Carnivorous plants are fascinating creatures. Each has a very peculiar method to capture and consume prey. Venus flytraps are particularly interesting. Their jaw-like leaves lure potential victims and wait patiently.
Venus flytraps only grow naturally in two states of the United States: South Carolina and North Carolina. There they develop in a unique habitat. Still, as a carnivorous plant enthusiast, you can buy Venus flytrap in several brick and mortar stores and some online shops.
This short article covers the basics of buying a Venus flytrap: price, shopping locations, and tips. You can be a proud Venus flytrap owner in no time!
Venus Flytrap Price
Venus flytraps are not expensive. You can buy a single plant for as low as $10. If you purchase several of them, the price becomes more economical, sometimes to $5 per plant. Keep in mind that mature plants and unique varieties are more expensive.
Shopping Options
When you buy Venus flytraps, you can opt for a few different options:
Seeds: When you grow Venus flytrap from seeds, then you get the whole experience. However, it can be challenging to take care of the seedling. Also, consider that you can harvest your own seeds if you buy an already grown plant.
Young Venus flytrap: It takes 2 to 4 years for Venus flytraps to reach maturity.
Mature plants: Mature Venus flytraps are a few years old. They produce flowers every spring and can propagate.
Terrarium: Some vendors sell Venus flytraps inside terrariums. Venus flytraps grow well in a terrarium. Yet, I will discourage you from buying one that is sealed completely. Those are just for display; you can’t take the plant out and let it grow to its full splendor.
Red Venus flytrap: The Akai Ryu (“Red Dragon” in Japanese) is a variation of the Venus flytrap that exhibits a deep red color over the whole leaves. This variation of Venus flytrap is a lot more uncommon, but you will still be able to find some online. More information here: Red Venus Flytrap Exist and they are Awesome
Blue Venus flytrap: I wanted to add this note to make sure you do not get scammed. Blue Venus flytraps do not exist. There were some fake pictures of blue Venus flytraps circling the Internet. But, they are all fake. Do not fall for the trap of buying them.
Red Venus fly trap, Photo by: Blue Ridge Exotics
Where to Buy Venus Flytrap?
The three most common places were you can buy carnivorous plants and Venus flytraps specifically are specialized online shops, brick and mortar stores, and Amazon.
Specialized Online Shops
Specialized shops are always great options. Some carry extensive selections of carnivorous plants from all other the world. So, you can buy different types of plants and add them to your collection.
Here are a few good options to shop for Venus flytraps:
I have seen live Venus flytraps sold in hardware and grocery stores, like Home Depot and Walmart. They usually only carry one kind, but it is great to be able to see the plant before you buy it.
Since they are large stores, some plants might be stored for considerable periods of time. Make sure the plant is in good condition before you buy it. Decoloration or sluggish looks are warning signs.
There are several dozens of Venus flytrap sellers in Amazon. You can find a large selection of seeds, Venus flytraps, soil, and related supplies. I have had positive experiences buying through Amazon, but generally, keep an eye for the reviews and plant information.
Additional Supplies to Buy
Some plants come with a growing kit. Others are just shipped on their own. Regardless, make sure you have the supplies below all at once when you are ready to pot your plant.
Pot: Use plastic or ceramic containers. Mature Venus flytraps develop better when grown in their own cup (4-5 inches in diameter). Larger pots are suitable to group several plants. Just make sure to give each plant its space. Also, all containers should be at least 5 inches in depth.
Soil: The best ground for Venus flytrap is nutrient-free and with good drainage. You can find many carnivorous plant soils in the market. Also, you can make your own by mixing a combination of Long-fibered sphagnum moss, sphagnum peat moss, sand, and perlite.
Water: You can not water Venus flytrap with tap water. You need distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or rainwater (no exceptions here).
Lighting: Venus flytraps require plenty of light. Make sure you have a bright spot at home. Also, plant lights are an excellent option to provide a stable light source. High-output fluorescent lights are optimal for Venus flytraps.
Are Venus flytrap growing kits worth it?
Growing kits are worth it if you are just getting started with carnivorous plants. They usually come with all the supplies you need. Also, sometimes they include a valuable care sheet.
You can also review our Venus Flytrap Care Article. There is plenty of information there to help you keep your Venus flytrap thriving!
Make sure to buy or gather all the potting supplies (pot, light, water, and soil) by the time your Venus flytrap arrives.
I recommend young or mature Venus flytraps for novice growers. Germinating seeds and caring for seedlings requires more involvement and knowledge of care considerations.
Do not shop for plants that have lived in improper conditions for a long time. Some brick and mortar stores stock them on shelves with poor lighting and no water for weeks. In those cases, the plants might be too weak to save.
Avoid buying Venus flytraps that claim to be of exotic colors. Red Venus flytraps do exist, but I a not aware of other Venus flytrap varieties of uncommon shades. Unfortunately, some online vendors advertise fake products.
The first time I saw a live Venus flytrap was in a hardware store. They were selling them in enclosed containers, like small terrariums. I didn’t really know much about them, but they were fascinating. Eventually, I decided to buy some Venus flytraps to grow at home. Luckily, the plants I bought came with some basic care instructions. Over the years, I started growing more Venus flytraps and perfectioned my plant setup. Depending on your geographical location, you might be able to grow Venus flytraps outdoors, but that is not always the case. Still, you can grow Venus flytraps indoors anywhere in the world! This article will cover an in-depth overview of Venus flytrap indoor care instructions and considerations.
Venus flytraps are native to the wetland of South Carolina and North Carolina in the United States. These plants are well-known for their predatory nature. Venus flytrap can be grown indoors as long as they have access to plenty of light, water, and insects to consume.
General Venus Flytrap Indoor Care
Venus flytrap requires some primary care considerations, regardless of where they are grown.
Watering: Do not use tap water; only use distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or rainwater. Also, Never let the soil go dry. You must water your plant very often, keeping the ground moist at all times.
Soil: Use a combination of nutrient-free long-fibered sphagnum moss, sphagnum peat moss, sand, and perlite.
Feeding: Venus flytraps need to consume bugs every few weeks to supplement their diet.
Stress: Avoid mechanical stress. Do not play with the traps or place your plant next to moving objects.
Plagues: Keep an eye on your plant appearance—research remedies for the specific disease or plagues you might encounter.
Now, we will expand on some of the care considerations above and cover some specific ones for indoor growing.
Indoor Lighting
Indoors and outdoors, Venus flytraps require plenty of light. They can live under direct or indirect sunlight, but they need to be exposed to proper lighting for more than 4 hours a day to be healthy.
Sometimes it is difficult to find a sunny spot indoors. Some people live in studio apartments with barely any windows. Yet, there is an easy solution: artificial lighting.
“Can you still grow carnivorous plants? Yes. In fact, even if you live in a dark basement or a densely shaded house in a redwood forest, carnivorous plants can thrive even in the darkest corners. The solution is to grow them under artificial lighting” (D’Amato’Amato, 2013)
Do not be afraid to use artificial lights. Many growers use them as the primary or only light source for their carnivorous plants. There is a wide variety of suitable plant light options in the market. High Output fluorescent lights are best for Venus flytraps. Make sure you buy one with an automatic timer and set anywhere between 4 to 12 hours.
