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What to feed baby venus fly traps


How to Feed a Venus Flytrap – A Complete Guide with Pictures – Venus Flytrap World

If you own a Venus flytrap, you might be interested in feeding it. This article goes into great detail on how to feed a Venus flytrap. Start with the basics and become an expert.

When feeding a Venus flytrap, employ bugs that can fit inside a trap and drop the insect in between the trap’s lobes. Venus flytraps are not designed to digest human food; they prefer insects and arachnids. They can consume dead of live prey.

Venus flytraps growing outdoors often capture their own food, whereas Venus flytraps growing indoors often struggle to capture bugs.

The feeding process is not too hard, but you must follow the instructions below to avoid harming your plant. For example, many people often overfeed their Venus flytrap which can cause harm. I feed my Venus flytraps and I have found how often you feed your plant will affect your plant’s health.

As a general rule, feed your Venus flytrap once every two to six weeks. Use a single bug and feed only one trap of the entire plant. The insect must be small enough to fit inside the trap. It can be dead or alive, however, the feeding instructions vary depending on this factor.

Consuming insects is essential to your plant’s health, therefore ensuring they capture bugs is important. Keep on reading to get the full instruction on how to feed your plant.

The Venus Flytrap Feeding Process

In the wild, Venus flytraps live in inferior growing conditions. The soil in the area is very poor. As a result, they are unable to gather critical nutrients from the ground, like Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus.

Venus flytraps produce most of their food through the photosynthesis process. They can live just through photosynthesis thanks to the abundance of light and water. However, their diet is not complete without consuming bugs.

Venus flytraps capture and digest bugs inside of their leaves. Through digestion, they extract essential nutrients to boost their diet. Even though consuming those insects is not required, Venus flytraps with access to feed tend to grow faster and appear to be a lot healthier.

In the outdoors, Venus flytraps can capture their own prey. But indoors or in highly urbanized areas, it can be difficult for the plant to obtain vital nutrients from their victims. In those cases, the owner can choose to feed their plant. In the next section, I will explain the process.

The following list contains a summary of best practices when feeding Venus flytraps:

  • Outdoor Venus flytraps do not require feeding
  • Feed your plant once every 2 to 6 weeks
  • Only feed insects or spiders to your Venus Flytrap
  • The insects must fit inside the trap
  • Do not feed your plant during dormancy
  • Baby Venus flytraps do not need to be fed

How to Feed a Venus Flytrap

The following steps describe how to feed a Venus flytrap. Read them carefully:

1.- Get the food ready: Start by finding a proper insect or spider to feed your plant. It can be dead or alive. There is a whole list of options below. But for now, focus on getting an insect that is small enough to fit inside one of the traps of your plant.

2.- Prepare the prey: Once you have the bug, you must get it ready. Dried-up bugs must be rehydrated. Just add a few drops of water to the dead bug and let it absorb the water. Live bugs do not need any preparation. But, since it is a live bug, you should get comfortable handling it. You can use your hands, or perhaps you are more comfortable employing tweezers or chopsticks.

3.- Locate the trigger hairs: Observe the inside of the trap you are about to feed and locate the three trigger hairs in each lobe. They can be hard to identify. The filaments are very thin, and they are located in the center of the lobe. The picture below shows their location.

When feeding a Venus flytrap, you must stimulate the trigger hairs. Something must touch them twice within a few seconds for them to close.

4.- Insert the bug: Grab the insect and place it inside the lobes of your selected trap. Live insects will make contact with the trigger hairs right away, and the trap will close on them. With dead prey, you must stimulate the trigger hairs yourself. When I employ dead prey, like in the picture below, I follow this effective strategy. I grab the bug with chopsticks and place it inside the traps with a brushing motion. At that time, I make sure I have touched the trigger hairs at least two times. Then, I quickly remove the tool out of the leaf, leaving the bug behind.

5.- Continue to stimulate: Now, the trap should have closed. However, Venus flytraps take their time to close their leaves completely. First, they go into a semi-closed state. Like in the picture below, the lobes have intertwined, but they are not fully closed. During this stage, the plant is sensing for further stimuli to start the digestion process. The presence of stimuli indicates the plant has caught live prey.

When you employ a live insect, the bug will try to fight for its life. But, its attempt to space will only make things harder, as the traps will close entirely after a few seconds.

For dead bugs, you must complete an additional action: stimulate the leaves. Use your fingers or a tool to press the sides of the trap. Press them gentle multiple times. Do it slowly but consistently for about 30 seconds. Then, the trap will close completely. If it does not close, continue to stimulate for another 30 seconds or until the trap is sealed shut.

6.- Monitor the leaf: You made it! You have fed your Venus flytrap. Now, it is time to verify the feeding was successful. Leave your plant alone for the next few days, but occasionally observe the closed trap. The digestion process will take several days or even weeks, so do not expect it to reopen soon. Just keep an eye on the leaf and verify it didn’t wither.

