Carnivorous plant encyclopedia - Chapter 2: plants for the advanced: Dionaea muscipula (Venus Flytrap) - the sun worshipper

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Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap):

Habitat:
The Venus flytrap surely is the most well-known carnivorous species, yet unfortunately the lingering Human need and greed for land and the consequent exsiccation of marshland has been entailing drastic decimation of this species' distribution in their natural habitats, which is in North and South Carolina, USA. Owing to the fact that compared to other plants in their natural habitat they grow slowely and remain very small in size, the Venus flytrap has a high tolerance for periodic burning, even embraces it, because otherwise it would be easily outcompeted by other plants that have a much more rapid growth rate, thus would "steal" the sunlight and space to grow and spread. The Dionaea sprouts from a subterranean rhizome that normally remains unscathed by the burning. In this way, it can sprout anew.

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Cultivation:
Among all carnivorous plants, the Venus flytrap's hunger for sunlight is the strongest, and without ample sunbaths the red colour play inside the trap won't unleash its full potential but will remain green. At least 5 daily hours of direct sun exposure during summer are best to quench the Dionaea's thirst for the sun properly, while the rest of the day it should stand at least in a very bright place. At the same time, oveheat should be definitely prevented, because very quickly the plant can suffer from a severe sunburn that can entail the plant's quick death. Also, in sync with the seasonal changes, the Dionaea should be gradually accustomised to the sun instead of abruptly. Otherwise the sudden changes in climate conditions can be too rapidly too much to handle for it. Developing the long stalk with the relatively small blossoms in spring is very energy-consuming for the Venus flytrap. Unless the stalk is precociously being cut off, the plant will barely develop any traps during this time. It takes until fall that the long stalk will become black, paving the way for many smaller traps to grow out on very short stalks. During winter, the plant growth will slow down greatly, and ideally the Dionaea overwinters in a bright, humid and cool environment not exceeding 10°C. In the event of frost the leaves and traps will die, while the underground rhizome outlasts the winter. Starting May-June after the last frost periods, the proliferation will set in anew whereby a healthy Venus flytrap develops 3-4 traps per month. Some people also like to overwinter their Venus flytraps in the refrigerator‘s crisper at 4°C at max so that they can recover completely, but that would require cutting their leaves and putting their rhizomes into an airtight bag so that they can be seeded again in spring. In terms of watering, Venus flytraps love modest moist in the soil (preferably unfertilised sphagnum) without getting too wet. They react most well to rainwater, while lime water can quickly entail the plant's decay.

Trap mechanism:

The red color of the traps and a sweet nectar being secreted at the rim lips (=peristome) lure prey into the trap. Each trap can only snap shut five times, while the digestive process can only repeat itself three times. Once these limits have been reached, the trap will decay. There are three bristles on each side of the trap, and only when at least two of these bristles are being touched the trap will snap. Sadly, many people in garden centres are not aware of these mechanisms and trigger the traps at leisure, which is to the plant's detriment. Furthermore, against some common belief, feeding the Venus flytrap with insects barely influences the plant's health; proper cultivation measures are the main key to the plant's successful thriving.

Much Love and Light,

Alex

Literature inspiration: Kosmos Garten: Fleischfressende Pflanzen