Venus fly trap window placement
Indoor vs. Outdoor Feeding
When Venus flytraps grow outdoors, they are more self-sufficient. For example, they can catch their own food.
Beyond photosynthesis, Venus flytraps capture bugs to supplement their diet. Venus flytraps use their traps to capture prey. Then, they digest the victim to extract critical nutrients.
Outdoors Venus flytraps capture their prey as they do in the wild. Indoor Venus flytraps need human help to get those extra nutrients.
When you grow these plants indoors, they won’t commonly have access to prey. Then, you will have to do the feeding. Follow these considerations to feed your plant properly:
Frequency: Remember, the bugs are just a diet supplement. Do not overfeed. Give your plant one insect every 2 to 6 weeks.
Quantity: Do not feed more than one trap at a time.
Prey size: Only use bugs that can fit entirely inside a trap.
Diet: Only feed your plant with insects or arachnids. Do not experiment with human food.
Sometimes I notice that one of my Venus flytraps growing indoors has caught prey. In that case, I skip a feeding.
Indoor temperatures do not tend to get extremely cold, but they can get very hot. When people look for a sunny spot at home to grow their Venus flytraps indoors, windows are usually a great option. But window side placement can sometimes get too hot depending on where you live.
I live in Arizona, and summers can be brutally hot. I have made a mistake before placing one of my plants in a sunny window without any shield. Even though the temperature inside my home is set to room temperature, some of the windows get dangerously hot for plants and can dry them out quickly!
Generally, monitor the overall temperature of the environment. Venus flytraps can withstand heat close to 90F and cold temperatures down to 30F. If you keep your plant within this range, you are all set.
Dormancy Indoors
In the wild, Venus flytraps experience dormancy during winter months. This process is essential to the plant and happens every single year. To achieve dormancy, your plant needs to be exposed to lower temperatures for several weeks.
Temperature Requirements: Venus flytraps require a dormancy temperature between 45 F (8 C) and freezing (32 F / 0 C) [1]. If you live in a geographical location that archives those temperatures, consider placing your plants in a cold garage or basement.
It is possible to achieve natural dormancy indoors, but only in suitable climates. Tropical locations, for example, will never reach such low temperatures. In those scenarios, you can experiment with induced dormancy.
Induced Dormancy: Some areas never experience temperatures below 50 F. Some others do, but only for a week or two. In those locations, it can be almost impossible to reach the dormancy state of Venus flytraps naturally. As a last resort, you can induce dormancy by placing your plants in the fridge. There is a whole process associated with this method of inducing dormancy. Read the article below for the complete detail on the refrigerator dormancy method.
It is possible to skip dormancy. However, it is not healthy for your plant. Venus flytraps won’t die right away without dormancy, but their lifespan will shorten. In the wild, Venus flytrap can live for 20 years or more. But, plants that do not undergo dormancy die within a few years.
Flowering and Propagation
During spring, once dormancy is finished, Venus flytraps start producing flowers. Regardless of where your plant is grown (outdoors vs. indoors), several flower stalks will start spurring.
When you spot the flower stalks, you will have to make a decision. You have two options.
Let your plant flower
Cut off the flower stalks before the plant has flowered
Option1: Let your plant flower
The flowering process is entirely normal. However, Venus flytraps spend substantial amounts of energy producing those flowers for reproduction.
The flowering process won’t kill your plant, but it will slow down its growth.
If you are confident in your plant setup, then you can let your plants flourish. They will produce several stalks through the season, each with several white flowers.
The flowers in Venus flytraps are pretty, but they are not out of the ordinary. The exciting part about the flowering process is to attempt to produce seeds by pollinating the flowers.
Your indoor Venus flytrap won’t have access to natural pollinators. However, you can act as a pollinator and manually transfer the pollen from the anther to the stigma.
Option 2: Cut off the flower stalks before the plant has flowered
When you cut off the flower stalks, your plant will save a lot of energy. During the upcoming months, your Venus flytrap will grow rapidly into its prime.
If you are a novice Venus flytrap grower, I would suggest skipping the flowering process. Instead, focus on improving your plant’s setup and keeping them healthy.
How and when to cut them?
Cut off the Venus flytrap flower stalks as soon as you spot them. They look different from leaves, as they grow like thick tubular structures. You can cut them off with small gardening scissors.
Terrarium
Terrariums are sealable containers with soil and water, where plants can be grown in a self-sufficient environment. Venus flytraps can develop well inside a terrarium. Terrariums keep the environment humid and within mild temperatures.
Remember that there are several different types of terrariums. For example, a Green-house style terrarium can hold several plants. But each of the plants lives in its independent pot.
Green-house terrariums are an excellent fit for carnivorous plants as you can grow different types within the same terrarium. Also, you can easily extract Venus flytraps and other species when it is time for dormancy.
When opting for a terrarium, remember the dormancy season. During winter, make sure to place your Venus flytrap in a cold environment so that it can experience dormancy.
PRO Tip Summary
Do not hesitate to use supplemental lighting indoors. Employ high-output fluorescent light for your Venus flytraps. Also, do not forget to buy a plant light with an automatic timer!
Venus flytraps growing indoors, still need to consume bugs. You can buy crickets, mealworms, or bloodworms at your local pet store and feed your plant. Your Venus flytrap won’t die without feed, but it won’t be able to thrive.
Some areas at home can get very hot and kill your plant. Monitor window or balcony temperatures, before placing your Venus flytraps there.
Venus flytrap should experience dormancy every year. First, try to achieve dormancy naturally. As a second option, you can use the refrigerator method.
As a novice grower, skip the flowering process if possible. Cut off the flower stalks to speed your plant’s growth.
You can grow Venus flytraps in terrariums. Still, do not forget your Venus flytrap in the terrarium should also experience dormancy.
Place your Venus flytrap pot on top of a plate or container with water. The water in the dish acts as a reserve.
I love growing plants at home, but it can be challenging to keep them all healthy. Carnivorous plants are particularly tricky. In this article, we will focus on the fascinating Venus flytrap. We will cover ten hacks on how to keep Venus flytrap alive. Overall, the growing conditions for Venus flytraps should be similar to their native habitat: the wetlands of North Carolina and South Carolina.
Venus flytraps require pure water (distilled or rainwater), carnivorous plant soil, at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, and a humid soil at all times to stay healthy. You should avoid physical stress, overfeeding, and temperatures above 100F or below 20F.
TLDR: Here is a short summary on key Venus fly trap care considerations:
Water type: Only use distilled, ro or rainwater
Water frequency: Keep the soil humid at all times
Soil: Use nutrient-free carnivorous plant soil
Lighting: Grow under direct sunlight
Temperatures: Under 95F and over 30F
Fertilizers: Avoid fertilizing your plant
Dormancy: Required every winter
Feeding Menu: Feed your plant insects only
Stress: Avoid mechanical stress
Plagues: Check for deformities and pests
Flowering: Skip the flowering process
Keep on reading to discover all the hacks to keep your Venus flytrap alive.
1- Water with distilled, ro, or rainwater only
Venus flytraps can’t be watered with good all fashion tap water.
Venus flytraps require only nutrient-free, mineral-free water. You have three options; you can water your plant with:
Distilled water
Reverse osmosis water
Rainwater
In nature, Venus flytraps live in a nutrient-free environment. These plants have evolved to survive without nutrients from water or soil. If you water your plant with tap water, your plants won’t be able to handle the nutrients, and eventually, die.