The main reasons why a leaf withers after a feeding are two:

  • The insect was too big for the Venus flytrap, and the plant was unable to process it completely.
  • The leaf was going to die due to maturity, and it was ready to wither.

Keep on reading to learn how often to feed a Venus flytrap and the prey sizing considerations. Then, you will avoid making mistakes when feeding your plant.

Feeding Frequency

Venus flytraps take a long time to digest one single insect. As a result, they do not need to be fed too often. Generally, you want to follow these rules:

  • Only feed one single trap of the whole plant. The nutrients from one bug will be enough for the plant.
  • Allow 2-6 weeks between feedings. It is better to let the plant rest between feedings and do not risk overfeeding the plant.
  • Wait until the plant has thoroughly digested the previous bug before feeding it again.
  • Stop feeding the plant during dormancy

Which Bug Size Is Appropriate for Venus Flytraps?

Choosing the correct prey size is essential for the plant’s health. When bugs are too large for the plant, the Venus flytrap fails to digest it in an acceptable time frame. Then, the plant gives up in the process and lets the trap containing the insect wither. Your plant won’t die from losing a single leaf, but it can weaken. Also, if incorrect feeding practices continue, the plant can lose multiple leaves.

As a general rule, choose insects that can fit inside the trap. Generally, it is best to select bugs that are no larger than 1/3 of the size of the trap. When Venus fly traps are young, it is challenging to find such a small insect (besides ants). But, remember, you can break a bug and feed your plant a small enough piece.

How to Feed Baby Venus Flytraps

It is possible to feed baby Venus flytrap. But it can be very challenging. To feed a baby Venus flytrap, you need a dead bug (preferably freeze-dried), distilled water, a toothpick, and a herb grinder or a mortar and pestle. After you gather all the components, follow the instructions below:

  1. Take the dried up bugs and grind them until they have a powder-like consistency.
  2. Add a few droplets of distilled water to the powder and mix. Continue to add water and mix until the product looks like a paste.
  3. Drain any excess of water
  4. Grab the toothpick (or tweezers) and pick up a tiny little ball of the food you made. You can use your hands to shape the paste-like a small pebble.
  5. Carefully place the food inside the trap of the young Venus flytrap. And make sure to activate the trap.

It is not crucial to feed baby Venus flytraps. But, it is beneficial to provide additional nutrients. You will be able to feed a baby Venus flytrap if it has at least reached a minimum size. The picture below shows a seedling. With that size, it isn’t easy to feed it without harming it. In that case, it is better to wait until it grows larger.

The Best Venus Flytrap Food Options

The previous section mentioned some information about what to feed your Venus flytrap. But, now we can go into more details on the feeding menu.

It is a common misconception that Venus flytraps only consume flies. Venus flytraps consume a variety of insects and spiders. They can even consume larger prey. Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants, they can consume meat. As a result, in the wild, they are sometimes able to capture tiny mice or frogs. But, in your home, you want to stick to an insect-only and spider-only diet. This article I wrote contains a complete list of what to feed and not to feed a Venus flytrap.

Live Prey

Venus flytraps can consume a variety of bugs like, for example, ants, flies, crickets, spiders, beetles, slugs, and caterpillar. They can consume any type of insect as long as they can fit inside the trap, and the plant can capture them.

Even though you can employ almost any type of insect, some are better suited than others. For example, beetles tend to try to fight their way out of the traps, and they can be quite strong. Slugs or caterpillars can attempt to eat their way out of their enclosure. Flying insects are difficult to handle, and they can escape easier.

Outdoors or in an external window sill, Venus flytrap might capture a variety of insects. In that case, let your plant trap its own food. It will know how to select its prey.

When using live feed, I like to buy live crickets. You can capture your own live bugs if you have a garden or go to the part. But buying them is just as easy. Small crickets are not too difficult to handle and they are not strong enough to fight their way out of the traps.

When choosing live prey to feed your Venus flytrap, remember you will have to follow the instructions in the previous section. Suppose you do not feel comfortable holding a bug. Or perhaps, the process is too gruesome for you, then go to the next section and choose to employ dead bugs.

Dead Insects

You can also employ dead bugs to feed your Venus flytrap. From a nutritional standpoint, dead bugs can also provide large amounts of nutrients.

It is possible to employ dead bugs you find in your home, as long as they are fresh, and they do not have any mold. Also, consider buying the feed in a pet store. Here are a few options you can find in almost any pet store: freeze-dried bloodworms, mealworms, and crickets. All three options are highly nutritious and economical. You can buy the whole container for less than $10. And it can serve you to feed multiple plants for many years. I buy dried-up bugs in amazon to feed my carnivorous plants, here is a link to buy: https://amzn.to/34QEnKv.

I do not have a preference between the three, but I try to alternate the food source every once in a while. All of these bugs are dried up and must be rehydrated before using them. You can employ a whole bug and add some droplets of water, or you can grind the bug and then add some water. Grinding the bug ensures the hydration process, but it is not always necessary.

