Venus Flytraps: Plant or...?

[jennyharker]

I have a passion for carnivorous plants. I have twenty Venus Flytrap seedlings growing in a tray behind me as I write this, as well as a bowl of Burmanni sundew seedlings. You should hear me coo over them. It's embarrassing. I just ordered two Drosera binata plants as a birthday present for myself

Comments

[auntie_lovie]

Just brought a VF home last month, just for those wee little flies. The plant has been very happy so far, but there are roots creeping out the pot. Any trips for transplanting?

Transplant Venus Flytrap

[jennyharker]

VF's are tough little beggars. They don't mind transplanting. Your flytrap probably needs a taller pot. Their root system can get long. Try transplanting your VF in a 4 to 6 inch plastic pot. You can transplant it into peat moss or, what I use, spaghnum moss. Keep the plant in a sunny location and keep it well-watered and humid using distilled or rainwater. I use filtered water. NEVER fertilize!

Re: Transplant Venus Flytrap

[auntie_lovie]

Thank you for the suggestions! I got all scared reading http://www.sarracenia.com/faq/faq2160.html But you have given me the courage to forge ahead, because this plant has been very happy here, so far.

Re: Transplant Venus Flytrap

[jennyharker]

Good luck with your plant. Remember to be careful with the root system when transplanting, as you would with any plant. Also, it may be a good idea to keep the plant out of direct sunlight for a few days after transplanting. It needs time to settle its roots into its new home and recover from the shock of transplanting. I just transplanted three VFs and they are doing beautifully.

[rhodielady_47]

"...cause me to think the plants are something between a plant and an animal."

Plants really are a lot more aware than people give them credit for being. For one thing, Science has found that plants of all sorts give out many different chemical signals to each other.
The boundaries between plants and animals becomes blurred once you get down to the cellular level. It's common to see single-celled organisms actively moving about that also carry chlorophil inside them.
:)

[stonelizard]

Fellow adorer of carnivores here! Alas, I don't have any venus flytraps yet although plan on having lots! Just bought some sundew seeds, looking forwards to get them going

Thanks for the tip on cape sundews, might give that a go!

Fellow CP lover!

[jennyharker]

Check out this excellent site if you don't know it yet: growsundews.com (not my site).

It provides extensive info on growing a variety of different sundews from seed. Good luck!

[xrunamokbabyx]

I have never ever ever EVER not ONCE been able to keep CP's :(
I've had to shelve my CP fancies along side African Violets, since despite doing all the text-book "rights" I can not seem to keep them much longer than a month or so. ::sigh::
I've tried both Venus Flytraps as well as Pitcher Plants. Perhaps someday I will just have to fill my little pond up with peat and spaghnum and make a little bog for myself.

[supercoochiecoo]

ooooh i bought a little venus flytrap from homedepot! I love it! Where did you get seeds from?

Venus flytrap seeds

[jennyharker]

You can buy VF seeds on Ebay or any number of online CP nurseries. Do a search for "Venus Flytrap seeds". The seeds are extremely small and can take a few weeks to germinate. After germinating, be aware your VF seedlings will grow slowly. Patience is key! The worth is wait it, though, because each VF seedling is a unique plant unlike VF clones (which is what your plant probably is). Good luck!

Re: Venus flytrap seeds

[supercoochiecoo]

ah cool thanks :D