By Tom Bennet Last updated on
Having cultivated carnivorous plants for over two decades, my journey started with a Venus flytrap at the age of 10. Now, my passion has blossomed into a greenhouse teeming with these fascinating carnivores. Venus flytraps hold a special place in the world of carnivorous plants, often acting as the entry point for enthusiasts. Charles Darwin himself lauded them as “one of the most wonderful plants in the world,” a sentiment echoed by anyone who has witnessed the remarkable speed and precision of a healthy trap snapping shut on an unsuspecting insect.
Venus flytraps are ingenious hunters. They lure prey with the promise of sweet nectar. Once an insect makes the mistake of touching the sensitive trigger hairs within the trap – either twice in quick succession or two hairs at once – an electrochemical signal initiates the rapid closure. The interlocking teeth around the trap’s edges form a cage, securing the prey. The insect’s struggles further tighten the seal, initiating the release of digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down the soft tissues of the insect, creating a nutrient-rich “soup” that the plant reabsorbs. After about a week, the trap reopens, discarding the indigestible exoskeleton and ready to ensnare its next meal.
Despite their dramatic trapping mechanism, the reputation of Venus flytraps as difficult to grow is largely unfounded. With the right knowledge and care, you can easily cultivate thriving, large specimens of these extraordinary plants. This comprehensive guide will equip you with everything you need to know to successfully grow Venus fly trap plants.
Let’s dive in and learn How To Grow Venus Fly Trap Plants successfully!
Alt text: Healthy Venus flytrap plant with multiple traps, two of which have captured flies, demonstrating their carnivorous nature.
1. Understanding the Native Habitat of Venus Flytraps
Contrary to popular misconception, Venus flytraps are not from outer space!
Dionaea muscipula, the scientific name for the Venus flytrap, is the sole species in its genus and boasts a remarkably restricted natural distribution. These unique plants are native exclusively to the coastal bogs of North and South Carolina in the United States. Sadly, habitat destruction poses a significant threat to their survival in the wild, and they are believed to have vanished from several counties within their native range. While some well-meaning individuals have attempted to establish Venus flytrap populations in new locations, these introductions are generally considered detrimental and likely to cause ecological harm.
It is crucial to remember that collecting Venus flytraps from their wild habitat is illegal. To acquire these plants ethically and sustainably, always purchase them from reputable nurseries specializing in carnivorous plants (refer to section 8. Where to Buy Venus Flytraps for recommendations).
Hover for more detail, and use the controls on the left to zoom.
Notes: Map data sourced from the USDA PLANTS Database, eFloras.org, Encyclopedia of Life, and Barry Rice’s website. If you spot any mistakes, please click here send me an email.
2. Optimal Growing Locations for Venus Flytrap Plants
Venus flytraps thrive in direct sunlight, which is essential for their robust growth and vibrant coloration. When growing Venus flytrap plants indoors, select a location that receives ample sunlight, such as a bright, south-facing windowsill, especially if you reside in the US or UK. Insufficient light will result in weak, elongated, and pale leaves. A good indicator of adequate sunlight is the development of red coloration inside the traps of most Venus flytrap varieties.
While terrariums are not mandatory for growing Venus flytraps, they can appreciate the enhanced humidity these enclosed environments offer. Venus flytraps can flourish in terrariums, provided you adhere to their winter dormancy requirements and ensure sufficient illumination, potentially through artificial grow lights. High-output fluorescent grow lights, like T5 fixtures, are particularly effective.
Conservatories and unheated greenhouses offer ideal conditions for growing Venus flytrap plants. Venus flytraps are well-adapted to temperature fluctuations, as their native Carolinas experience summer highs reaching 30°C (86°F) and winter lows dropping below 0°C (32°F). Therefore, they are well-suited to many temperate climates, including the UK and much of the US, as long as they are shielded from harsh weather extremes.
It’s worth noting that Venus flytrap plants exhibit seasonal leaf variation. Leaves produced during spring and autumn tend to be lower-growing with heart-shaped petioles, while summer leaves are typically taller with narrow, elongated petioles. This is a natural growth pattern and nothing to be concerned about.