Finally, another pro of using dead bugs is that it is easy to break up. With live feed, you must find small enough insects that fit inside a trap. With dead bugs, you do not have that problem. You can break up the dried up worm of cricket into a tiny piece and feed it to a young plant.

Can You Skip the Flytrap Feeding Process?

You can altogether skip the feeding process, but it is not recommended. Venus flytraps do not need to consume bugs for their survival. However, they develop at a faster and healthier rate when having access to feed. Consuming a single bug every two months can make a huge difference in the plant’s health.

Some people might be intimated by the process of feeding a carnivorous plant, and that is understandable. However, not feeding the plant at all might not be the best solution. Instead, consider placing the plant outdoors. Then, it can capture bugs on its own.

Many Venus flytrap owners are constantly asking about fertilizing their plant. Even though it is possible to fertilize a Venus flytrap successfully, generally, the recommendation is to skip the fertilizer. Venus can’t process the highly concentrated compounds in fertilizers. Also, fertilizing the plant is not necessary, as Venus flytraps can obtain the same benefits from capturing prey.

When NOT to Feed a Venus Flytrap

It is not always appropriate to feed a Venus flytrap. In some cases, it is more beneficial to wait before you feed the plant. Here are some concrete examples:

  • Dormancy: In the winter, Venus flytraps go dormant. Dormancy is a yearly period of rest and recovery. During dormancy, it is not necessary to feed the plants.
  • Young age: When Venus flytraps are tiny seedlings or young Venus flytraps, it is a challenge to feed them. You can attempt to do it. But do not force it on small plants. They might suffer as their leaves are not fully developed. Instead, focus on providing adequate lighting and a humid environment.
  • Not enough research: Do not attempt to feed a Venus flytrap if you haven’t read the instructions in this article or other guide. Without some basic knowledge, like the appropriate food portions and options, you can end up harming the plant.
  • Adjusting to a new environment: Venus flytraps, like any other plant, take some time to adapt to a new environment. Avoid feeding your plant when it has been exposed to some changes. For example, wait a few weeks before feeding a plant that has just been repotted or has just been shipped to a new location.
  • Recovering stage: Venus flytraps are prone to pests, fungus, root rot, and other related issues. Avoid feeding a Venus flytrap when it is sick or in the recovery stage. Do not risk losing leaves or applying unwanted stress to a plant in a delicate state.

Venus Flytrap Care Considerations: Light vs Food

Venus flytraps require good lighting and access, among other things, to stay healthy. But what is more important? The lighting requirement is the most critical for Venus flytrap. These plants need at least 6 hours of sunlight to stay healthy.

The light exposure requirement is more critical due to photosynthesis. It is a crucial process that provides the vast majority of substance for the plant. Still, consuming bugs provides a nutrient boost.

More Food vs More Light Signal

Have you ever wondered if your plant is receiving enough light or enough food? It is normal to doubt your setup. Venus flytraps have unique requirements.

Luckily, Venus flytrapS gives us meaningful signals about their health. Usually, Venus flytraps exhibit bright red and burgundy colors. The burgundy is inside the traps, and the rest is green. When a Venus flytrap is not receiving enough light, the interior of the lobes loses the red coloring. The lobes turn to be almost only green. The reason is simple. The plant is not receiving enough light; therefore, it must focus solely on photosynthesis.

The red coloring will reappear when the plant is exposed to proper lighting. Then, the new burgundy interior will help attract victims to consume.

Before you get started feeding your plant, confirm your whole setup is proper. Like you just learned, adequate lighting is a necessary element for the plant’s wellbeing. Also, here is a link to a very detailed article on Venus flytrap care. You can use it as a checklist to confirm your plant has all it needs.

Related Questions

What do indoor Venus fly traps eat?

Indoor Venus flytraps will occasionally catch a bug. But it all depends on the availability of insects rooming around. If no bugs are available, the plant won’t have access to feed. In that case, the owner can feed the plant directly.

Can Venus flytrap consume human food?

Venus flytraps are not designed to consume human food. They are small plants that have evolved to capture small insects and spiders. Also, feeding human food to a Venus flytrap can harm it. Do not feed fruit, candy, meat, chicken, or any human food to your plant. The traps might close when you insert the food in them, but the plant won’t be capable of digesting it. The leaf will end up withering, and the food inside of it will rot.

Can Venus flytraps eat meat?

Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants. They can consume meat. Some carnivorous plant growers feed their large plants with small rodents or frogs. Big enough plants can capture them and consume them. However, it is only possible with tiny prey.

How does a Venus flytrap eat?

