Ed Read, in the serene Cal State Fullerton greenhouse, delicately touches a Venus flytrap’s leaf. A double-tap, and in a blink of an eye – a tenth of a second – two leaves spring shut. “It’s like a pseudo-memory,” he observes, “Touch it once, nothing. But a second touch within moments, and it reacts.” This fascinating response begs the question, Are Venus Fly Traps Alive in a way that’s more than just plant life?
Attract, trap, digest. The Venus flytrap’s feeding process is straightforward. Yet, nurturing these carnivorous plants to thrive? That’s a challenge many face. Often likened to the fleeting lifespan of a goldfish won at a fair, Venus flytraps have a reputation for being notoriously difficult to keep alive.
“People often purchase a flytrap in a tiny pot, sealed under a plastic dome,” Read explains, “and that’s practically a death sentence for the plant.”
Once considered exotic rarities, Venus flytraps have become widely accessible, gracing the shelves of both high-end nurseries and budget stores, largely due to advancements in tissue-culture technology. While this accessibility is good for consumers, it’s not always beneficial for the flytraps themselves. The sound of discarded flytrap pots ending up in kitchen bins is, unfortunately, increasingly common.
For those seeking the key to keeping these intriguing plants flourishing, expert guidance is essential. This quest leads us back to the Fullerton greenhouse, a haven for hundreds of vibrant, young flytraps, their leaves reaching upwards, ready to unfurl. They are joined by thousands of other carnivorous companions: butterworts with flat, sticky leaves, bladderworts, bulbous pitcher plants, and sundews, their delicate, tentacle-like leaves shimmering with digestive enzymes. This collection stands as one of California’s most extensive.
In many ways, Venus flytraps should be simple to care for. They don’t demand fertilizers. They can flourish in full sunlight or under artificial fluorescent lights. Unlike many houseplants, they can even sit in a shallow pool of water without their roots rotting. So, where does the challenge lie?
“It’s all about the water,” Read emphasizes. He explains that the alkaline and dissolved solids present in California’s tap water are toxic to most carnivorous plants, especially Venus flytraps. Native to the swamps of the Carolinas, flytraps thrive in environments characterized by intense sunlight, high humidity, and, most importantly, pure water.
“To truly help your Venus flytrap flourish, you must provide it with distilled or reverse osmosis water,” Read advises. “Even rainwater is suitable.”
Dry air, particularly the dry winds, can rapidly harm these plants. Indoor flytraps should be positioned away from heaters or air conditioning vents.
Forbes Conrad, a 22-year-old student and carnivorous plant enthusiast for nearly half his life, shares his expertise from Moorpark College. He insists that these plants aren’t difficult to cultivate or propagate. In fact, understanding their preferences can easily lead to an abundant collection. He once managed 400 pitcher plants in his backyard bog.
“It’s akin to having a pet,” he remarks. “You need to observe them. Repotting is only necessary when they become too crowded. If you decide to feed a flytrap a dead fly, you might need to gently massage the trigger hairs to encourage the trap to close.”
Once Venus flytraps are mastered, pitcher plants often become the next captivating choice for gardeners seeking more dramatic and expensive species. Certain tropical pitcher plant varieties boast impressive, football-sized pitchers filled with alluring, sweet nectar at their opening. Their waxy interiors and downward-pointing hairs cleverly guide insects into a pool of digestive fluids below. Intriguingly, some have even been found attempting to digest small rodents.
“These plants are far from boring,” Read states. “They’re not just passive greenery or a simple flower. They actively do something. Though, I must admit, inviting someone over to watch me feed them isn’t exactly the most romantic date idea.”
While some collectors amass vast collections, Ivan Snyder, a grower in Inglewood, has earned a reputation for his small yet impeccable assortment. Known within the Los Angeles Carnivorous Plant Society as “Dr. Frankensnyder,” he’s celebrated for his crossbreeding skills and the exceptional health of his specimens.
His current collection is intentionally modest, featuring only 16 plants—a selection of sundews (his favorites), a few flytraps, and an Australian pitcher plant. All are nurtured indoors, arranged on trays under two 4-foot cool-light fluorescent bulbs. Beneath the trays lie his tools: magnifying headsets, loupes, tweezers, and miniature cutting tools. He also keeps vials of food, including dried shrimp, live wingless fruit flies, and vitamin-enriched freeze-dried flies. Occasionally, he prepares a diluted Miracle-Gro solution, which he meticulously injects into a fly with a syringe before offering it to a leaf.
“People often get carried away with this hobby, but I prefer to keep it manageable,” he says. “Too many plants just mean too many mouths to feed.”
A collector for two decades, Snyder recounts his initial experience, mirroring many beginners. He acquired a flytrap from a nursery, watered it with tap water, and watched it decline within months. Discovering the necessity of pure water transformed his success, and he’s since maintained one flytrap for seven years.
Collectors often perceive these plants differently from typical flora, he notes, because their behavior is more akin to animals.
“They serve as companions, much like pets, but without the mess or unpleasant odors if they perish,” he concludes. “They’re silent – offering all the advantages of pets with none of the drawbacks.”
Venus flytraps are indeed just the beginning. Delve deeper into the captivating world of carnivorous plants, and you’ll discover they are far more than just plants – they are living, responsive wonders of nature that captivate and intrigue. So, are Venus fly traps alive? Absolutely, in every sense of the word, deserving of our careful attention and care to thrive.
