Venus flytrap advice

11 years ago

I keep finding really conflicting information about my vft so if anyone can give me some sound information I'd really appreciate it! I bought my plant from Ted's Greenhouse (the one right outside of Chicago) a couple of months ago. Since then it has lost like 6 of its heads, but has also grown 5 back so it doesn't appear to be dying or anything. I currently have it in a west facing window which gets a lot of sun, but could move it to a south facing one if anyone thinks that would be better. When I spoke to Ted he told me not to grow it outside because it would get too much sun. When I water, I use distilled or rainwater and fill up a dish about an inch high then put the trap in that dish. Once it's all evaporated, I wait a few days and repeat the process. Ted said to have the substrate sopping wet pretty much all of the time, but I'm afraid because I've read online that they can get root rot. I never let it completely dry out either though. At first I thought maybe the plant turned black because the heads were sitting on moist soil, but I propped them up with 3 river rocks and it still did not stop. It doesn't seem like my plant is in trouble because of how fast it's growing new eyelids, but I still want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to take care of it. Thanks!

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Comments (4)

tommyr_gw Zone 6
11 years ago
That guy is WRONG. The plant belongs OUTSIDE in full all day Sun. In a shallow tray of distilled water or rainwater about 1" deep or less. Never let it dry out. Acclimate the plant SLOWLY to full Sun. A little every day until it stays outside. It will need winter dormancy for about 3-4 months come first frost until about Valentines day Keep it above freezing but below about 45F.
Celeste
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks!! Yeah I can see the red color it used to have fading a bit so I suspected it wasn't getting enough sun, I'll move it outside. Is it enough to keep it by a cold window in the winter? I have a greenhouse but I'm not sure that the temperature will stay above freezing at night.
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tommyr_gw Zone 6
11 years ago
IF the temp stays between about 35 and 45. Mine go in zip lock bags and then in the fridge. It's too cold here outside in winter.
purslanegarden
11 years ago
While it doesn't *need* to be outside, as long as you are maintaining a healthy plant indoors, it's good to be outside.

The part that I can take a stronger stance on, however, is the moisture level. The plant seems to be doing what many plants do when it gets too much water that it doesn't like. So I suggest that you keep the soil moist, but not soggy. It's hard to describe what moist is, but for my plants, it means that you touch it and you feel the wetness of water on the top layers, but your finger does not come away from it feeling bits of water or even dragging water off the growing medium.

As for the tray and how much water to put in it, it also depends on the size of your pot and tray. As long as you have holes in the bottom of the planter/pot, then it can absorb the water as needed. I've had my pots in various levels of water. If it was a little lower, then I can leave the pot in longer. If it was a little more, and I see the medium becoming too soggy, I take it out or even dump the water from the tray. In short, I did actively watch the moisture levels of the pots and take action accordingly.

In my growing area, I was able to keep the plants out all winter. It reached low 30s several times, but only actually snowed or had ice about 3-4 times. That was typically for 1-2 days, and then the snow/ice would begin melting.

If you have longer spells of freezing ice and snow, you will want to give it more protection or not leave it outside (and do whatever you plan to for inside).