own a venus flytrap

The failing most people have with growing these is that they really expect it to be a lot easier than it is. These are not beginner plants, as cool as they are. Some tips:

1. Reverse osmosis or distilled water, NOT tap water, tap water will kill it. Keep them moist.

2. Do NOT repot it. If it was alive while you bought it, it’s fine where it is.

3. Don’t try feeding it hamburger chunks or the like, and it’s likely you don’t need to feed it at all. It will catch bugs fine on its own.

4. They like direct sunlight, but gradually introduce them to the light if they’re not used to it.

5. If they start to “die” in the autumn or winter, they’re probably just going dormant. Search for “venus flytrap dormancy” to find out how to handle this.

6. Buy flytraps from a reputable dealer, avoid buying them from places that don’t specialize in carnivorous plants.

I’ve been growing venus flytraps for over a year. They’re not hard to take care of…as long as you understand what they need. there’s a great guide at www.sarracenia.com/faq.html . the biggest mistake people make is either feeding them the wrong stuff – live insects ONLY! – or watering them with tap water. water them only with rain or distilled water!

I am dissapointed that the flytrap I bought died less than 1 month later, and cost over $20. I read that they do not like to be overfed, so I only fed it once with a live bug, but every few days another trap would turn black and fall off. So dissapointing for my young kids too.

I don’t know if it was worth it or not, but both of mine died. I think I might get another one and feed it a lot.

I don’t know if they were sick when I got them or if I mistreated them, but every one of the 3 I tried to keep died. I never did get them to eat flys or anything nifty like that…

My venus flytrap died after I fed it twice. -Guess it didn’t like the moths I fed it.

Dionaea muscipula: carnivore.