VENUS FLY TRAPS
| Botanical Name | Dionaea muscipula |
| Common Name | Venus fly trap, Venus flytrap |
| Plant Type | Herbaceous plant with a perennial life cycle |
| Mature Size | 6 to 12 inches tall by 6 to 9 inches wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil Type | Poor, sandy soil kept constantly wet |
| Soil pH | Acidic |
| Bloom Time | May to June |
| Flower Color | White |
| Hardiness Zones | 5 to 8 |
| Native Area | The Carolinas |
Plant Care
Water: Keep planting mix very moist at all times; Using distilled water is best.
Light: Place in bright indirect sunlight indoors.
Temperature: Performs well at an average indoor temperature.
Continuing Care: Remove old leaves and traps as they turn black. Keep plants at (35°-50°F) from Nov-Feb when dormant. In spring new leaves and flowers will appear. Remove flower for stronger, larger traps. If transplanting, use peat moss.
Fertilizer: To fertilize it, just feed it insects! If that’s too icky a very mild amount of fertilizer applied directly to the traps will suffice
Tips for Success
- Flytraps have a reputation for being tough to care for, but the trick is to try to match its native conditions. It prefers warmer places, though it can tolerate temperatures down to the low 40s F. Some humidity is also important, though less so than other carnivorous plants.
- Avoid direct sunlight for more than four or five hours at a time, sticking instead to bright indirect light.
- Venus Flytraps perform best when planted in a peaty or mossy medium that drains well.
- When watering them, soak the soil and then allow it to get moderately dry before doing so again.