Some believe Venus flytraps chew their prey due to caricature adaptations of these plants. But, Venus flytraps use a unique method to consume their prey. Once a bug is trapped inside the leaf of a Venus flytrap. The plant will start producing enzymes inside the enclosure. The bugs will then stop fighting and drown in the digestive fluid. Then, the enzymes will continue to dissolve the body while the plant absorbs the nutrients. The Venus flytrap digests its prey by using an external “stomach” located in its leaves. Amazing!

How do Venus flytrap eat in a terrariums?

Venus flytraps do not have access to feed in close a close terrarium. That is one of the reasons why many people are discouraged about placing Venus flytraps in terrariums. However, there is a simple solution. Do not plant Venus flytraps in a closed terrarium. Instead, grow them in semi-close enclosures or greenhouse-type terrariums. Venus flytraps benefit from the humidity of terrariums, but they have other requirements besides that one.

Recommended Products for Growing Carnivorous Plants

Finding the best pots, lights, and soil for carnivorous plants is difficult. I have grown carnivorous plants for over 5 years, and these are the products I use. The links will take you to Amazon to view the prices and full specs:

  • Carnivorous Plant Soil
    • Carnivorous plant soil: https://amzn.to/3uVbg39
  • Artificial Lighting
    • Small plant light for 1-2 plants: https://amzn.to/2RsGlxr
    • T8 LED light fixture for multiple plants (6500k Cool White): https://amzn.to/3uWoeh3
  • Pots and Miscellaneus
    • Nursery pots for single plants: https://amzn. to/34Q6byu
  • TDS meter to measure water quality: https://amzn.to/3g8VKLI
  • Dried crickets to feed carnivorous plants: https://amzn.to/34QEnKv

What to Feed and Not to Feed a Venus flytrap- Complete List – Venus Flytrap World

There is a long list of food you can and can’t feed your Venus flytrap. I have grown Venus flytraps for over three years, and over time I have learned what works and what doesn’t. In this article, I share my advice.

Insects and spiders are suitable food options for Venus flytraps. The best feed alternatives are small live bugs that contain high nutrients. Freeze-dried insects are also an alternative. Always avoid feeding human food to Venus flytraps.

Venus flytraps do not need to consume insects to survive. However, consuming prey gives them extra nutrients, which fuel the plant to grow and divide. I have noticed many positive effects in Venus flytraps that consume insects frequently.

Make sure you choose an appropriate meal for your plant by learning about suitable options. Read each of the lists below for a successful feeding!

List of Food Options for Venus Flytrap

As you might notice from the list below, many arthropods are suitable to feed for Venus flytraps. Also, some less conventional options include plant food. Make sure to read the text below the list to learn which are the best and most practical alternatives for your specific scenario.

  • Flies
  • Cricket
  • Mealworms
  • Bloodworms
  • Fruit flies
  • Gnats
  • Ants
  • Rollie pollies
  • Beetles
  • Spiders
  • Ladybugs
  • Grasshoppers
  • Mosquitos
  • Fish pellets

The list above is not comprehensive. It contains a list of many suitable food options, but almost any bug will do. Still, I tried to keep the list short and emphasize the most common insects you can find around your home, garden, or in park. The trick is to find an insect that is small enough to fit entirely inside the trap. Also, preferably, you want to choose food that contains a lot of soft tissue and little to no hard shells. I buy these freeze-dried bugs in the pet store as they are very affordable, can last you for years, and are extremely nutritious. The link will take you to Amazon to review the prize, they are usually less than $10.

Do Venus Flytraps eat flies? Venus flytraps consume flies in real life. Venus flytraps attract flies with sweet nectar and trap them with their leaves. Then, they secrete enzymes to drown and consume the flies. Besides flies, Venus flytraps also consume many other types of insects and spiders.

Cricket, mealworms, and bloodworms are top food options for Venus flytraps and most carnivorous plants. They contain high protein content and a lot of soft tissue. All three can be purchased online or at pet stores. Generally, there are two options: live and freeze-dried bugs.

Can venus flytraps eat dead bugs? Dead bugs are suitable to feed Venus flytraps. The process of employing dead feed is slightly more challenging than using live bugs. Dead bugs can be found in gardens or homes and bought in pet stores; some standard options are crickets, mealworms, bloodworms, and fruit flies.

Live and dead bugs will work for Venus flytraps. Both options are almost equally nutritious. However, employing dead bugs is less natural. Therefore it requires you to add a few extra steps to the feeding process to trick your plant into consuming a dead bug. For example, you will have to rehydrate the insect with distilled water.

What You Should Never Feed Venus Flytrap

With so much misinformation out there about what to feed Venus flytraps. I felt highly compelled to emphasize what you should never feed your Venus flytrap:

  • Hamburger
  • Chicken
  • Sausage
  • Salami
  • Raw meat
  • Candy
  • Fruit
  • Steak
  • Hotdog
  • Cheese
  • Any animal that is not an insect or a spider

Can Venus flytraps eat human food? Human food is not appropriate for Venus flytraps or any carnivorous plants. Venus flytraps won’t be able to consume such complex food. Instead, after an unsuccessful digestion attempt, the leaf withers, and the food rots, attracting mold and bacteria.