3. Choosing the Right Soil and Water for Venus Flytraps
The classic soil mixture for Venus flytrap plants consists of sphagnum peat moss combined with lime-free horticultural sand or perlite, in a 2:1 ratio. For convenience, pre-mixed Venus flytrap soil is available from specialized suppliers like Hampshire Carnivorous Plants in the UK and California Carnivores in the US. Alternatively, a suitable compost mix can be found on Amazon for worldwide delivery.
Peat-free alternatives are also viable. Pure long-fiber sphagnum moss provides an excellent growing medium. While potentially more expensive than peat-based mixes, it’s an environmentally conscious option. The Sphagnum Shop in the UK is a recommended source for sphagnum moss – use code TOMS10% for a discount.
Proper watering is crucial for healthy Venus flytrap growth. During the active growing season, it’s best to stand the pot in a shallow tray of about 1 cm (⅓ inch) of water, allowing the plant to draw moisture from the bottom. Avoid top-watering. Venus flytraps prefer consistently moist soil, but not waterlogged conditions. In winter dormancy, reduce watering, keeping the soil just slightly damp.
Alt text: A collection of potted Venus flytrap plants thriving in a tray filled with water, illustrating the tray watering method.
Another critical aspect often overlooked is water purity. Venus flytrap plants are highly sensitive to mineral buildup. Evolved to thrive in nutrient-poor, acidic bogs, they are adversely affected by minerals found in tap water, bottled water, or filtered water. These minerals accumulate in the soil and can eventually be fatal to your plant. Similarly, fertilizers should be avoided. The best water choices are rainwater, distilled water, deionized water, or reverse osmosis (RO) water.
4. Understanding and Providing Winter Dormancy for Venus Flytraps
Venus flytrap plants require a cold winter dormancy period lasting approximately from November to February. This dormancy is not optional; it’s a biological necessity. Just as sleep is essential for human health, winter dormancy is vital for the long-term health and vigor of Venus flytraps. Mimicking their natural habitat conditions, which include a distinct cold resting period, is key to successfully grow Venus fly trap plants.
Alt text: Venus flytrap plants entering winter dormancy, with leaves starting to turn black and die back, a natural part of their life cycle.
If you cultivate your Venus flytrap on a windowsill or in a terrarium during the growing season, you’ll need to relocate it to a colder environment for dormancy. An unheated garage, shed, or even a cool windowsill in a less heated room are suitable options. Plants kept in unheated greenhouses can typically remain there throughout winter.
As daylight hours shorten and temperatures drop, you’ll observe your Venus flytrap’s leaves beginning to turn black and die back. This is a natural part of the dormancy process. You can safely trim away any dead foliage. The end of the winter dormancy period, around late February or early March, is an ideal time to repot your Venus flytrap, and even divide larger clumps if necessary, before new growth emerges in spring. A 10 cm (4 inch) pot is generally sufficient for mature Venus flytrap plants.
5. Managing Venus Flytrap Flowers and Seeds
Mature Venus flytrap plants produce flowers in the spring. However, unless your goal is to collect seeds, it’s generally recommended to cut off the flower stalk as soon as it reaches about 5 cm (2 inches) in height. Flowering is an energy-intensive process for Venus flytraps, and preventing flowering allows the plant to direct its energy towards more vigorous leaf and trap growth during the summer.
For a more detailed exploration of Venus flytrap flowers, including instructions on propagating new plants from cut flower stems, refer to my guide on Venus flytrap flowers.
Alt text: A Venus flytrap plant with a flower bud just beginning to emerge, showcasing the early stages of flowering.
Alt text: Detailed close-up photo of a Venus flytrap flower, highlighting its delicate white petals and intricate floral structure.
What about growing Venus flytrap plants from seed?
While possible, propagating Venus flytraps from seed requires significant patience. Seedlings take several years to reach maturity, and maintaining their survival during the early stages can be challenging, especially for novice growers. Furthermore, the online market is rife with fraudulent Venus flytrap seeds and scams. If you’re determined to try growing from seed, always obtain seeds from reputable specialist nurseries.
