![]() ![]() Tap water and even bottled or filtered water will probably have too much dissolved salt for the plant and can kill it. Use distilled water, rainwater or reverse-osmosis water. Be sure to read Winter Dormancy below.ĭionaea muscipula is very sensitive to the type of water you use to care for it. If you elect to grow your plant with a dormancy period in winter, care requirements will differ. There should always be at least a 2 inch margin between the top of the water level in the dish and the top of the soil level in the pot. When you water your plant, do it by adding the water to the dish under the pot and letting the water seep up into the pot. That requires the correct planting medium (see Re-potting, below), a container with a hole in its bottom and a dish of about ½ to 1 inch deep water sitting under the pot. This plant needs to be kept in potting medium that is like its wetland native habitat, always moist but never soggy. Your Venus flytrap has water requirements that are probably unfamiliar. If you elect to grow your plant with a dormancy period in winter, light requirements will differ. Without the right light it will deteriorate quickly. If your plant is small, a single horticultural LED light may be all you need, kept on the plant for 12 to 16 hours per day. Full, direct sunlight (at least 6 hours per day), from a southern exposure is best and most owners will need to consider supplementing with artificial light, especially in the low light months of winter. Strong direct light is crucial to maintaining a healthy plant. Offering this plant enough light is a big challenge in its care. If you do want to re-pot your plant use care to follow its requirements in the Re-potting section below. Just take off the protective plastic cover. You do not need to remove your plant from the small covered container in which you bought it. Other unusual conditions of growth include a sensitivity to the composition of the growing medium, a need for live food (or simulated live food) and an intolerance of most tap water. This plant does not need to enter dormancy when grown indoors, though it can be grown with a dormancy period in the winter that may benefit the plant. The key to a healthy Venus flytrap is strong light, pure water and plenty of food. They grow best as a houseplant in our area (USDA zone 7 and colder). Fortunately, the plants we purchase for our homes are grown commercially and do not affect the native populations*. "Any other type of soil will poison your plant.Venus flytrap is a native of the Carolina coastal plain where it has become very endangered. "This specific plant needs nutrient-free, mineral-free soil to survive," Palomares reiterates. Black spots: If you notice black spots or unpleasant odors on your plant, it's likely an issue with its growing medium.Keep up with the aforementioned care tips, and your plant should make its way to dormancy on its own. "Venus flytraps naturally go dormant over the winter months, and it's best to let your plant follow its natural rhythm rather than forcing it to 'stay awake' over the winter," says Pangborn. As days get shorter and the weather gets colder, your plant should go into dormancy. ![]() Skipped dormant period: Resting and recharging are important for humans, and the same is true for Venus flytraps.Make sure to keep your plant slightly damp at all times (but not soggy) and consider placing it next to a humidifier. Brown and crispy leaves: "Since Venus flytraps consistently need damp soil and high humidity, allowing the plant to get too dry can cause browning, crispy leaves, and traps," explains Pangborn."A good rule of thumb is to choose insects that are one-third of the size of the trap," says Palomares. You need to pay attention to size because not all bugs or insects are suitable for a Venus flytrap. "If the plant is not hungry, it will remain open for a while and then close up within an hour or two, which means it does not want to eat that specific bug," Webb adds. If you're wondering what's the best way to feed your plant, "you can use a pair of tweezers to gently put the bug into the trap," explains Webb. "A fly, spider, or other small morsel once every few weeks will keep your plant powered up," explains Pangborn. That being said, if you're growing inside and there aren't any bugs in your space, you should consider feeding the plant. "Although some growers like to feed their flytrap, it's not necessary this plant has adapted to capturing insects on its own, and insects will naturally be attracted to it," explains Palomares. They have evolved to be able to hunt prey without relying on plant parents to help them out. Typically, Venus flytraps fend for themselves when it comes to catching and eating food.
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