Venus Flytraps are excellent plants for a bog garden but can be grown indoors in a terrarium.
Type: Tender perennial.
Bloom: White; spring/early summer; grown for their modified leaves that form traps.
Size: Under 6” H x 6″ W.
Light: Full sun.
Soil: Constantly moist; pH 5.6-6 (acidic).
Fertilizer: NEVER fertilize.
Hardiness: Zones 8-11, 7 or colder with winter protection.
Care: Plants grown outdoors will need mulch if temperatures consistently go below 32F. Pine needles or oak leaves are great mulches for them. Outdoor plants should not be fertilized or fed and doing so may hurt or kill them. Artificially making the trap close by poking at them will hurt the plant as it uses up valuable resources. Traps turn black over time and should be removed.
Plants grown indoors require an environment with high humidly, moist soil, and high light intensity. In addition, the plant must be forced into dormancy for 3-4 months by regulating the light and temperature. This occurs naturally out doors so you must mimic outdoor conditions. To learn more about this process go to: http://www.world-of-carnivores.com
Pests and Diseases: aphids, caterpillars; spray with systemic insecticide; avoid copper or soap based insecticides and aerosols.
Propagation: Stem cuttings; seeds.
Companion plants: Pitcher plant, sundew, blue flag iris, yellow flag iris, Louisiana iris, horsetail, sedges, rushes, and other bog plants.
Comments: The Venus Flytrap is a fascinating plant. The tips of the leaves have been modified to form traps lined with tiny hairs. When an insect or spider touches the hairs twice in succession the trap will close. Digestive enzymes in the trap digest the prey in 5-10 days at which time the trap will open again.
Karen Meyers