You can buy distilled water or reverse osmosis water in almost any grocery store or pharmacy. Be careful when picking up a bottle. Make sure it doesn’t contain any added components. For example, some pharmacies sell distilled water for small children, but they add some minerals for flavor. The added minerals are not suitable for Venus flytraps.
I would recommend to buy a large water jug and refill it at a water store. It won’t cost more than a few cents per gallon. I live in an area where it doesn’t rain very often. There, it would be impossible to collect enough rainwater. However, if you leave in a rainy climate, feel free to collect rainwater and use it for your plants. It is an economical and eco-friendly option!
If you ever make a mistake and use the incorrect water source, take action immediately. Poor the remaining water out. Then, use a new batch of soil to transplant your Venus flytrap. When the plant is set in the new ground, water it with the correct source. This tip is a critical one. Using the wrong source can kill your Venus flytrap very quickly.
2- Water often; keep the soil humid at all times
Venus flytraps grow in moist soils. They require constant watering throughout their lives. The short advice is: When in doubt, water your plant.
Water from the bottom to ensure precise watering levels
Venus flytraps require a lot of water. The soil should never go dry; it should always contain moisture. The strategy is to water the plants until the ground is damped. Then, you can water again when the soil is moist, but not damp.
It can be challenging to remember watering your plant so often. I use the water saucer strategy for my Venus flytrap. You can place your plant pot on top of a plate full of water. Since the container has openings at the bottom of it, the water of the plate acts as a water reserve. This strategy can keep the soil humid for several days without worrying.
3- Use carnivorous plant soil for potting
Water and soil for Venus flytraps should always be nutrient-free. Improper soil can kill your plants very fast.
Most plants need nutritious soil with some fertilizing now and then.
Venus flytraps can not grow in standard soil since they can’t handle the added elements/nutrients; they require carnivorous plant soil.
You can make this soil by mixing a combination of these components: Long-fibered sphagnum moss, sphagnum peat moss, sand, and perlite.
You can also buy Venus flytrap soil online or at some specialty gardening stores. Some might be labeled as carnivorous plant soil mix or Venus flytrap soil. Generally, make sure it is nutrient-free.
It usually costs less than 10 dollars for a quart. Follow the link to confirm the price on Amazon.com.
Combine pure perlite and peat moss to make carnivorous plant soil
Also, once the plant is potted in the appropriate soil, do not fertilize. The fertilizer defeats the purpose of the unique soil mix. Fertilizers can weaken and eventually kill Venus flytraps. Instead of fertilizing, focus on feeding your Venus flytrap properly. More information below.
4- Grow in a bright location (direct sunlight)
Venus flytraps need good lighting year long.
Optimally, they should receive 12 hours of direct sunlight. They can survive under indirect sunlight but will need a few hours a day of direct sunlight to compensate.
Poor lighting won’t kill your plant immediately, but it will start affecting it fast. When growing without proper lighting, Venus flytraps look sluggish. The bright green color characteristic of these plants fades, and the growth rate slows down significantly.
Good lighting is critical. Make sure to place your plant in a sunny window, balcony, or garden. You can also use artificial lighting when natural light is hard to find.
I used to have the perfect window to grow my plants. But I moved, and my new place didn’t have much natural light. The solution was easy: I bought a plant lamp, with a 12-hour timer. With the lamp, my Venus flytraps get all the light they need.
There is a wide variety of suitable plant light options in the market. High Output fluorescent/LED lights are best for Venus flytraps.
Venus fly traps growing under LEDs
Here are a couple of links to some light fictures I used for my Venus fly trap and Sundews.
When people look for a sunny spot at home to grow their Venus flytraps, they sometimes forget the environment might get too hot for their plant. In the wild, Venus flytraps are exposed to several months summer with day temperatures averaging 90F without any issues.
You should keep an eye for temperatures that exceed 90F and avoid them.
I live in Arizona. During the summer, temperatures can go over 110F or even 115F. These extreme temperatures are too high for Venus flytraps. Placing them outside without any cover can dry out the plant very fast.
Before placing your plant in a hot area, monitor the temperature.
You should also take into consideration cold temperatures.
Venus flytraps tolerate temperatures in the 30F range. Do not be too worried about freezing temperatures, but avoid letting your plant get buried in snow or frozen completely.
6- Do not apply fertilizers
Venus flytraps are intolerant to nutrients. Applying fertilizers in the soil or in the leaves can end up killing your plant very quickly.
Technically, it is possible to fertilize Venus flytraps, but it is an advance practice. It has to be done very carefully to avoid harming the plant. As a beginner avoid fertilizing your plant, instead make sure your venus fly trap is consuming enough enugh bugs.
7- Ensure your flytrap goes dormant in the winter
Every year, venus flytraps must go dormant during the winter.
Dormancy is a process similar to hibernation. As the temperatures drop below 45 F, venus flytraps enter a dormant state. They stop growing, lose several leaves and look down for several months. Then, once the temperatures start to rise again, the plant will slowly exit dormancy.
Venus flytraps must go dormant for 2-3 months every year to remain healthy. If a venus flytrap skips dormancy for a couple of years in a row it will weaken and eventually die.
To achieve dormancy place your plant in a cold location (under 45 F) for 2-3 months. The reduction in lighting due to shorter days during the winter and the low temperatures ensure your plant goes dormant.
8- Only feed bugs to your plant
Feeding a venus flytrap is an exciting experience. Yet, it can be dangerous for the plant. Inexperienced growers sometimes get excited about the predatory nature of their plants and experiment with an adventurous menu. They feed their plants with human food such as fruit, raw meat, or candy. Venus flytraps have a diverse diet, but their diet focuses on insects and arachnids.
Do not feed your plants with human food. Venus flytraps won’t be able to process such food. Instead, the plant will prefer to let the trap wither. Also, the food remains can attract bacteria into your Venus flytraps.
Stick to an insect/spider-only menu. Venus flytraps eat crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, slugs, flies, ants, and several other bugs. You can catch bugs to feed your plant. Also, there are a few options in the pet store: dead mealworms, bloodworms, and crickets.
Venus flytraps produce most of their food through photosynthesis. And they can supplement their diet by consuming insects. If you want to let your plant thrive, you must feed it. Generally, you have two options:
Place your plant outside: Your Venus flytrap will catch its own prey and stay healthy.
Place your plant indoors: Your Venus flytrap won’t be able to catch its own prey. You will need to feed it.
Option 1 is very straightforward. Your plant will take care of the feeding. Option 2, however, can be tricky. You must feed your plant with the appropriate frequency. Follow the instructions below to be successful:
Only feed one trap of the plant at a time
Only feed bugs that can completely fit inside a trap (insect pieces are an option for small plants)
Monitor traps that were fed. Verify the bug was consumed. If the trap dies, the prey might have been too big.
Feed your plant once every 2-6 weeks
Do not feed your plant during dormancy
10- Reduce stress by unnecessary touching
Just like humans, plants can be affected by stress. However, in this case, we are talking about mechanical stress: movement and continuous handling.
Avoid handling your Venus flytrap when it is not necessary. You can trim dead leaves and feed the plant, but avoid playing with the traps.
