Venus Fly Trap

Botanical Name: Dionaea muscipula

In its native habitat, the Venus Fly Trap plant grows in bogs where it is unable to get the nutrients it needs from the soil. Therefore, it has developed a way to feed from the insects it traps in its leaves.

This unusual, carnivorous plant grows in a rosette of broad-winged stems, each with 2 rounded leaves that turn red inside when exposed to sunlight. The leaves are hinged in the middle by a midrib and fringed with interlocking "teeth" to hold in its prey. Inside each leaf are a few sensitive hairs that when touched trigger the leaves to snap shut. The action is quick, and the traps may stay closed for as long is 2 weeks. Then they open again, ready for the next victim. It's not a good idea to trigger them too often because the traps will stop responding after only a few times.

Venus Fly Trap is a perennial plant that can be kept from year to year. Understanding its needs for moisture and light will keep it healthy. Venus Fly Trap will go dormant in winter when a cool rest is needed. Keep it barely moist and cool during dormancy, with temperatures between 32-50°F/1-10°C. Moving it to a garage for the winter may be ideal...just be sure it gets some sunlight and the temperatures don't go below freezing.

Origin: North and South Carolina

Height: 3-10 in (8-25 cm)

Light: Good light is vital to this plant's health. Bright light with 4 hours of direct sun a day is ideal. Sunlight is more important than feeding the plant because it makes most of its food through photosynthesis.

Water: Keep soil evenly moist spring through fall. In winter, give it just enough water to keep from drying out completely. This plant is sensitive to chemicals in tap water, therefore use only distilled or rain water.

Humidity: Requires moist air. Grows best in a terrarium.

Temperature: Normal room temperatures 60-75°F, 16-24°C; In winter, a near-freezing dormancy period is needed 32-50°F/1-10°C

Soil: Use nutrient-poor soil. Rich potting mix will harm its roots. You can use all peat moss or mix 1 part peat moss with 1 part perlite.

Fertilizer: Don't fertilize. Fertilizer will burn the roots and may kill the plant. Since it is unlikely to catch insects in the house, you can feed it dead flies occasionally in spring and summer.

Propagation: Divide rhizomes in spring; can be grown from seed.