Q: Sure fire, easy instructions on growing Venus flytraps...
A: Bad news for you. There are no easy answers.
Double trap
Here is the deal. Venus flytraps are plants that live in humid, wet,
sunny, warm bog habitats. In order to grow them well (and that means still
having it alive after twelve months), you have to duplicate those conditions.
So what should you do with your newly purchased little fangster?
Pour yourself a cup of coffee and read this FAQ. You will learn how
Venus flytraps come from acid wetlands in North and South
Carolina. You will learn about how
Venus flytraps do not acclimate well to other habitats.
The key, therefore, to growing Venus flytraps is to
replicate their native habitat with enough success to make them happy. This seemingly trivial statement
is so important I will say loud, in a Strunk & White sort of way:
Can you grow your plant in a terrarium? Sure, if you can replicate
the humid and extremely sunny conditions--just like they would expect in the Carolinas.
Can you grow it on a windowsill? Sure, if your windowsill
is extremely sunny and humid--just like in the Carolinas.
Can you put your plant outside? Sure, if it is warm and humid--just like
in the Carolinas. Can you keep it outside during the winter? Sure,
if it gets chilly but not killing frosts--just like in the
Carolinas.
trap
Read about the plant's requirements, then write your own prescription
on what you must do to grow this plant. "Hey, this is hard!" you
may say. That's right! Animals like dogs and cats are easy to keep,
but others like pandas and hairy-nosed
wombats are trickier. The same applies to
plants. Tulips are like dogs. Venus flytraps are like wombats. (I live for the
moments I can say things like that!)
And good luck to you!
Page citations: Rice, B.A. 2006a.