Activating the traps is an entirely normal process for the plant. Yet, it can also be very energy-consuming.
When people play with Venus flytrap, they activate their traps and drain the plant’s energy. The stress won’t kill your plant but will weaken it and slow down its growth.
Inanimate objects can also cause stress. Do not place your plant in an area with moving objects such as a window that opens and closes frequently or moving curtains.
Bonus: Check for plagues and treat as needed
Venus flytraps, like most plants, can be affected by several different plagues. The general recommendation is always to keep an eye on your plant behavior. Examine the leaves often and check for any color changes or spots. Each plague has specific remedies, like the ones below:
Spider mites: use a miticide such as Avid
Black Spot fungus: use a sulfur-based fungicide
Aphids: employ pyrethrin or canola oil
“Aphids are the most common pest; the result is twisted and deformed new leaves. They are effectively controlled with insecticides like pyrethrin/canola oil or others (…) Flea collars placed very close to the plant or in an enclosed plastic bag or terrarium work well also. Use the waxy type collars, not the powdery”[1]
Bonus: Prevent your Venus flytrap from flowering
Every spring, Venus flytraps flourish. They produce a few flower bunches thought the spring months. The flowering process is crucial for reproduction, yet, as a beginner carnivorous plant grower, you should skip the flowers during the first years.
Keep close attention to your plant during the spring. As soon as you spot thick cylindrical stalks growing out of your plant, cut them off. By cutting them, you won’t let your plant flower.
The flowering process is not essential for your plant’s livelihood. Instead, it can cause harm. The flowering process is exhausting for Venus flytraps. When they flower, they lose significant amounts of energy.
The flowering process won’t will your Venus flytrap. But, it can weaken them enough so that any growing mistake can kill your plant a lot faster.
Now that you have learned these hacks, I would recommend you to go over the most important care considerations.
This list will help you ensure your set up is optimal! remember, when the conditions are right, Venus fly traps can live for many many years (or decades!)
Light: Optimally they should receive 12 hours of sunlight, and the minimum is 6 hours of light. The light source might be natural light or artificial lighting (plant lights) Water: Venus flytraps must be watered with pure water only, such as rainwater, distilled water, and reverse osmosis water. Tap water and bottled water kill carnivorous plants. The soil of the plant must always remain moist. Always keep the ground humid, but do not flood. Venus flytraps do not grow in swamps. Soil: Employ nutrient-free soil for carnivorous plants. Never employ enriched soil, full of fertilizers. This article covers many soil options for Venus flytraps. Feeding: Venus flytraps do not need to capture insects to survive, but they benefit from them greatly. Place Venus flytraps outdoors, and they will have plenty of access to food. Also, consider feeding your plant to provide extra nutrients. Fertilizers: Do not fertilize Venus flytraps. The chemicals in the fertilizers can hurt the plant Flowers: After reaching maturity, Venus flytraps start producing flowers every spring. Skipping it allows for further growth and development. Dormancy: Venus flytraps must undergo a dormancy period for 2-3 months during the winter. Ensure your plant will experience this resting period by placing them in a cold location. For example, outdoors, in a cold garage, or porch.
I hope you have a good growing experience. Venus flytraps are one of the most fun plants to own. Feel free to comment with any questions and additional tips to not only keep Venus flytrap alive but let them thrive.
Recommended Products for Growing Carnivorous Plants
Finding the best pots, lights, and soil for carnivorous plants is difficult. I have grown carnivorous plants for over 5 years, and these are the products I use. The links will take you to Amazon to view the prices and full specs:
Venus flytraps have very distinct colors. The leaves are green, and the inside of its traps is reddish. The green and red colors are the original colors, but growers have developed other colors of Venus flytraps over the years. For example, a beautiful Red Venus flytrap clone has been developed. Akai Ryu is a variation of Venus flytraps that exhibits a deep red color over the whole leaves.
Today, we will explore its origin and main characteristics.
Red Venus flytrap: Origin
“Through breeding efforts in the support greenhouses of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, a new all red form of the Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) has been created. The parents of this new cultivar were an all red form (female) and a “toothless” or fine tooth form (male) of Dionaea muscipula. The all red parent is apparently the same clone that was isolated by Mr. Theo de Groot in Holland over a decade ago and has been in limited cultivation here in the United States since. The toothless form was originally isolated by Mr. Thomas Carow in Nudlingen, Germany. Twenty (20) viable seeds were collected and of these, seven clones were established in issue culture.” (Ron Gagliardo, A New Cultivar of Dionaea muscipula Ellis, Carnivorous Plant Newsletter)
What is a cultivar? A cultivar is a cultivated variety of a particular plant. Cultivated Varieties do not develop in the wild; humans develop them. You can explore and learn about different venus flytrap cultivars in the International Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS) website.
The red Venus flytrap was named Akai Ryu, which in Japanese means: Red Dragon. Physically, the red dragon looks very similar to any Venus flytrap. However, its color is unique. The inside and outside of the leaves are maroon. The only visible part of the plant that is not red is the flowers. When a red Venus flytrap flourishes in the spring, the flower stalks are green.
You might notice some of the leave in the picture on the right have green edges or green spots. This is entirely normal. With sufficient exposure to sunlight, these plants preserve the maroon color ultimately. However, sometimes you might see specs of green where the leaves are growing.
Where to Buy Red Venus Flytrap
Red Venus flytraps are a lot more uncommon than standard Venus flytraps. Usually, you can find Venus flytraps in some brick and mortar stores such as Walmart, Home Depot, and Ace. Since the Akai Ryu clone is rare, I would suggest searching online.
If you are thinking about buying a Red Dragon Venus flytrap, make sure you go over the care considerations below.
Care Considerations
Venus flytraps are unique plants and require particular care to thrive. Generally, when growing them at home, you try to replicate their natural habitat.
Here is a summary list of care instructions to grow healthy Venus flytraps.
Water: Venus flytraps need tons of water. When in doubt, always water. The soil needs to be moist at all times. Also, you can only use rainwater, reverse osmosis water, or distilled water. Venus flytraps can’t handle minerals or salt. Therefore, they need mineral/salt-free water.
Light: Venus flytraps require an abundance of sunlight. Place them in a strategic spot, where they can receive 12 hours of sun a day. Venus flytraps can also live in partial shade, but they need at least 4-5 hours of direct sunlight.
Feeding: Venus flytraps do not need to be fed bugs to survive (here is an explanation: Can Venus Flytraps live without bugs?). However, they won’t thrive without been fed. The goal should be to feed your Venus flytrap once every two weeks or once every month. For more information, you can read our complete guide on how to feed a Venus flytrap:
Fertilizer: Even if it is counter-intuitive, do not fertilize your Venus flytrap. These plants originate in poor soil habitats. You can kill your plant with fertilizers.
Indoor Living: You can grow Venus flytraps in an indoor environment. Still, you must make sure you can find an indoor area that can fulfill all the other environmental considerations.
This care instruction list points you in the right direction. However, there are many other essential care considerations. Read the article below for a complete overview: Complete Care Guide.
No. Unfortunately, some very appealing photos of blue Venus flytraps have become popular through the web. Some online vendors advertise blue Venus flytrap seeds or plants. But, they are scams. They might deliver seeds or plants, but they won’t be of the promised color.