Can Venus flytraps eat animals other than insects? Venus flytraps can digest meat from tiny animals such as rodents, birds, or frogs. However, this behavior is not very common. The diet of Venus flytraps in the wild is made up primarily of insects.

Never attempt to feed any animals besides insects or spiders to your Venus flytrap. Even though they can digest meat, the plant will most likely be unsuccessful at digesting the whole animal. And you will end up with a rotting trap.

Insects You Should Avoid Feeding to Venus Flytraps

Venus flytrap can consume almost any insect. However, some bugs are not the most suitable options. Here is a list of which ones to avoid:

  • Snails
  • Slugs
  • Caterpillars

Snails are not recommended to use as food for Venus flytraps. The plant won’t be able to digest the shell. And, only tiny snails will fit properly inside a Venus flytrap.

Can Venus flytraps eat slugs or caterpillars? Venus flytraps can consume slugs and caterpillars, but these insects present a challenge for Venus flytraps. Strong and desperate slugs or caterpillars can potentially eat their way out of the trap. Also, if the bug scapes, it can end up consuming the plant.

Venus Flytrap Feeding Instructions

Without proper instructions, it is not recommended to feed Venus flytraps. Feeding your plant incorrectly can end up harming it. For that reason, you must make sure to go over all of this information.

Venus flytrap capture and consume bugs to extract key nutrients. Such nutrients provide an extra boost for the plant but are not required for the plant’s survival, as most food is produced through photosynthesis.

Outdoors Venus flytraps can consume their own prey. And, sometimes indoors, they might have access to the occasional insect. Venus flytraps do not need a large number of insects to stay healthy. Sporadically feeding a venus flytrap can make a big difference, as long as done correctly.

Feeding Venus flytraps is a straightforward process that can improve the health of your plant if done correctly. These tips will help you ensure you do not make any beginner mistakes:

  • Always employ small insects that are a maximum of 1/2 of the size of the trap.
  • There is no need to feed venus fly traps when they live outdoors and have access to insects
  • Only feed one trap in the whole plant at a time
  • Feed a single bug once every 2-6 weeks
  • Avoid feeding venus fly traps during dormancy

The list below outlines the steps to feed a live bug to a Venus flytrap. You can also watch the video to get a live demonstration of the feeding process.

  1. Select an appropriate insect; one that has high nutritional content and can fit inside the trap of your plant.
  2. Locate the trigger hairs in your Venus flytrap. They are three thin filaments in each lobe of the trap.
  3. Use tweezers or your hands to grab the insect.
  4. Place the bug inside the lobes of your Venus flytrap. Make sure the bug is placed in the center.
  5. Brush the trigger hairs in the trap at least 2 times. After two touches the Venus flytrap should close on the insect.
  6. Wait until the trap closes and monitor it for the next 2-5 minutes. After a few minutes, the trap should be fully close.
  7. The venus flytrap start digesting the bug, it won’t reopen until at least a few days or a couple of weeks.

Leaves in Venus flytraps are ready to capture bugs when they just open. Then, after closing and reopening multiple times, leaves become exhausted and stop closing. When a leaf does not close, it is not a sign of poor health. It is completely normal behavior.

This article contains a summary of how to feed a Venus flytrap. However, there are more details to keep in consideration. Read the complete venus flytrap feeding guide to get all the information you need. And, check out my YouTube channel for more live examples: Venus Flytrap World.

How to Avoid Black Leaves After Feeding Venus Flytraps

Sometimes after feeding a venus flytrap, their leaves turn black. Why does that happen? And how should you prevent it? Here is an explanation.

Venus flytraps, like any other plants, shed leaves. When leaves get very old, they start to blacken or brown on the edges. Then, after a few days, the leaf ends up withering completely and turning to a dark, deep black color.

Even though most leaves wither due to natural causes, feeding a venus flytrap incorrectly can cause black leaves.

Employing a very large bug, overfeeding, or feeding during the incorrect season can cause black leaves in Venus flytraps. When the plant cannot digest its prey, it will let its leaves wither to save energy. Black leaves can be prevented by following certain care considerations.

Black leaves can be avoided by always employing an insect that fits entirely inside a trap, also by only feeding one trap at a time, and never feeding Venus flytraps during dormancy or when they are sick.

After feeding your plant, monitor the leaf you fed until digestion is complete. Then, you can verify the leaf remains healthy and ready for more bugs.

Other practices besides the feeding process can cause black leaves in Venus flytraps. For example, employing the incorrect water type, exerting too much stress, or unnecessary repotting can cause your plant to lose traps.

This section covered a short overview of the matter. But, there is a full article that can help you avoid black leaves from feeding your plant. Here is a link to that resource: Do Venus Flytraps Die After They Eat (plus easy fixes)

I love growing carnivorous plants and hope you can always keep your plants thriving. Here are some key articles you can read to ensure your plants stay healthy.

