How do I take care of my venus flytrap. (Dionaea muscipula)?

Question

I always wanted one and I just bought it. I know to give it distilled water. Will it feed it self or does it rely on the owner to feed it. Can I keep it in my room?

Answer 1

You can grow Venus Fly Traps inside in a very sunny windowsill, but they are best grown outside.

You do not need to feed your fly trap anything other than sunlight. If you do feel like feeding it, don't feed it anything other than insects. The crickets that you feed your reptiles would be fine as long as they are small enough to fit in the traps and allow the traps to completely close. The rule of thumb is that the insect shouldn't be larger than 1/3 the length of the trap.

There are three major points to keeping a Venus fly trap healthy.

1) Sunlight - at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day

2) Water - rain, distilled or reverse osmosis water only

3) Soil - Nutrient poor soil such as peat moss

Venus fly traps like lots of light. Try to give it at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day. The more you can give it the better. It is best to grow your fly trap outside where it can get plenty of sun and catch its own food.

Venus fly traps need clean water. Usually tap water will not do. It is best to use distilled water, rain water, or reverse osmosis water. Venus fly traps need water with a TDS (total dissolved soilds) measurement of 50 ppm (parts per million) or less. In order to get this, you probably need to use distilled water or reverse osmosis water or rain water. Their soil should be kept wet at all times. It is best to use a tray and set the plant in about 1/2 inch of water. Humidity isn't that important. Fly traps can live fine in low humidity conditions. I have about a hundred plants and I live in Colorado where the humidity in the summer is very low. They do great so long as they get plenty of sunlight and clean water.

I would guess that your plant came potted already, so the media that it is potted in is probably fine. But if you need to repot it, which wouldn't be a bad idea, you should use a combination of peat moss and perlite.

Good luck with your fly trap and enjoy growing it!

You can read more about how to care for venus fly traps here:

http://www.flytrapcare.com

And if you have more questions, feel free to join the forum and as them there:

http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/

Answer 2

Here is a link to a web page that give detailed information about your Venus Flytrap!  In addition, they have an extensive list of other insectivorous plants, supplies and even fruit fly cultures to feed the plants.  

http://www.carnivorousplantnursery.com/i...

Answer 3

Place it in a sunny window, balcony or patio. If the inner surface of the trap is red, light conditions are perfect. If the inner surface is green, move your plant to a place where it will get more light.

On its own it will successfully trap millipedes, earwigs, flies, and medium sized bugs. Try putting one or two of these insects in the pot with the plant and watch the Venus Flytrap catch them.

Do provide a humid environment to your Venus Flytrap. Your Venus Flytrap will grow in full sun if the humidity is higher than 55%. To increase humidity if your air is dry, leave your plant in the plastic bag with the top open, or plant your flytrap in a terrarium.

You need to try to duplicate the bog conditions where it grows naturally. Keep the saucer under the pot filled at all times with DISTILLED WATER or rain water. Avoid tap water as it often has natural minerals, which will turn the leaves black.

Answer 4

Don't take out the garbage.. ;)