Still, do not get discouraged. You can buy a traditional Venus flytrap and enjoy the green and red colors or be more adventurous and grow a Red Dragon.
Do the Venus flytrap colors changes over time?
The colors in Venus flytraps change due to environmental conditions. A healthy plant should exhibit bright green leaves with a deep red interior. Usually, plants display lighter colors when they do not get appropriate sunlight.
Is the Venus flytrap “Red Dragon” the same as the “Red Piranha”?
No, they are two different types of cultivars. The Dionaea Red piranha is a clone hybrid between the Red Dragon and the Dionaea “Dente.” The Dente clone characterizes with short triangular teeth.
Sources
D’Amato, P. (2013). The Savage Garden. Berkeley, Unites States: Ten Speed Press.
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 gnatsas 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
Carnivorous plants are fascinating, and Venus flytraps are one of the public’s and my personal favorite. Venus flytraps are unique. They characterize by their modified leaves, which have evolved to look like jaw-like structures. When you are a Venus flytrap owner, it is very exciting to feed your plant. You can observe the trapping mechanism and give your plant some extra nutrients. However, some growers might get too excited about feeding their plants. This post will answer a common question about the feeding procedure: Can you overfeed a Venus flytrap?
Venus flytraps are designed to catch bugs. Can you feed a Venus flytrap too much? (Give it too much love) Yes.
Growers can overfeed their Venus flytrap and end up harming the plant by incorrect portion size, frequency, or food options.
Let’s start by explaining the reasoning behind the trapping mechanisms of Venus flytraps. Then, I will explain the current method to feed Venus flytrap and avoid overfeeding.
Why do Venus flytraps consume bugs?
Venus flytraps are native to South Carolina and North Carolina in the United States. Their habitat is referred to as the wetlands of the east coast. There, they have exposure to high humidity, an abundance or sunrise, and water. Also, the soil in the Venus flytrap habitat is inferior.
The soil lacks the necessary nutrients most plants need to develop correctly. Due to the lack of soil nutrients, Venus flytrap evolved to perfect a bug trapping mechanism. These plants extract vital nutrients from their prey and supplement their diet.
Venus flytraps can produce most of their food through the photosynthesis process. They can survive without bugs for a very long time or even forever. Still, the insect’s Venus flytraps consume, helps them thrive.
You will notice a significant difference between plants that are fed bugs and plants that live without them. I will encourage any Venus flytrap growers to feed their plant or make sure their plants can catch their own prey.
When to feed Venus flytrap
Outdoors
I grow my plants outside either in the garden or a balcony. There, my Venus flytraps can catch their own prey. I double-check every so often, but every few weeks without fault, there will be at least one trap that is shut and consuming some type of insect.
When you grow Venus flytraps outdoors, they will be more independent. In almost all cases, you won’t have to feed them manually. The only exceptions come when you live in an area with too much concrete and a lack of insects. Still, that is extremely rare.
Venus flytraps are smart creatures. Their trapping mechanism is designed only to activate if a live being is inside a leaf. Also, they only consume bugs that are the right size. Do not worry about your plant been overfeed when placed outdoors. Venus flytrap’s mechanism will do what it is best when catching or releasing potential victims.
Indoors
People grow Venus flytraps all over the world. And in many cases, the outdoor environment is not appropriate for these plants. In those scenarios, it makes sense to grow Venus flytraps indoors.
But, it is challenging for Venus flytraps to catch their food indoors. As an owner, you will have to feed your plant manually. Make sure to follow the instructions below to feed your plant correctly and avoid overfeeding.
Sometimes Venus fly traps will remain closed after consuming a bug and might never open back up. This article explains why venus fly traps won’t reopen. Spoiler: it is usually due to improper feeding, and for that reason, I recommend paying attention to the details.
Venus Flytrap Feeding Requirements
Venus flytrap owners might get too excited about feeding their new Venus flytrap. Follow the feeding considerations below to avoid overfeeding your plant:
Frequency: Venus flytraps only need to eat once every two to four weeks. When you feed your plants following this frequency, only feed one trap at a time.
Feeding during dormancy: You do not feed your plant during dormancy (late fall and winter). During this period, you can skip the feeding altogether. Learn more about dormancy with this article: Venus Flytrap Care Instructions (including dormancy)
Prey size: Only feed your plant with a feed that is the right size. Pick an insect that is 1/3 of the size of the trap or smaller. If you can’t find one of that size, cut the bugs into pieces and feed your plant part of it.
This bug is too big!
Overfeeding your Venus flytrap won’t kill the plant directly, but it can severely weaken it and eventually kill it. When you feed multiple traps simultaneously or an insect that is too large for a trap, traps tend to die. The plant won’t have enough energy to digest the large bug or several bugs simultaneously. Then, some of the traps will wither and die.
Related Questions
How many flies can a Venus flytrap eat in a day?
First, it is a common misconception that Venus flytraps only eat flies. Venus flytraps consume a variety of creatures such as spiders, ants, beetles, crickets, and flies. So, first, Venus flytraps consume a myriad of prey. Second, Venus flytraps do not catch prey daily. The appropriate feeding frequency is 2 to 6 weeks. Still, you could feed your plant weekly, but not every day. It takes the plant several days or even a couple of weeks to consume a small bug.
Fun fact: Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants; therefore, they can consume meat. In some rare scenarios, large Venus flytraps catch tiny frogs or rodents.
But, do not try to feed your plant anything besides bugs. Stay with the safe bet. You can feed them live insects. Also, you can feed dead bugs to Venus flytraps. It is convenient; you can buy appropriate feed online or at a pet store. Yet, the feeding process with dead bugs is unique. Read the article below for all the details: Can I feed dead bugs to my Venus flytrap?
In its lifetime? Probably hundreds. Venus flytraps have a life span of approximately 20 years. During that time, they consume a few bugs per month or even more!
What about fertilizing Venus flytraps?
Some people refer to fertilizing as plant feeding since most plants get their nutrients from the soil. It is not a good idea to fertilize your Venus flytrap. The only type of feeding these plants need is through their traps.
Venus flytraps can not handle minerals, and fertilizers are loaded with them. Fertilizers will weaken your plant and can eventually kill it. If you are concern about your plant not getting enough nutrients, focus on proper feeding rather than fertilizing.
Continue Learning
I hope I answered all the related questions and doubts regarding Venus flytrap overfeeding. Of course, this is only a small part of growing and caring for these plants. Read the article below for the complete care instructions:
Venus flytraps have evolved to be successful predators. Most plants get their vital nutrients from the soil, but Venus flytrap habitats do not contain enough nutrients. Therefore, these plants must obtain nutrients from another source. Venus flytraps extract vital elements from the insects they catch to boost their diet.
When you grow Venus flytraps, you must feed them to keep them healthy and let them thrive. I have grown Venus flytraps for several years. During many of those, I had my plants indoors. Indoors, they couldn’t catch prey naturally. So, I had to be systematic and feed them manually.
Before you start feeding Venus flytraps, you might have several questions. I will try to answer a common one: is it possible to feed dead bugs to Venus flytraps? It is convenient to buy a can of insects from the pet store. But would that work?
