Venus Fly Trap

How to grow the Venus Fly Trap

• A native of USA swamps, the Venus Fly Trap - Dionaea Muscipula - will grow perfectly happily on a windowsill or frost-free greenhouse, where plants need only to be kept in a tray of rainwater or distilled water 1-2cm (½in -1in).
•  Able to cope with temperatures down to 0°C and easily overwintered in a cold greenhouse or porch, the leaves emerge each spring from an underground bulb and form a rosette of 4-7 traps.

Spring/Summer care:

• Plant should be watered from below during the growing season. The easiest way to do this is to permanently stand the pot in a saucer that is filled with rainwater to 2.5cm (1in) deep.
• Don't be tempted to feed plants yourself, they'll catch all that they need themselves. If you must, just leave them outside for a few days in the summer to 'catch up'.
• The Venus Flytrap may flower, but it is best to cut these off as this will weaken the plant and result in fewer, smaller traps.
• Never apply fertiliser to the plants.

Autumn/Winter care:

• From September, you will notice some of the leaves begin to die off, and this is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about as the plant enters its winter dormancy.
• Watering at this time can be reduced so that plants are kept just damp - all you need to do is let the water tray empty before filling it up again, to about 1cm deep.
• Any dead foliage can be cut off.
• Plants need a cold winter rest, so if you are growing your plant indoors, move it to a cooler position such as an unheated greenhouse, porch or unused and unheated room.
• Plants are hardy down to 0°C, then towards the end of February, they will start to come back into growth, and they can be put back on a sunny windowsill and stood back into a tray of rainwater.
• Secret of success - always rainwater, never tap water, allow a period of winter rest