Growing Venus Flytraps and Other Carnivores in the Southeast

This notorious native and its cousins thrive in our region with a little expert care

We gardeners eff our flora , and we bask see ( and fanning ) the fire of plant heat burn in others . There comes a time in many youngster ’ live when one particular plant sparks a muscular desire . Typically that industrial plant is the infamous Venus flytrap ( Dionaea muscipula , Zones 6–9 ) . Venus flytrap are living substantiation that the world is full of expectation - defy possibilities . “ Humble plant life turns the board on the animal kingdom ” makes for a raging newspaper headline , like analog clickbait . The idea of produce your own little shop of horrors must satisfy something more universal than we deal to take on .

If your privileged nipper comes erupt out when passing by a carnivorous plant show , only to be followed by your internal parent repeating , “ It ’s just gon na die — it ’s an exotic , finicky plant , ” I ’m here to talk back . Venus flytrap are completely growable in the Southeast , and summer is the arrant time to indulge would - be savage gardener , youthful and season alike .

Do n’t be take in by its preternatural name ; Venus flytrap is a aboriginal industrial plant ! In fact , it is aboriginal only to a diminished area of the U.S. Southeast — in soaked pine savanna and bogs from theGreen Swamp Preservein North Carolina down into a bit of South Carolina . Ever walk around a swampy pine savannah ? Such place contain all the cue to successfully rise flytrap and other aboriginal carnivorous plants , such as pitcher plant ( Sarraceniaspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–9 ) and sundew ( Droseraspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–9 ) . Good light , a peaty - sandlike filth , and constant wet at their roots are the samara to felicitous dirt ball - trammel aboriginal flytraps .

Steps to Success

1 . Pick healthy plant . Your local garden centre may sway carnivorous flora , but check that they are being originate in decent luminousness and with adequate moisture , and that they appear stout . If you have the choice of essay their roots , look for half an column inch of long livid tips . The majority of each etymon is colored , but the idle wind shows it is grow . Plants may also be place from reputable nursery , such asFlytrap King . Other selection are listed on thewebpage of carnivorous industrial plant guru , Barry Rice .

2 . Choose the right-hand container . Pick a container to fit the sizing of your plant life . It must have drain holes . A 3 - to-4 - inch - diam container is appropriate for one flytrap . If you ’re go all in and creating a mixed planting that includes pitcher plants , prefer something that is at least 9 inches in diam and more shallow than deep . If your container does n’t come with a saucer , you could repurpose other trays that will hold a couple inches of water . Do n’t be tempted to use that adorable corporation without drain holes ; the movement of water is very important for the wellness of these plant .

3 . make the staring soil mixture . Fill your container 3/4 of the manner full with an appropriate territory premix . I use a 50 - 50 mixture of moistened peat moss and common sand . Pool filter George Sand is perfect , but launder , coarse swordplay sand will do . Another good option is a mixing of 2 parts peat to 1 part perlite . disperse a bed of Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin on top if you do n’t like the look of the perlite . gross peat work out in a pinch and is likely what the flytrap you buy will be pot in .

4 . Plant and body of water . Unpot your plants , and gently work the media away until you expose most of the roots . Plant so that the cap is neither buried nor above soil level . Firm the soil around the plant , and then urine in deeply . Fill your discus with pee . Rainwater ( from a rain barrel or pile up in a bucket ) is the best , but I have used metropolis tap water without issue . Well water system is not recommend due to its gamey substance of dissolve solids .

5 . internet site correctly . Place your container alfresco in a mostly gay slur that you frequent — you wo n’t want to miss the sideshow . This patch should get at least 6 hours of sun a mean solar day . Flytrap leaf are at their deadliest in the heat of summer and will trap whatever is big enough to trip their gun trigger hairs and small enough to fit between the green wall of their prison trap . Traps stay keep out for a week or more while digestive enzymes break down prey into blue goodness and leaves suck up their food . When the traps reopen , you may play forensic entomologist and identify prey by the carnage of annex and shell that remain .

The need these plants have of always staying moist is probably what has led to their undeserved reputation of being picky . These are bog plants , not tropicals , so even a mean solar day or two of dry soil can be nearly fateful . If you ’re a sequential overwaterer , this is the plant for you ! For the rest of us , a deep saucer , keep filled with water , is insurance against a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or two of forgetfulness .

Frequently Asked Questions

Venus flytraps produce flowers?That ’s right . These are bloom plants , and the seed have to come from somewhere . open clump of white flowers appear on marvelous stalks in June and may be contract back when they are finished blooming .

Do I convey my plant indoors in the winter?It calculate on the size of your container . These plants naturally have a wintertime sleeping ; they need one to develop well for the long terminal figure . However , a 3 - inch container will freeze more often than plant in their native soil , so you may select to make for small containers into an unwarmed service department or sunroom in December and back out in March ( in Zones 7–8 ) or insulate them . Even though the plants will be hibernating , irrigate them every 3 to 4 hebdomad to be certain roots do n’t dry out . bigger containers may spend the wintertime open .

Why are some of my traps turning fatal and dying?Not to worry ; this is normal . Individual leaves ( lying in wait ) do n’t last a whole time of year but are replace by new leaves emerging from the center of the rosettes .

Can I run it hamburger?Come on now , y’ all are better than that . If you want to see them snap , give them the good hooey — insects . Catch a rainfly , pa longlegs , large ant , or the like . They are somewhat good at catching their own prey , though , so it ’s perfectly fine to ignore any faint call of “ Feed me ” add up from the back pack of cards .

— Paula Gross is the former assistant director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

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venus flytrap

These plants aren’t just for kids and in fact require particular conditions to stay healthy.Photo: Paula Gross

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venus flytrap in Green Swamp Preserve

Venus flytraps are native to a small range of the Southeast; here are some growing wild in Green Swamp Preserve in North Carolina.Photo: Paula Gross

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healthy venus flytrap