Dionaea Muscipula, commonly known as the Venus flytrap, is a carnivorous plant in the monotypic genus Dionaea. Venus flytrap plants are native to subtropical wetlands on the east coast of the United States, such as South Carolina and North Carolina. In this article we will see how to grow Venus flytrap and its care.
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Venus Flytrap Features
They are perennial herbaceous plants that can reach between 15 and 30 cm in height and a width of 15 to 22 cm.
They contain four to seven leaves that grow in a rosette shape on a short, bulb-like underground stem. After flowering, longer leaves with developed traps appear.
How quickly these plants close their traps is a direct indicator of their overall health.
In general, their lockers are totally or partially green. However, some specimens may display various combinations of red, green, yellow, or purple.
When old leaves are replaced with new ones, mature traps naturally turn black.
During their flowering period, they produce small white flowers.
There is no chance that these plants will be toxic to humans or pets. It is perfectly safe to place them near children, as the trap is too weak to harm them.
How to Propagate Venus Flytrap
They don’t itch as much! If you put your little fears behind you, spreading Venus flytraps can be a simple process. You just have to choose if you do it by division, seeds or leaf cuttings.
Division
One way to propagate these plants is to divide them in early summer or late winter.
Look for new shoots that have their own root system and cut them with a clean, sharp knife. Remove excess soil and replant the divisions in individual pots, try to cover the roots well with soil and water with plenty of water.
Leave new plants in the shade for about two days to recover from stress, after which you can move them to a sunny location.
leaf cuttings
If you want to propagate these plants by leaf cuttings, you should do it in early summer. Cut the leaves from their rhizomes and place them in a suitable potting soil. Bury the cut end 1 cm deep.
You can cover the container with a plastic bag to provide them with high humidity and place them in a bright place. The cuttings should become mature plants in about two years.
Sowing seeds
The easiest way to propagate Venus flytraps is by seed. The best time to do this is in spring or summer.
Use a mixture of sand and peat or just garden soil, place the seeds about 10cm apart and cover them lightly with soil, keep the pot in a sunny place and water the seeds regularly.
They will germinate in a few weeks, but it takes a year to transplant Venus flytrap pups safely.
Growing Venus Flytrap and Care
where to grow it
In addition to their main food source (insects), Venus flytrap plants feed on light and love sunny days.
These plants will be happiest if you place them where they can get about 12 hours of bright, direct light each day. They can also do well in partial shade when sunlight levels drop.
Starting in the fall, the Venus flytraps go through a period of inactivity. Like many newbie gardeners, you might think these plants die when they lose all their leaves.
But don’t panic. In fact, they continue to live underground thanks to their rhizomes. You should keep them away from artificial light, as they will do just fine in low natural light.
Ideal soil type
These plants do well when grown in nutrient-poor soil, and you don’t have to worry about fertilizing them at all.
They prefer to grow in soil similar to that of their native environment. Look for sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil.
You can also make your own mixture with half peat and half perlite or horticultural or river sand. The perlite will help retain moisture, while the peat moss will provide your plant with the acidity it needs.
ideal temperature
In their natural habitat, Venus flytraps are accustomed to warm temperatures exceeding 90°F (32°C). Ideal temperature values are between 70 and 95°F (21 and 35°C), but they can tolerate even extremely hot temperatures.
During their dormant period, these plants prefer cooler temperatures, down to 5°C (40°F). To provide Venus flytraps with cool temperatures, some gardeners move their plants to a garage or basement.
Irrigation
Venus flytraps are a bit picky when it comes to watering them. One of the most important factors in this process is water quality.
Tap water contains alkaline salts, sodium, sulfur, calcium, magnesium and chlorine. These can affect the overall health of your plant.
These carnivores love rainwater, but you can also use any pure, low-mineralized water, like distilled water.
Although these plants don’t react instantly to the wrong type of water, the minerals in tap water build up in the soil over time. This can make your plant sick and eventually die.
Humidity
Venus flytraps prefer consistently moist soil. Be careful, however, not to water them too much, as they do not like to stay in muddy soil for long.
These plants need a high humidity level, above 50%. If grown indoors, a humidifier can be used to keep the air around the plant moist.
Many gardeners prefer to place the planter in a container filled with water. This will keep the humidity at ideal levels and the plant consistently moist.
Diseases and pests
Although Venus flytraps are innate predators, they can encounter a number of pest problems.
Fungus gnat larvae, gray mold and aphids can sometimes attack them. Fungus gnats like to feed on the leaves and can also damage the roots. Bacillus thuringiensis is a naturally occurring bacterium that can be used in the soil to kill these pests.
If you notice a water-soaked spot on your plant’s leaves or stems, it may be an indicator of a gray mold infestation. Prevent the spread by removing infected plant parts and potting soil.
Aphids are often too small for these carnivores to catch, so they can cause leaf distortion at the top of the plant.
You can treat your plant by soaking it in water for two to three days and repeating this process after a week. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oils such as Neem oil can help control heavy infestations.
when to transplant
Venus flytraps need regular repotting to keep the growing environment cool. These plants do not like crowded spaces, as this will prevent them from developing new roots.
You can transplant it once a year, in spring or early summer. Be sure to repot the plant while it is not in full bloom.
It may also be interesting to read: How to propagate, grow Cladium (caladium) and its care.
Also, you should repot this plant right after purchase to remove all water impurities from previous nursery care.
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