In the UK, Hampshire Carnivorous Plants offers Venus Flytrap seed kits, along with seed variety packs featuring easier-to-grow species. California Carnivores in the US provides a diverse selection of Venus Flytrap seed packs with free shipping within the US. Use code tomscarnivores for a 10% discount. For detailed guidance on sexually propagating Venus flytraps, this article by Flytrapcare.com is a valuable resource.
6. Feeding Your Venus Flytrap Plants
Venus flytrap plants grown outdoors will naturally capture sufficient insects for their nutritional needs. If you grow your plants indoors, supplemental feeding with dead or live insects can be beneficial. However, ensure all other growing requirements are met before considering feeding.
For effective digestion, Venus flytrap traps require stimulation of their trigger hairs after the trap has closed. This mechanism prevents the plant from expending energy digesting non-nutritious debris that might accidentally enter the trap. When feeding a dead insect, gently stimulate the trigger hairs with a toothpick or by lightly massaging the sides of the trap with your fingers to initiate digestion.
If you’re ready to feed your plant, consult my guide to feeding Venus Flytraps, which provides recommendations for suitable and readily available food sources.
7. Exploring Venus Flytrap Cultivars and Mutations
Dionaea muscipula, the Venus flytrap species, has been extensively cultivated and selectively bred for many years. Horticulturalists have developed hundreds of distinct varieties, known as cultivars, many of which are commercially available.
All Venus flytrap plants share a basic structure: a rosette of leaves (petioles), each terminating in a trap. Mature traps typically measure around 2.5 cm (1 inch) in length, but some giant flytrap varieties can produce traps up to 5 cm (2 inches) long.
Alt text: A collage showcasing diverse Venus flytrap cultivars including ‘Justina Davis’, ‘Sawtooth’, ‘Fused Tooth’, ‘Slack’s Giant’, ‘Akai Ryu’, and ‘Alien’, illustrating variations in color, trap shape, and size.
Cultivars are typically selected based on color, size, or unique mutations. Color variations, especially all-green and all-red forms, are particularly popular. Examples include Dionaea ‘Justina Davis’, which retains its green coloration even in intense sunlight, and Dionaea ‘Akai Ryu’ (also known as ‘Red Dragon’), known for its striking maroon or burgundy pigmentation across the entire plant. Giant varieties like ‘Slack’s Giant’ and ‘South West Giant’ (originating from the UK) are prized for their larger trap size.
Mutant cultivars, often arising from tissue culture anomalies, exhibit unusual and sometimes deformed trap shapes. These are a matter of personal preference; some growers appreciate their novelty, while others find them less aesthetically appealing. Regardless of your preference, understanding the diversity within Venus flytrap cultivars adds another layer of enjoyment to growing these fascinating plants.
8. Where to Buy Venus Flytraps from Reputable Sources
In the UK, Hampshire Carnivorous Plants is a highly recommended source for healthy Venus flytrap plants. As the UK’s largest and longest-established carnivorous plant nursery, run by Matthew Soper, they offer a wide selection of plants, compost, seeds, and carnivorous plant collections, including companions like Pitcher plants and Sundews. They provide fast delivery throughout the UK.
For those in the US, California Carnivores comes highly recommended. They offer a wide assortment of Venus Flytraps available for delivery across the United States, as well as other carnivorous plants. Use code tomscarnivores to receive 10% off your order.
Plants purchased from specialist carnivorous plant nurseries are generally healthier and more robust compared to those from general hardware or DIY stores. Furthermore, specialist nurseries offer invaluable advice on successful cultivation, and your purchase supports small businesses dedicated to these unique plants.
Want to Continue Learning About Venus Flytraps?
Consider purchasing The Savage Garden by Peter D’Amato. In my opinion, this is the definitive book on carnivorous plants. Its sections dedicated to Dionaea are exceptionally detailed and beginner-friendly. Available on Amazon.