Can I feed dead bugs to my Venus flytrap? Yes. Growers can feed dead bugs to Venus flytraps.However, the feeding procedure is different from live prey.
Read on to learn about dead prey options, the feeding process, and more.
Dead vs Live Bug Feeding Process
You have the option to feed your plant live or dead prey. Yet, the feeding process is different.
Live Prey
Hair cells inside the trap
Live insects are in motion. They will try to escape and will be challenging to handle. But, once you get the hang of it, you should be able to place the insect inside a trap. I like using chopsticks to hold live prey. Sometimes they scape, but it is a cleaner approach than using my bare fingers.
The movement of the bug will activate the trap. Each trap has sensory hair cells always monitoring contact. The trap only closes when something has touched the hair cells two consecutive times in a short period. So, make sure to insert the bug and let it move while touching the inside of the leaves.
Once the trap has closed, and the bug is inside, the process is basically done. First, the trap will close slightly. Then, the insect will try to fight its way out, but the movement will only make their scape more difficult. The plant will confirm it caught live prey and will keep its traps fully shut and will start producing enzymes.
Dead Prey
How to feed dead bugs to my Venus flytrap?
Venus flytraps are designed to consume live insects. In the wild, they do not eat dead prey. They only activate their traps due to active stimuli. When you introduce a dead insect, the trap won’t close automatically. You should make sure to stimulate those hair cells until your plant has caught the bug.
The first step is to get the trap to close. Then, you need to stimulate the leaf. Since the bug is motionless, the plant can notice the lack of stimuli and open again and reject the food. To avoid this, follow the second step: use your hands or tweezers (or chopsticks) to pressure the center of the trap on both sides. In that fashion, you produce stimuli, as those sensory hair cells have contact with the food. Finally, the leaves will produce enzymes and consume the insect slowly.
Step Summary
Insert the insect inside the trap
Stimulate sensory hair cells until trap closes (be gentle!)
Use your hands or tweezers to put pressure (stimulate) on both sides of the trap (keep it up for several minutes)
Monitor to make sure the leaves do not reopen
And that is it! Then, it takes several days or weeks for the plant to consume the bug. Now, let’s explore some menu options.
What dead bugs can I feed my Venus flytrap?
The Venus flytrap name is undoubtedly misleading. Many think that these plants eat flies exclusively. Yet, in the wild, Venus flytraps catch crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, slugs, flies, ants, and many other bugs. You can feed your plants with any of those insects and a few different options.
It is relatively easy to find mealworms, bloodworms, and crickets in stores. These meal options and nutritious and can be stored bought.
Interesting fact: Venus flytraps are not only insectivorous plants, but they are carnivorous plants. They can consume meat! In some uncommon scenarios, large Venus flytraps catch small frogs or rodents.
Still, my recommendation is to stick with an insect diet to avoid any potential mistakes that can kill your plant.
Important Sizes Considerations
Regardless of what bug is on the menu, you should always check the sizing of the food. The meal should fit entirely inside the trap so that it can close shut. A good rule of thumb is to pick a bug that is 1/3 of the size of the trap.
This one is too big!
Sometimes it is difficult to find a small insect if you have a young plant that hasn’t reached its full size. Still, you got options. You can quickly chop a larger insect into pieces and feed your plant a small portion. Don’t worry; your Venus flytrap won’t notice ;).
The first one is a lot more convenient, especially considering that you can buy long term supply. All pet stores that carry reptile, fish, or bird supplies should offer at least one of these options: mealworms, bloodworms, and crickets. Also, Amazon or online pet stores carry those items.
Sometimes the insects are freeze-dried. That is entirely normal. You can still use them for your Venus flytrap. However, make sure to rehydrate them before feeding. Just add a few drops of water. I always use distilled water, even for this, only to be 100% safe.
Every now and then, I see a common question in carnivorous plant forums. Can I feed my Venus flytrap with a dead bug I found at home? You can certainly do so, but just make sure to check for these two items:
Inspect the bug for any abnormality, such as bacteria growing or mold (you might not know how long it has been there)
Again, check the sizing. Break up into pieces if necessary.
Long Term Effects: Live vs Dead Insects
What will happen if I only feed my plant with dead bugs? Are dead bugs nutritious? You might be inclined to think that dead bugs coming in a can or bag have lost their nutrition. It is not a crazy thought. Tons of human food that is frozen or canned loses a chuck of their nutrient. However, this is not the norm for insects.
In the study, they analyze different species of insects and record their nutritional value in various aspects. “Commercially raised feeder insects used to feed captive insectivores are a good source of many nutrients but are deficient in several key nutrients.” [1]
In the wild, Venus flytraps capture prey and supplement their diet with additional nutrients. Yet, they can survive without consuming prey. Since the insects you are providing are just a supplement. I wouldn’t be worried about the long term effects. Mealworms, bloodworms, cricket, and many others are considered to be nutritional snacks for larger animals. Their nutritional value will be enough to let your Venus flytrap thrive.
Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants. Their natural habitat characterizes with poor soil (nutrient-free). Because of the lack of nutrients in their environment, Venus flytraps evolved to be successful predators. They use the nutrients from bugs they catch and consume to supplement their diet and thrive. But, are those bugs required? Can Venus flytraps live without bugs?
Short answer:
Venus flytraps can survive without consuming prey. However, not consuming insects can impact their health.
Venus flytraps do not need to catch prey to survive. Yet, the word survive is a bit extreme. Technically as humans, we could live for several days without food as long as we have water. But our goal is not only to survive but also to be reasonably healthy and able to perform daily activities.
So, let’s expand in the details of how Venus flytraps can survive without food. Also, if you own a Venus flytrap and your plant is not getting any bugs, you should consider reading along. I will be sharing some tips to keep your plant healthy, taking into consideration feeding recommendations.
How can Venus flytraps survive without bugs?
One unique characteristic of the plant kingdom is that plants can produce their own food. They generate their food through the photosynthesis process. During photosynthesis, plants utilize sunlight to synthesize food from carbon and water. Venus flytraps catch bugs with their traps and digest them with enzymes, but they consume insects as a supplement to their diet (due to the lack of nutrients in their habitat).
Venus flytraps exist thanks to photosynthesis, as they produce their own fuel. Yet, Venus flytraps grow in inferior soil (lacks nutrients). In that environment, their diet is not complete. The small prey they catch and consume serves as that extra nutrient boost. Venus flytraps extract Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and other elements from their victims.
In summary, Venus flytraps produce their own food through photosynthesis. Still, bugs provide a crucial supplement to their diet. Now, let’s explore what happens when Venus flytraps do not catch any prey.
What happens to Venus flytraps when they live without insects?
Natural Habitat
Venus flytraps are native to the wetlands on the East Coast of the United States. There, they are only found in the states of South Carolina and North Carolina. Both of those states characterize with high humidity, an abundance of sunshine, and high temperatures during summer months. Most of the year, the conditions are optimal for Venus flytraps to catch insects. But, during winter times, it can be a challenge.
In the wild, Venus flytraps can catch prey most of the time. But, if they are unsuccessful, they can patiently wait for the next victim. They won’t experience any radical effect as long as they catch a bug every few months.
During winter, the conditions are more complicated. Some insects enter a diapause state in the winter, which is similar to the hibernation process. Then, Venus flytraps have more difficulty catching insects due to the lack of possible victims and environmental conditions that can obstruct their trapping mechanism (like frost or snow, for example).
