The benefit of using LEDs for Venus flytraps is that they remain cold and are not a heat hazard. Also, they are more energy efficient than fluorescent lights. So, you can place them very close to your plant. I place them 10-15 inches away from the light source but feel free to experiment with the distance. Overall, you want your plant to be close to the light.

In this article, I explain in detail how to select artificial lights for your plants. Check it out for recommendations. It includes options for advance growers and for newbies, and also varied budget options that fit all.

There are also some scenarios where Venus flytraps can grow with a combination of sunlight and artificial lighting, like growing them on window sills or a sunny porch. If you believe your Venus flytrap is not getting enough light, you can always add artificial lighting to supplement.

In this video, I explain the basics of how to grow venus flytraps indoors and the lighting considerations plus growing tips 😉

remember that besides the lighting, there are other considerations you must address when growing Venus flytraps indoors: moisture, temperature, dormancy, etc…

Venus Flytrap Lighting in Windowsill

Windowsills can be great places to grow venus flytraps as long as they are bright enough. As a general rule south-facing windows get the most sun, however, the lighting can vary depending on your specific home so don’t follow that rule blindly.

Assess the windowsills in your home and choose one that provides at least 4 hours of direct sunlight. The more direct sunlight the better, but 4 hours is the bare minimum. Also, indirect sunlight also helps, but it should just be a supplement not the only source of lighting. For best results use a windowsill that opens so your plant can have access to bugs and continuous airflow.

Make sure to check for the temperature in the windowsill area. The glass in windows can sometimes act as a magnifying glass and heat up the area. Extreme heat can burn your plant, so make sure you check that first!

If none of your windowsills can provide enough light, consider using a combination of artificial and natural light. This small LED plant light I shared before had a clip that can easily attach to windowsills. I would suggest to provide at least 6 hours of artificial light as a supplement to sunlight.

5 Signs Your Venus Flytraps Needs More Light

These are some clear signs your Venus flytrap is not receiving enough light and might be dying:

Droopy Venus Flytrap: Your Venus flytrap is looping droopy and down. Not enough water or lighting can make your plant wilt and look like is dying.

Decoloration: Lack of bright colors. venus flytraps are known for their bright burgundy and green colors. Lack of proper lighting can make your Venus flytrap lose its colors and suddenly look faded

Non working traps: Without proper lighting Venus flytraps deprioritize catching bugs, so their traps might not work at all.

Wide petioles: When Venus flytraps are light starved they start growing their leaves. Specifically the petiole area (all but the trap). the petiole turns wide to maximize light exposure

Tiny traps or lack of traps: Venus flytraps will actually reduce the size of the traps or stop producing traps if the lighting is not enough.

This article covers each of these signs and outlines how to fix these problems: 7 signs your Venus flytrap needs more light.