Are Venus Flytraps Easy to Grow? A Detailed Guide to Growing Them from Seed

Growing some Venus flytraps at home is very beneficial: they not only trap small insects in the home and reduce the harm caused by flies and mosquitoes, but they are also a very compact and cute plant in appearance, with strong ornamental value, so those who are interested might as well grow some.

How to Grow Venus Flytraps from Seed

Because Venus flytrap seeds are very small, generally 1mm, you need to be very careful. Generally, Venus flytrap seeds do not store for very long, so it is best to buy seeds collected in the current year and no more than three months old.

Before planting, soak the seeds in soft water for about 48 hours to increase the germination rate. If the sphagnum moss you bought is dry, you can first soak it in water. Stuff the soaked sphagnum moss into a disposable takeout bowl, then scatter the seeds directly on the surface of the clean substrate. Be sure to maintain high humidity.

If the north is relatively dry, you can directly use the tray method, supplying water at the bottom of the pot, or simply keep it enclosed to maintain 100% humidity, and place it under bright, indirect light; it generally germinates in about 1 month.

Are Venus Flytraps Easy to Grow?

1. Light Requirements

Sufficient light can make Venus flytraps grow stronger. They need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight every day. If the light duration is insufficient, in mild cases the traps will grow smaller and the petioles will become slender, and in severe cases it may cause the plant to die. If there is really a lack of sunlight in winter, you can use a grow light.

2. Water Requirements

Try to use soft water such as purified water or rainwater. Use the tray method (also called the “waist water” method) to create a small environment similar to its native habitat.

3. Humidity Requirements

Humidity should be high, because the native environment of Venus flytraps is swampy grassland, so if grown at home you also need to create a similar environment for them.

4. Soil Requirements

Venus flytraps like an acidic environment. So the substrate is best kept at an acidic pH of 3.5-5.

Fertilizer-free peat and perlite (2:1) or pure sphagnum moss are both very good substrate choices, and the substrate is best replaced once every spring.

5. Temperature Requirements

The growing temperature is 15°C-35°C, and the most suitable temperature is 21-35°C. If you want it to go dormant, you can control the temperature at around 5°C (0-8°C).

6. Feeding

The growth energy of Venus flytraps comes from the organic matter produced by photosynthesis during the day and a very small amount of inorganic salts. Eating insects is like fertilizing. It can make them grow a bit faster, but really do not give too much or too often. And foods humans like, such as chicken and beef, are very difficult for them to digest.

7. Fertilizing

Applying fertilizer directly into the substrate will cause the plant to die, because the root system of carnivorous plants is extremely intolerant of salt. So if you want to fertilize, choose a low-concentration liquid fertilizer and spray it on the leaves.

How to Fertilize Venus Flytraps

Actually, its need in this regard is not great; you only need to fertilize once about every 15 days during its growing season, and you can buy fertilizer specially made for it.

Its root system is relatively fragile, so when fertilizing, keep as far away from the roots as possible; you can slowly pour it along the edge of the flowerpot, or you can dilute the fertilizer and then spray it on the surface of the plant. In winter it stops growing, so you must not fertilize, otherwise it will harm it. If planted outdoors, the fertilizing method can be the same as for potted plants, but you can also skip fertilizing.

Because when planted outdoors it can trap insects to solve its own nutritional needs; it decomposes and digests the insects it catches and absorbs all the fluids in the insects' bodies. Some friends also place fish or shrimp with a fishy smell in front of it, which can attract some flying insects to gather there and then let it trap them, so there is no need to fertilize.

The Blooming Period of Venus Flytraps

Venus flytraps bloom in summer. Actually, strictly speaking, they will bloom not long after new leaves grow out in spring, and will keep blooming into midsummer.

When a Venus flytrap blooms, it generally grows many flower buds on the flower stalk, and one flower opens every other day. If the flower is not pollinated, it can stay open for several days, but after successful pollination, the flower will wither the next day.

The wonder of the Venus flytrap itself determines that its flowers are also very wondrous. The blooming period of Venus flytraps is very long, and at the same time, under the two different situations of successful pollination and unsuccessful pollination, the time the flowers stay open will also differ. However, the Venus flytrap itself is still a very easy plant to grow.