Indoors Effects
Venus flytraps require particular environmental conditions to thrive. When you grow these plants at home, you must do your best to replicate their natural habitat.
Some growers place their Venus flytraps outside, in their garden, patio, or balcony. Even if the area is not their natural habitat or an area with lots of vegetation, most plants will be able to catch enough prey to grow healthy when they are outdoors.
Growing Venus flytraps indoors is slightly harder, since your plants won’t feed itself. Again, your plant won’t die without bugs, but it will be weaker and grow slowly over time. It might seem like nothing to worry about, but a more fragile plant is more likely to die if any environmental condition is off, like improper lighting, humidity, or temperature.
I would recommend taking further steps if you grow Venus flytraps indoors. Feeding them can make a huge difference and ensure you are a successful grower. Read below for more information.
Recommendations: Growing Venus flytraps that can’t catch prey
I grow Venus flytraps indoors. I built my setup a few years ago, and after several changes, I got a reliable grow area for my plants. Since the installation is ready, I do not need to monitor my plants as often. However, the lack of natural food (live insects) is a task I am consistent with according to a self-made schedule.
I enjoy growing carnivorous plants, and I want to let them grow, develop, and flourish as much as possible. Without bugs, your plants will never thrive. I highly encourage you to feed your Venus flytraps.
Feeding Venus flytraps is not a difficult task. Also, it is not time-consuming. Here is a quick summary guide.
What to feed Venus flytraps?
Venus flytraps consume many different types of bugs crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, slugs, flies, and ants. You can catch a few insects on your own and feed your plant. Yet, that can be difficult if you don’t have a garden. Then, you can buy blood worms or dead insects. They sell them online and in pet stores.
Feeding Schedule
Venus Flytrap from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine by William Curtis (1746–1799)
You do not need a strict schedule to feed your plant. If you skip a feeding, you won’t kill your Venus flytrap. Still, been consistent can help you monitor your plant’s health. It is recommended to feed your plant once every 2-6 weeks. Also, you only need to feed one trap within the plant.
This is a tricky question. Venus flytraps can not live without food; they will die. But, the fuel from Venus flytraps is produced in-house. Thanks to the photosynthesis process, Venus flytraps produce their own food naturally. The insects they catch are not their whole diet, but only a supplement. The reason why some people believe Venus flytraps die without bugs is that they are unaware that Venus flytrap, like other plants, can produce their own nourishment.
Summary
Venus flytraps have evolved fascinatingly to be successful predators. In the wild, they catch prey and supplement their diet with additional nutrients. Can Venus flytraps live without bugs? Yes. Since insects are just a supplement or extra boost, Venus flytrap can live without them.
When you grow Venus flytraps outside of their natural habitat, you can do so without feeding your plant. But I wouldn’t recommend following this practice, especially if you are a novice grower. New growers make mistakes that can potentially kill your plant. Not feeding a Venus flytrap will weaken them and increase the chances of failure.
Of course, feeding your plant is not the only factor to consider when growing Venus flytraps. To be a successful grower, you must be methodic and follow specific care instructions. Follow the link below to read the complete care instructions. Best of luck and enjoy it!
Venus flytraps are fascinating carnivorous plants. Their leaves have evolved to look like jawlike structures that trap prey. When most people encounter a Venus flytrap for the first time, they are fascinated by the traps. Let’s say you run into a Venus flytrap. Is it safe to touch the trap? Or maybe to stick your finger inside a trap? Can Venus flytrap hurt humans?
First of all, poking the plant or inserting your finger might not be the best idea ( I will explain in just a bit!). Yet, Venus flytrap cannot hurt humans. You won’t lose a finger or even get a scratch if a trap closes on your pinky.
How safe are Venus flytraps?
They are very safe. The trapping mechanism in Venus flytraps is designed to detect motion inside the leaves and activate the trap. You can easily trigger a Venus flytrap and get your finger stuck in the leaves. However, it won’t really be trapped because of two main reasons: size and strength.
First, Venus flytraps are small plants. The expected mature width size of Venus flytraps is 5 inches (12.7 cm) in diameter. Vertically, Venus flytraps can be as tall as a foot (30 cm). And, the size of a single trap is about 1 inch long.
You might have watched science fiction movies with life-size carnivorous plants. But, Venus flytraps are small plants that grow close to the ground. In the wild, Venus flytraps are predatory plants. They are always waiting patiently for the next victim. But those victims are just small bugs.
Second, the strength of a Venus flytrap is not enough to trap a human. The traps are designed to catch small bugs. Venus flytraps aim to catch prey that can fit inside a single trap completely. They do not have the strength to hold a larger victim.
Can a Venus flytrap make you bleed?
Venus flytraps close their traps at high speed. The initial action of closing is swift, yet not strong enough for a human to notice. You will feel pressure, but nothing beyond that.
Some people exaggerate the strength of Venus flytraps. They claim that Venus flytraps can make you bleed. This claim is untrue. The traps are not sharp; therefore, they can’t cut you. And, again, they are not strong enough to make you bleed.
“Venus flytraps exhibit one of the fastest movements in the plant kingdom, competing in speed tests with the exploding fruits of flowering plants.” (Robin Lloyd, Live Science, Venus Flytrap’s Speed Secret Revealed)
Can Venus flytraps eat a human?
On rare occasions, mature Venus flytraps can catch small rodents or small frogs. If the prey is small enough, and if it stays within the trap, the plant can consume it. It will start the digestion process inside the trap by producing enzymes. The enzymes can slowly break up the victim’s body.
But, if Venus flytraps can consume flesh, can’t they consume a human? They cannot consume a human (or at least not a significant part of it).
You can take a small piece of skin and give it to a Venus flytrap. The plant should be able to digest it. Yet, the plant can’t consume anything more significant than that.
The standard digestion process takes one to two weeks for a small bug. It takes longer for larger prey. And, if the plant attempts to consume an even larger victim, the trap will most likely die. When prey is too big for the trap, and the trap is unable to consume it within a reasonable timeline, the trap will start dying. It will turn black and wither completely.
If you go ahead and stick your finger inside a Venus flytrap and do not remove it for days, you will notice some changes…
However, these will be minor. The skin in your finger might look yellowish due to the contact with the enzymes. Also, some of your skin might have peeled off. This would be a big deal if you were a miniature frog, but at a human scale, it would just be a scratch. Still, it is probably not the best (or most fun) idea to confirm the effects.
Why you shouldn’t stick your finger inside a Venus flytrap (not because it hurts)
Generally, when you encounter Venus flytraps, you should avoid triggering the traps with your fingers. Venus flytraps employ a good amount of energy, activating those traps. The energy loss won’t kill them immediately, but it will weaken the plant.
Instead of triggering the traps with your finger, you can observe the trapping mechanism by feeding the plant. Venus flytraps use the nutrients from bugs they catch and consume to supplement their diet and thrive. Therefore, the plants will be very thankful if you feed them.
It is amusing to watch these plants in action! We have a full article that teaches you how to feed a Venus flytrap. The article suggests prey options and the best methods to keep Venus flytraps healthy. Make sure to give it a read before you feed a Venus flytrap.
