How to Grow and Care for Carnivorous Venus Flytrap

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Updated on Sep 07, 2022

Venus flytrap plant — Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash

In This Article

Plant Care Best Growing Conditions Propagation

As fascinating as houseplants are, they don't move around much. But some plants are a little more active, moving, interacting with their surroundings, and sometimes even catching prey. The venus flytrap is one of these fascinating carnivorous plants. Native to North Carolina bogs, these small, very slow-growing, moisture-loving plants use their leaflike "traps" to capture insects for nutrients in addition to absorbing nutrients from the soil. The traps of these colorful plants are often an attractive pink that pops against the vivid green leaves.

The spiky jaws that give the venus flytrap its name are actually a modified leaf, which rests about a third of the way open and tantalizes nearby insects with the sweet scent of the nectar that grows on the pink interior.

When the insect lands in the trap, it touches tiny hairs on the surface. After a few of these hairs have been triggered, the trap immediately closes on the prey, with the "teeth" on its edges acting as a cage to keep the insect from escaping. As the insect struggles, the jaws close tighter and tighter and then release an enzyme that dissolves the insect’s innards for the plant to digest. Afterward, the flytrap opens its jaws to drop the hard exoskeleton and await another insect.

Botanical Name: Dionaea muscipula
Common Name: Venus flytrap
Plant Type: Perennial
Mature Size: 6–12 inches high
Sun Exposure: Direct light
Soil Type: Well-drained, nutrient-free soil
Soil pH: 3.9–4.8

Plant Care

When kept as an indoor, home plant, venus flytraps require a bit more of a time commitment. Since its native habitat is wet and boggy, it's important to keep your venus flytrap's soil wet at all times. Set the pot in a tray or saucer of water so that the growing medium always stays wet. Group your venus flytrap with other houseplants that enjoy similar conditions to create a more humid microclimate.

Venus flytraps do best without fertilizer. In fact, it's best never to fertilize them, as they grow best in very poor, low-nutrient soils. You can purchase specially made venus flytrap soil or make your own blend. Try a mix of two parts long-fibered sphagnum moss to one part coarse sand and a combination of equal parts unenriched peat moss and perlite.

Because they love wet, humid conditions, venus flytraps are great plants to grow in terrariums.

During the summertime, it's a good idea to bring your venus flytrap outside to a place with full sun if you have a porch, balcony, backyard, or window box available. Acclimate your plant by taking it out into the sun over a week or so to help it get used to the brighter light.

Start with a few hours the first day, a few more hours the next day, and so on. Outdoors, your venus flytrap will have the chance to feast on plenty of insects. Bring your plant inside in the fall, checking it carefully for pests or other issues.

Best Growing Conditions for Venus Flytrap

Venus flytraps need lots of moisture—both in the soil and in the air around the leaves—to thrive. Because of this, they're a great bathroom plant as long as your bathroom has a big, sunny window. While it's almost impossible to overwater a venus flytrap, stunted growth indicates underwatering. If you do notice root rot, while less likely, scale back the watering.

Despite their love of humidity, venus flytraps are temperate rather than tropical plants. This means they do well in cooler temperatures, with nights in the 40-degree range and days in the high 50s.

Venus flytraps also need lots of light since they're used to full sun outdoors, so putting yours in a bright, sunny south-facing or west-facing window is a good idea. If it doesn't get enough light, your venus flytrap will become etiolated (long and leggy) in trying to reach for the sun, and it won't grow as many traps.

How to Propagate Venus Flytrap

The easiest way to propagate your venus flytrap is by the division of a healthy, mature mother plant. As the plant grows, it'll form additional rosettes. Wait until spring to remove and repot the rosette. To divide your venus flytrap, you'll need a healthy mother plant with multiple rosettes; a planting medium, such as venus flytrap soil; and a small container in which to plant the new division. Venus flytraps can be propagated through several methods. Here’s how:

Step 1: Examine your venus flytrap, and count the leaves of each rosette. Once a rosette has at least seven of its own leaves, it should be mature enough to be propagated and removed from the mother plant.

Step 2: Prepare the container by filling it with the growing medium and moistening the medium well. Using your finger or a pencil, poke a hole a few inches deep into the growing medium.

Step 3: Gently turn the mother plant out of its pot, taking care not to damage the plant. Using your fingers, carefully pull apart the rosettes, and look to see if the new rosette has developed a root system of its own. If not, the plant isn't yet ready to be divided, and you should wait until the following spring to divide it. If the new rosette does have a root system, you can continue separating the rosettes.

Step 4: Plant the division in the prepared container. Replant the mother plant in its original container.

Step 5: Place both containers in a tray of water so that the soil remains constantly moist, place them in an area with full sun, and care for them as usual.

Common Growing Problems

There aren't too many issues you'll encounter, but there are some common growing problems with venus flytraps to be aware of.

Dry Air

Air that is too dry will prevent your venus flytrap from growing new traps. In addition, keep them away from hot or cold air vents, which can dry out the air around the plant.