For general Venus flytrap care, you can download this care sheet: Venus Flytrap Care 101.

If you plan on growing Venus flytraps indoors, make sure you read this guide: How to Successfully Grow Venus Flytraps Indoors.

Recommended Products for Growing Venus Flytraps

  • Carnivorous Plant Soil
    • Carnivorous plant soil: https://amzn.to/3uVbg39
  • Artificial Lighting
    • Small plant light for 1-2 plants: https://amzn.to/2RsGlxr
    • T8 LED light fixture for multiple plants (6500k Cool White): https://amzn.to/3uWoeh3
  • Pots and Miscellaneus
    • Nursery pots for single plants: https://amzn.to/34Q6byu
  • TDS meter to measure water quality: https://amzn.to/3g8VKLI
  • Dried crickets to feed carnivorous plants: https://amzn.to/34QEnKv

What to feed the Venus flytrap? What does she eat? Selo.Guru - Internet portal about agriculture

Venus flytrap - predator plant . Translated from Latin, Dionaea muscipula translates as a mousetrap.

What to feed - what does it eat, what does it eat?

As mentioned above, the Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant, and it feeds accordingly.

In its natural habitat, not at home, this strange flower prefers to be captured in its red trap flies, molluscs, spiders and various insects . As soon as such living creatures have the imprudence to land on the surface of its trap, it will slam shut, unless the food has time to get out before the closing moment.

Digestion of food by the Venus flytrap sometimes lasts up to 10-14 days . It happens through the secretion of juice - similar to the human gastric. As soon as the trap opens back, it will mean that it is ready to eat again.

Interestingly, Venus is quite capable of going without food for quite a long period - about 1-2 months , but do not forget that it is a flower first of all, and it needs bright daylight every day. Without it, the plant will begin to wither and die.

When growing a flycatcher at home, you should pay special attention to this and allocate the most illuminated place on the windowsill under a pot with a plant .

The process of photosynthesis occurs when being in daylight, the plant releases the oxygen necessary for people. nine0005

Therefore, do not forget: the sun, natural light are needed to maintain the vital activity of a flower no less, if not more, than mosquitoes or flies.

It is also worth remembering that, like any other plant, venus receives useful macro and microelements from the soil, so you need to take care of this. It is customary to plant it in a mixture of peat and perlite - this way it will receive the greatest amount of useful substances for itself.

Feeding the plant with fertilizers is highly undesirable - it is quite is able to kill this unusual flower literally in a matter of days. It is assumed that even at home, she herself must "hunt" to get her food.

Special note: It is desirable that the food you feed the venus flytrap be alive - only in this way the necessary digestive juices are secreted.

You can feed her spiders, mosquitoes, flies, bees .

Small note : the insect must be at least half the size of the trap itself. It is not recommended to give insects with a too hard shell, otherwise the trap will be damaged. nine0005

Attention! It is strictly forbidden to feed the plant with "human" food - for example, cottage cheese, eggs or meat. The protein they contain can kill Venus.

If you did not know that your pet cannot be fed the above food, then wait until the trap opens and carefully remove the food from there. In no case do not try to open it yourself - you risk severe damage to the plant.

In the photos you can see what to feed the Venus flytrap:

How often should I feed?

Many people ask themselves the question - how often should you feed the Venus predator? There are several features of feeding.

  • If your plant is very young or you have just purchased it, do not start feeding immediately after you bring it home. You have to wait until the flower has 3-4 new leaves under current conditions.
  • A plant that has adapted to the conditions is worth feeding 2 times a month and always live insects: antennae react only to movement. Of course, you can try to feed the plant with inanimate food, but after a couple of days you will see that the venus has opened its trap without digesting the food.
  • In winter, the plant "falls asleep" and it is strictly forbidden to feed it . The winter period begins around November and lasts until the beginning of spring, then venus comes to life again. During this period, it can only be watered, but only if the wintering takes place at an air temperature with a plus sign. nine0072

This unusual plant will not leave anyone indifferent, but it, like all living creatures on this Earth, needs care.

With a little effort, the Venus Flytrap will become your kind of pet, which is interesting to watch and very curious to interact with.

Venus flytrap (Dionea): Home care

Dionea (Dionaea muscipula) is a rare and protected plant of the Rosyankov family that uses insects as food. Better known as the Venus flytrap. Scientists explain the Latin name (mousetrap) by an error in describing the species. nine0005

Exot is characterized by original appearance, unnatural behavior for plants and an unusual way of feeding. A bewitching spectacle is the hunt of a predator. This process will not leave anyone indifferent.

