Venus flytrap are carnivorous ( yes , you show that right ) plants that are perhaps one of the cool additions to your solicitation not only because they bet unique , but because of their main mathematical function : They dine on bugs . Venus flytraps have what ’s have a go at it as “ modified leaves,”as do the carnivorous pitcher flora , that are connected by a hinge . When the bug is within , the leaves snap shut , and the digestion process start out . A single plant can have up to eight traps at a clip . Because it feasts on germ , though , growing a Venus flytrap is n’t the same as , say , your favored pothos .
How did it get its name?
The origins of the Venus flytrap ’s ( Dionaea muscipula ) colloquial and scientific names are about as unique as the plant itself . The first part , Venus or Dionaea , are callbacks to the Roman goddess of love and the slight resemblance the alter leave of absence have to a woman ’s genitals . The second part , flytrap or muscipula , are quite the contrast , though given to the plant due to the immobilise nature of the leave-taking . Muscipula is Latin for trap play , but since the industrial plant yap flies alternatively of mice , it was adapted for the common name .
Is it safe to grow?
Venus flytraps are aboriginal to North and South Carolina and are quite pop as far as pot plants go ; however , the unfortunate side to this plant is that because it has a limited native surroundings , populations are considered by some to be expose — and most of the Venus flytraps grown indoors have been collected from the declining native population .
That said , if you do choose to grow one indoors , it poses no harm to you ! Venus flytraps are only interested in wipe out pestis , not humans ( thanksLittle Shop of Horrorsfor that irrational fearfulness ) , even if you incidentally get your finger inside the gob while essay to give care for the plant . With the right guardianship , Venus flytraps can potentially live longer than 20 years .
Caring for your Venus flytrap
First off , how big can Venus flytraps get ? Adult flytraps can be anywhere from six to 12 inches magniloquent and six to nine inch widely when cared for and lean to decently . Some fundamental thing to remember when assume care of a Venus flytrap are :
To grow a Venus flytrap successfully as a houseplant , it ’s important to meet as many of these condition as potential .
Feeding your Venus flytrap
Feeding is where works care can get a little scrap tricky ; however , it ’s not all that difficult a summons . You just postulate to be mindful about keep track of when you execute the industrial plant and the phone number of times you tip each trap .
Each cakehole on a Venus flytrap industrial plant can spread out and close somewhere between six to ten meter before it dies . Because a individual industrial plant can only have eight at a fourth dimension and needs Department of Energy to grow novel leaves , you may see how it would n’t make sense to tip a ambuscade once per workweek . An indoor - grow Venus flytrap should be fed about four times per twelvemonth , according to theNew York Botanical Garden , pass on the ambuscade a undivided hemipteran per feed . overfeed your plant can cause it to die prematurely , due to both the loss in energy and the fact that each cakehole has a limited number of time it can afford and close .
It ’s preferred to course your industrial plant hot germ , include ones like flies , gnats , and mosquitoes . merely take a pair of tweezers , softly pick up the microbe , and carefully put it into the bunker so that it makes contact with the hairs on the parting at leaves that trigger the sand trap . To call up how often you feed each gob , you may opt to use a spreadsheet or keep Federal Reserve note in a plant care journal .
Respecting the winter dormancy
Like other houseplants , Venus flytraps have a wintertime dormancy period ; however , the prerequisite for theirs are a bit different than your leafier admirer . You ’ll want to match the winters in their native home ground as closely as potential . Venus flytrap should be moved somewhere chillier from November to February , like a window in a service department , shed , or cool room in your house . This will permit them come in their resting time period , during which the plant life will give out back to just the rootstalk . This is perfectly normal , so hear not to panic and over - care for the flora when you see the leaf start to drop .
Are there multiple varieties?
Yes ! Although there ’s only one specie of Venus flytrap , there are a few dissimilar cultivar that have been developed and sum up to the already unusual look of the flora . Each cultivar is spot from the others , but the care is similar across the board . If you ’re look to add a Venus flytrap to your houseplant ingathering , you ca n’t go ill-timed with any assortment .
