About Venus Flytrap

Can I Feed My Venus Flytrap Hamburger Meat?

2010-05-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

It amazes me how often someone is told that they can give their venus flytrap hamburger meat. This is absolutely not true! Avoid giving your flytrap anything other than flies, spiders, crickets and other bugs that are appropriate. If a store employee tells you to give your flytrap some hamburger meat, they do not know what they are talking about.

What can happen if you do? Your flytrap will start to fail and eventually die.

What is the Biggest a Venus Flytrap Can Grow?

2010-04-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

Are you wondering what is the biggest a venus flytrap can grow? Well, I can tell you that it is nothing like you may have seen in the movies. A venus flytrap can not grow large enough to eat a human, not even close.

The largest venus flytrap trap you will see on one of these interesting plants is about 4". This is considered quite large by general standards. You would have to be an experienced grower or a very well-read beginner to grow your venus flytrap to this size right off of the bat.

Why Does the Venus Flytrap Eat Bugs Anyway?

2010-03-31T23:21:00.000-07:00

If you are wondering why the venus flytrap traps bugs for food, the answer is an interesting one that shows how things in nature can adapt to survive.

In the marshes and bogs where venus flytraps originate, there was not much in the way of nutrients in the soil for the plants. So, they venus flytrap plant adapted and begin to trap it's prey to digest the nutrients it needed. How great is that? The plant actually has a scent that attracts bugs to it and then it traps them when they get there. If they can do all of this in order to survive, we can do anything, right?

The Venus Flytrap Flower

2010-03-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

Did you even know that there is such a thing as the Venus Flytrap flower? Many people do not. Most owners of venus flytrap plants, especially beginners, do not allow them to flower.

The reason the venus flytrap flower is not desirable is that it takes a lot of energy away from the plant itself. In fact, if you are not a seasoned flytrap owner, you may lose your plant completely. Many beginning flytrap growers lose their plant after it flowers.

The flowers are cute, white and delicate looking. If your plant is let go too long and the bud starts to open, forget it, you have waited to long to cut it off. You might as well enjoy the flowering process and try to collect seeds for more plants.

If you don't want your plant to flower, just cut it off at the stem when you see the bud forming on the little branch.

The Venus Flytrap is Great For Kids!

2010-03-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

The venus flytrap is great for kids. Not only is it super interesting and kids will be fascinated by the fact that it "eats" bugs, but they will love so many things about it. You have got to read this post written by 8-year-old Micaela. Why Venus Flytrap is a Great Plant For Kids

All of Your Flytraps Should Be Awake!

2010-03-13T20:22:00.000-08:00

Venus flytrap dormancy should be over now. All of your plants should be awake and ready for you to enjoy! Why not get it a new home and put together a nice new terrarium home? Your flytrap will appreciate it.

Don't have a venus flytrap yet or thinking about getting one? Now is a good time to buy venus flytrap plants. They are awake and ready to party!

Remember, only feed it when it is necessary and take good care of your plants. You have a long period of enjoyment ahead of you.

Do Not Set Off Traps For Fun!

2010-02-23T14:20:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, it is tempting to set off the traps to show your friends and family. But soon all you will have to show for it is black, dead traps. You could even end up killing your venus flytrap plant. It is not worth it!

You coolness factor goes way down when your plant turns black. The traps should only be stimulated in order to eat a meal. Proper venus flytrap care is vital to maintaining a healthy plant.

So What Do You Feed a Venus Flytrap?

2010-01-31T21:49:00.000-08:00

If you are wondering how and what to feed a venus flytrap plant, the menu is pretty simple. About once a month or even longer, you can feed your flytrap some bugs! The most common meal fed to a venus flytrap plant is flies. Surely you can come up with a half dead, wiggly fly from time to time, right? If you don't have a fly, you can try feeding your venus flytrap a spider or a cricket.

You want to avoid beetles, caterpillars and a few others.

Never feed your venus flytrap hamburger meat or chicken. I am not sure why some people do this or tell others to do this, but it is bad for your plant!

Remember, your flytrap may not need to eat more than once a month. So, don't panic if 5 or 6 weeks go by and it is not interested in a meal. Especially during the dormancy period.

Venus Flytrap Dormancy Coming to an End!

2010-01-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

The dormancy period of the Venus Flytrap is coming to an end. Are you ready to let your flytrap come to life again? In mid-February it will be time to shed a little more light on your plant. Not yet, but I just wanted you to be ready. Maybe a new venus flytrap terrarium is in order to celebrate the coming out party?

Right now, you should have your plant enjoying a nice, restful dormancy period. It does not require complete darkness, just a place out of direct sunlight. Someplace like a dark porch or garage.

What if My Venus Flytrap is not Hungry?

2010-01-05T10:58:00.000-08:00

Why Won't My Venus Flytrap Eat?

That is a real possibility. There is most likely nothing wrong. A Venus Flytrap Plant does not need to eat daily or anything close to that. Feed it a bug once a month or so. If it won't accept the food you are offering, simply wait a week and try again. No big deal. Make sure it is something that your venus flytrap likes, like flies!

When you are feeding your plant a fly, are you wiggling it? You need to make sure the inner hairs are stimulated. At least two hairs in a row. This lets the plant know that it has really got something.

Do I have to touch bugs?

2009-12-23T11:53:00.000-08:00

You may be wondering if you have to touch live bugs. Well, your flytrap really would prefer live bugs. Surely you can find a fly or spider in your windowsill or outside. Get yourself a pair of tweezers that will be used to pick up bugs to feed your venus flytrap. Just be sure to hide them after you use them! If someone in your household uses them for personal hygiene by accident, you will be in trouble! And you are on your own with that problem!

If you must feed your flytrap dead bugs, you will have to wiggle them around a little. This mimics the motion of a live bug that triggers the hairs inside the trap. This makes it close.

Stay tuned for "What to Feed a Venus Flytrap" next time.

AN38NQEBD4TH

Basic Venus Flytrap Care Information

2009-12-22T06:16:00.000-08:00

Basic Venus Flytrap Care Information

If you have just gotten or are going to get a Venus Flytrap, you are in luck! They are one of the easiest carnivorous plants to grow! In fact, they do poorly when they are given too much attention.

Venus flytrap plants thrive with:

High Humidity. If you keep your plants roots moist and make it a nice home in a terrarium, aquarium or fish bowl, this should create the perfect amount of humidity. If you need more, just spray a fine mist of distilled water over your plant daily. Make sure your container (terrarium) has a small opening for air to circulate.
Poor acidic soil. Do not add fertilizer.
Full Sunlight 6-8 hours a day. Be careful here. If your Venus Flytrap starts to wilt, you may need to reduce the amount of hours it is in the sunlight. Of course, this does not apply during dormancy.
Feed it a live bug (or a dead one, but you will have to mimic life) now and then. Your flytrap may need one or two bugs a month, that is it.

Stay tuned for more Venus Flytrap Care info.

Welcome!

2009-12-22T06:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to your new favorite blog! If you are a new Venus Flytrap owner or want to get one, this is the place for you! No overly technical articles that won't tell you the basics that you need to know just to get your plant going! We speak in a way you can understand about a subject you love....VENUS FLYTRAPS! Grab a cup of coffee or a soda and stick around a while!