The height of an adult dionea is 10–15 centimeters. On a short bulbous stem is a rosette of four to seven leaves. In May-June you can see the peduncle. At its top, an inflorescence shield is formed, consisting of white flowers (their diameter is about a centimeter), emitting a sweet pleasant aroma. Flowering lasts one to two months. nine0005

When Dionea fades, traps grow on the tops of the petioles (they stretch 8–15 centimeters in length). They are formed by two green flaps that can slam shut. In bright light, the inner walls acquire a reddish color. The edges of the flaps are covered with bristles and have triggers. When triggers are irritated, the trap closes. In the cavity there are glands, the function of which is the synthesis of nectar, which serves as a bait for insects. When the victim falls into the trap, the digestive secret begins to be synthesized. Food is digested for one to two weeks, after which the valves open and await the next victim. When the trap has eaten two or three insects, in most cases it dies off. But some traps manage to digest even 7 victims. nine0005

In nature, the predator is home to peat bogs located in the southern part of North America. To make up for the lack of nitrogen, he catches slugs, hunts for insects.

The Venus flytrap is one of the most popular indoor plants. It is grown by flower growers all over the world.

The genus Dionea is monotypic - it contains only one species (Venus flytrap). But breeders have created many varieties.

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Features of care at home

The insectivorous plant is quite capricious. But if he is given the right care, then he will grow and develop magnificently.

Location and lighting

One of the main conditions for maintaining the well-being of dioneas is bright lighting (it should be diffused), natural or artificial. Exotics need direct sunlight in the morning and evening. In poor light, the leaves turn pale and stretch. nine0005

An ideal place for a tropical predator is a window facing west or east. A southern window sill would also be an excellent choice, but at midday you will have to shade the flower.

It is not necessary to turn the dionea often, which has a stressful effect on it.

Florarium plants require additional lighting. A phytolamp is hung above the flower (at a height of about 20 centimeters) to provide 14–16-hour daylight hours.

Temperature

Flycatcher belongs to thermophilic plants. During the growing season, the optimum temperature is 22–30⁰С, it can rise to 35–38 degrees, which does not affect growth and development. But such a temperature should not be maintained all year round; in winter, a decrease to 8 degrees is necessary.

Dionea does not tolerate stagnant air. Therefore, systematic ventilation is mandatory, but without a draft.

In the summer, if possible, take the dione outside. In this case, it will not have to be fed. A predatory plant will provide itself with food by hunting insects and spiders. nine0005

How to water

Exotics need a high level of humidity, which is why it is best to keep them in a florarium.

The soil in the pot must not dry out, which may cause the death of the traps. In order for the flower to receive a sufficient amount of water, it is advisable to put it in a tray filled with water.

If overhead irrigation is used, it is recommended to cover the soil with a layer of sphagnum to prevent soil compaction and provide oxygen to the roots. nine0005

Dionea should be sprayed regularly in summer.

In nature, the insectivorous plant grows on very poor soils, as a result of which the roots have lost the ability to absorb mineral elements. Therefore, exotics are watered with rain, distilled or filtered water, but not tap water.

What to feed the flycatcher

Insects and spiders serve as food for the predator - they make up for the lack of nitrogen for the plant. Victims must be alive (shutters show a reaction to movement) and small (should occupy no more than a third of the internal space of the trap, otherwise the shutters will not be able to close). nine0005

Beetles covered with hard chitin and gnawing insects should not be given to Dionea - they can turn from victims into pests and damage the trap. Feeding meat is strictly contraindicated, which will lead to the appearance of rot and the development of diseases.

Predator only eats organics when it is hungry. Dionea can get sick when overeating. Therefore, they feed her no more than twice a month, each time placing food in different traps.

Note that:

  • large insects take longer to digest than small ones;
  • in old traps, digestive juices are formed more slowly than in young ones;
  • in the cold, the digestion process slows down.

Don't tease the plant by touching the trap. If the valves are often closed without receiving protein food, they will soon lose their efficiency and turn black.

You cannot feed a flower if it is:

  • sick or very weak;
  • has recently had a transplant or experienced stress;
  • grew in poor light or excessively high humidity.

In the last days of September, the Dionea stop giving organic food.

Soil and pot

To prepare the soil substrate, mix quartz sand (perlite can be used instead) with double the amount of peat. Beforehand, sand must be boiled in distillate, and perlite must be kept in water for a week, periodically replacing it. nine0005

If you plant an insectivorous plant in nutrient soil, it will get sick.

The pot should be chosen not wide (no more than 12 centimeters in diameter), but deep - the roots penetrate 20 centimeters deep. It is desirable that it be light - a dark color attracts the sun's rays, which can lead to overheating of the roots.

Despite the fact that the tropical exotic loves heat very much, its roots suffer from overheating.

Planting and transplanting

Transplant the flycatcher as needed, preferably in spring. When transplanting, it is necessary to act very carefully so as not to damage the fragile roots. First, the plant is taken out of the old pot and the soil is shaken out of the roots. If the substrate is firmly attached to the roots, then they are placed in water for a couple of minutes. Then the bush is placed in a pot and covered with soil mixture without ramming. Well watered.

