Letting tap water sit will not get rid of the minerals that are the thing you want to avoid. That being said it is possible to water with tap if your area has water with a low ppm. For example, on Long Island I use the tap water to water all of my plants with no negative results. Look up your area's ppm to see if you can use your water.

rain water works too and it's free.

Google Venus Flytrap care. LOTS of info! Rain or distilled water only, no tap. No bottled water. Sit the pot in a shallow tray and the put about an inch of water in the tray. FULL Sun all day OUTSIDE. These are not inside plants. Feeding them is not needed.

Have fun!

Here's a pictoral:

{{gwi:557991}}

Here is a link that might be useful: jimscott's plants

Distilled water is about $0.50 a gallon here... And you shouldn't need more than a gallon or so a week, depending.

If you're really insane (like me!) you can buy a "RO" filter to turn tapwater into Distilled water, but they're $100 or so. I only do so because when I water my plants I go through 5+ gallons of water at a time. :)

thank you all.

Do I need to let the rain water sit? or it's ok to just use as I collect them?

I lefted the plant in the container it came with and it smell alittle like fish. Does that mean it rotting?

For those of you, who's weather is cooler than MD, where do you keep your babies in the winter? Is it still sitting in the sun?

thanks again.

It will go dormant for winter. I hear it rains a lot in winter in MD so you might want to shelter it some or it will rot. Just keep it damp while it's dormant and you shouldn't keep it waterlogged for the growing season either.

I think you're thinking in terms of tropical fish. Typically, with fish, you use tap water, which usually has Chlorine. Letting it sit allows the Chlorine gas to evaporate. For most CP's, they live in nutrient poor conditions. Not only will the Chlorine kill them, so will the minerals in tap water. Evaporation concentrates the dissolved minerals. Rain water doesn't need to sit.

It's normal for the media to smell. Not a problem. As long as the plants are green, they are okay. If everything turned brown, then I'd worry!

Maryland, depending where in Maryland, may be too cold to leave outside for the winter, without mulching. I live in the Buffalo, NY area. so I take my plants to a co-worker, and he keeps them in his windowed garage for the winter. That works for me. Are you near the coast or near the mountains? That makes a difference.

My flytraps and American pitcher plants go in the fridge when temps get down to near freezing in mid fall. They come out around Valentine's day.

we are in Central MD - about 1 hr from both Dc and baltimore. From what you guys said I can either put it in the fridge (without sun) or in the garage (in our case - without sun) starting when the temp near freezing. I read some where that they would still need some water (is that correct?)

how much water? or less then 1/2 inch is ok?

Thanks

I put mine in baggies (the whole pot without water dish) then in the bottom of the fridge. No watering needed, the soil will be wet enough to last the winter. Light is not needed obviously. You may want to hit them with a samll spray of a sulfur based fungicide to help ward off mold. I use Safer brand.

I just have water added every few weeks, and not much. They can take freezes, just not deep ones or prolonged ones. There is a grower in Connecticut, who keeps them outside all year long, but he heavily mulches the plants.

Where can I purchase a VFT in Maryland?

You should be able to purchase one from your local Lowes or possibly Walmart or local nursery. I also have VFT's if you'd like to contact me.