I hope the message is clear: Venus flytrap cannot hurt us; they are inoffensive to humans. And they are amusing plants to own. Their unique carnivorous nature allows you to feed them and observe their development.
Venus flytraps are also a perfect plant to grow with children. They certainly keep kids entertained. Most plants take months to exhibit any type of change. Venus flytraps evolve quickly. You can observe their growth, their flowers (spring), and their trapping mechanism during feeding time.
Their original habitat (the states of North and South Carolina in the United States) has been changing due to an increase in urbanization and agricultural development. Also, lots of people like buying them. It is ok to buy Venus flytraps from responsible growers. However, some irresponsible vendors extract Venus flytraps directly from their natural habitat in a process referred to as poaching. Poaching is illegal, but unfortunately, it is still a common practice.
Venus flytraps do not automatically close during night time. However, they can activate their traps anytime. If a fly or other insect happens to enter their traps during the night-time (or day-time), the Venus flytrap will attempt to capture it.
There are many plants, especially flowers, that close every night (or day). Flowers that close during night time (or day time) exhibit a behavior called nyctinasty. Nyctinasty is a mechanism that causes plant movements as a result of temperature, light, or other environmental changes. Yet, the traps in Venus flytraps do not exhibit nyctinasty.
Now that you learned that Venus flytraps do not automatically close every night. Let’s learn more about the trap mechanisms and why it doesn’t close during the night-time.
Why do Venus flytraps not close at night (automatically)?
First, Venus flytraps do not exhibit nyctinasty behaviors. Second, the trap mechanisms of Venus flytraps have been perfected over time to conserve energy. Venus flytraps spend significant amounts of energy opening and closing those leaves. Therefore, the plant ensures opening or closing is worth it.
The Trap Mechanism
Why does it need it?
The traps in Venus flytraps are modified leaves. Before looking like the current jaw-like structures we observe today, they were just simple leaves. But, Venus flytraps are native to the wetlands on the east coast of the United States. Their natural habitat characterizes with poor soil (nutrient-free). Because of the lack of nutrients in the ground and the environment, Venus flytraps evolved to be successful predators. Venus flytraps use the nutrients from bugs they catch and consume to supplement their diet and thrive. Here is how Venus flytraps employ their trapping mechanism.
An Energy-Efficient Approach
First, Venus flytraps must attract their prey. Venus flytraps produce sweet nectar in their traps to attack potential victims. Once an insect is inside a trap, it might trigger it to close. Each trap is made up of two leaves, and each leaf has three hair cells arranged in a triangular pattern (as seen in the image). The trap only closes when something has touched the hair cells two consecutive times in a short period. The double stimuli mechanism is crucial to avoid closing due to rain, wind, dirt, or any inanimate object touching the trap.
The plant drains significant amounts of energy when it closes its trap. For that reason, Venus flytraps want to be as energy-efficient as possible. If you ever encounter a Venus flytrap, you might be tempted to play with the traps and trigger them. Yet, you should avoid playing with the leaves. The plant won’t die, but it will lose a lot of energy. And they need that energy to live and be ready to catch some real food.
Prey Selection
Once a plant has capture prey, it might release the victim. Why? Well, Venus flytraps are very careful when selecting a meal. For example, when the insect is tiny, it will be able to scape. Venus flytraps have evolved over the years to choose their prey appropriately. We found related information in a Biology paper that studied Venus flytraps from the Journal of Theoretical Biology:
“Among carnivorous plants, the Venus flytrap is of particular interest for the rapid movement of its snap-traps and hypothesized prey selection, where small prey are allowed to escape from the traps (…); the costs and benefits of capturing and digesting its prey; and optimization of trap size and prey selection.” Understanding the Venus flytrap through mathematical modelling, Sami Lehtinen
In this study, scientists observed a 76.8% prey release rate for Venus flytraps, which is a significantly high percentage. The findings indicate that these plants are highly selective about prey capture. Venus flytraps select their prey carefully to maximize efficiency. Once the plant has caught prey, it will take a couple of weeks to consume it entirely. Therefore, it must choose carefully.
Related Questions
Why is my Venus flytrap closed right now?
Traps close when they have received the appropriate stimuli. Like we explained previously, Venus flytraps have evolved over the centuries to perfection their response to stimuli. A close trap might be consuming an insect right now! Or it might have attempted to trap a victim. If the prey scaped, then the trap will reopen in a day or two. Once it opens, it will be ready to capture the next victim.
Do Venus flytraps die when they close?
No, Venus flytraps do not die when a trap closes. First, each Venus flytrap has approximately five to ten active leaves (traps) at a time. Each trap is independent and can close when needed. For example, when an insect is crawling inside them.
Even though traps do not die when they close, they can open and close a set number of times before they wither. Once a trap reaches that limit, then it will slowly turn to a black color and die. But do not worry! This process is normal. Generally, a new leaf should grow for every dead one. Start to worry or take action if you notice an increase in black leaves on your Venus flytrap.
Do Venus flytraps sleep?
Venus flytraps do not sleep, or at least they not like humans. Instead, Venus flytraps undergo a dormancy period. Every year, during late fall or winter (when temperatures drop), Venus flytraps will go dormant.
The plants change dramatically during dormancy. Several leaves wither, and the plant reduces in size. Some first-time growers panic and throw their plants away because they think their plants are dying (or dead). But, in reality, their plants are just experiencing dormancy. The dormancy process is a crucial stage for the plant’s development. For that reason, Venus flytrap should experience dormancy every year (find more information about venus flytrap dormancy in this article) (find more information about venus flytrap dormancy in this article).
In spring, once dormancy is over, Venus flytraps return to their original state and continue to grow and develop. You can learn a lot more about dormancy and the care process in this article: Venus Flytrap Care Instructions
It depends on why they are close. Generally, there are two scenarios. First, the trap is closed, and it is consuming prey. Second, the trap is closed, but it did not capture anything.
Once a Venus flytrap has caught an insect, it will start the digestion process with enzymes. The Venus flytrap digestion process is unique, but it is not at all fast. It takes one to two weeks to consume an insect. Therefore, in the first scenario, the trap will stay close while it is digesting the prey. The second scenario is much simpler. In that case, the trap will reopen within a day or two.
There is also an in-between scenario. Sometimes a dead organism or object falls inside a Venus flytrap. The initial motion stimuli can activate a trap. Yet, since the creature inside the trap is dead (or is inanimate), it doesn’t move. The lack of stimuli is a red flag for Venus flytrap. In this scenario, the lack of stimuli might cause the plant to lose interest and reopen without attempting to consume what is inside the trap. This can be a real challenge when trying to feed a Venus flytrap with dead bugs. But do not worry, you can find a way around it in this article:
Venus flytraps are fascinating beings. They have not only evolved to be successful predators but also to select their prey in a very meticulous manner. Does it make sense for Venus flytraps to close at night? Absolutely not! Venus flytraps spend large amounts of energy opening and closing those traps. They should only close when a potential victim has been detected inside a leaf.
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Option1: Let your plant flower
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.
First, Venus flytraps do not exhibit nyctinasty behaviors. Second, the trap mechanisms of Venus flytraps have been perfected over time to conserve energy. Venus flytraps spend significant amounts of energy opening and closing those leaves. Therefore, the plant ensures opening or closing is worth it.