No drain valve required.

After transplanting, the predator should be left for a month in a dark, warm place, providing abundant watering. Such conditions will help the plant to adapt.

Flowering

Tropical beauty is very small, her height is 10-15 centimeters, and the peduncle grows up to half a meter in height. Therefore, flowering takes a lot of energy from a plant (especially a young one) and slows down the formation of traps, which is why it is recommended to cut the flower stalks immediately after they appear. If seeds are needed, then the buds are left. nine0005

Fertilizers

The predator does not need traditional fertilizers, it receives all the elements it needs for life from the body of the insect.

Venus flytrap in winter

In autumn, dionea stops producing leaves and prepares for “sleep”. To help the plant, it is removed from the pan and transferred to a darkened and fairly cool (8-10 degrees Celsius) room. The flycatcher can overwinter on an insulated loggia or in the basement. You can place it in the lower section of the refrigerator. nine0005

Do not throw away Dionea if the leaves turn brown and fall off in autumn - this is how it hibernates. In spring, the plant will restore its decorative appearance.

In winter, the predator does not need light or food. Therefore, feeding is stopped, watering is minimized - stagnant water will cause rotting of the roots.

With the advent of the first spring days, the dionea is returned to its original place and all traps are removed from it. Gradually resume the previous care. nine0005

Reproduction

An insectivorous plant is propagated in several ways: by leaf cuttings, division of the bush (separation of children), seeds, peduncle.

Cuttings

Cut a leaf from the stem and plant it in a soil mixture obtained from quartz sand and peat, taken in equal proportions (peat alone can be used), at a slight slope. The cut site is pre-treated with Kornevin.

Create a mini-greenhouse for the cutting by covering it with a jar or cellophane. They provide it with bright diffused light, warmth and high humidity. After two or three months, root shoots will begin to appear at the base of the leaf, which indicates its rooting. nine0005

It is recommended to root several cuttings, as they do not take root well due to susceptibility to fungal diseases.

By separating baby bulbs

This method is most often used by flower growers due to its simplicity, speed and success.

Dividing is desirable when transplanting. The bush is taken out of the pot, the soil is removed from the roots and the daughter sockets are separated (there are usually a lot of them) using a sharp sterilized knife. Slices are sprinkled with crushed coal. Young bushes are seated and placed in a dark place. nine0005

Do not divide the bush often, because of which it becomes weaker. Dionea loves to grow up in close quarters with her children.

Seeds

This propagation method is rather complicated and gives unpredictable results. Seedlings grow from seeds, which in most cases are unlike the parent plant, which is of particular interest to flower growers.

If you want to grow exotic from seeds, you must wait for flowering and pollinate the flowers with a cotton swab. The procedure is repeated for several days. A month later, a box filled with seeds will form at the site of the inflorescence. nine0005

Seeds should be sown immediately upon receipt. They remain viable for no more than 3 months.

Stratification will increase germination. The seeds are wrapped in moss and placed in a plastic bag, which is well closed. Placed for 40-45 days in the refrigerator.

A small container is filled with soil substrate, which is prepared from sphagnum and quartz sand (2:1 ratio). Seeds are treated with Topaz, following the instructions, and scattered over the surface without deepening into the soil. Moisturize with soft water. nine0005

Make a mini-greenhouse and place it in a well-lit area. You can turn on artificial lighting at 12–14. The temperature should be maintained at 24–30⁰С, air humidity should be as high as possible, and the soil should be slightly moist (drying and stagnant water are detrimental to seedlings).

Seedlings will appear in 3-4 weeks. From this time, they begin to gradually accustom them to fresh air. First, the greenhouse is opened for a few minutes, the duration of ventilation is increased daily. A month later, the lid is no longer closed. nine0005

After a crescent, the grown plants dive into small (up to 10 cm in diameter) pots. Now you should be patient: the kids will become adults only after 5 years.

Peduncle

When the peduncle grows to 4-5 centimeters, it is cut off and deepened to a centimeter depth in moistened peat. Cover with a jar to create greenhouse conditions. If you constantly moisten the soil and ventilate the greenhouse, then in 1.5–2 months a green growth will appear. A month later, the "youth" is moved to separate flowerpots. nine0005

Do not throw away the peduncle when dry. You should wait, and soon the kids will appear.

Diseases and pests

Although it seems paradoxical, insects sometimes attack the predator: aphids settle in the traps (as a result they become deformed), and the mealybug sucks out the juices. To prevent the death of a tropical beauty, it is sprayed with an insecticide (preferably aerosol).

Too dry air in the room promotes the appearance of spider mites. To destroy them, Dionea is treated with acaricide. Spraying is repeated 2-3 times, taking a week break. nine0005

In addition to pest attacks, the flycatcher is also prone to diseases. At too high humidity and low temperature, soot fungus and gray rot actively multiply.

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