Common Growing mistakes and issues when growing Venus flytraps

Matt and Leah go over the most common growing mistakes and issues encountered when growing Venus flytraps in cultivation. Matt has been growing Venus flytraps off and on for nearly 40 years and Leah and Matt have been operating FlytrapCare.com and its forum since 2008 and FlytrapStore.com since 2009. Over the years, Matt and Leah have noted the same issues and questions being asked by Venus flytrap growers time and again. The issues discussed in this video are the most common problems Venus flytrap growers encounter in when cultivating Venus flytraps.
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[@tombuntinx9134]

I have been growing flytraps for about 8 years now, and with every issue and solution you described I was like: “yup!”. Great video!

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

Thank you!

[@FoXTro25]

Matt genuinely seem like the chilliest dude to hang out with, give off good vibes.

[@leahmiller507]

He really is! I call him the Golden Retriever of humans. I'm prob more of a sheepdog, ha.

[@chatryna]

Who ever is asking the questions did a wonderful job in extracting the information needed from his brain. Thank you both.

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

Haha, that's my wonderful wife, Leah, asking the questions! I agree -- she really does a great job!!

[@leahmiller507]

Thank you! It was me, Leah!

[@chatryna]

@@leahmiller507 You are so very welcome. Just wish you were also delivering the nightly news. They need some help over there.

[@Florida_man21]

Just when I was thinking, "I wonder if they'll post again soon" awesome

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

Haha, thanks! We've been so busy with work that we've not spent the time to make videos. We'd like to get into a regular routine like Sarracenia Northwest but it always seems like something else takes priority over doing videos.

[@lyonscultivars]

quality video buddy. these little health talks help so many improve there conditions for there cp

[@ToastbackWhale]

Pretty good video! I’ll contest that I’ve had my VFTs in self-watering pots (and thereby constantly wet) for years now without rot, but everything else sounded good. Glad to see people who know what they’re doing making these videos instead of more people sticking them into terrariums lmao.

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

I didn't intend to communicate that flytraps will definitely rot if left sitting in water. Certainly Venus flytraps *can* be grown sitting in water and not encounter rot. It just increases the chances a bit, particularly if the pots are short and the climate is cool. In Oregon, in particular, we'd have serious issues if we left our plant sitting in water during the cooler spring, fall, or winter months, particularly if the pots were only 3-4 inches deep. Here in Missouri, particularly in the hot and humid summer months, there is minimal risk leaving them sitting in water.

[@FavOnIcon]

Hi Leah!!! :D

[@leahmiller507]

Hi there! :)

[@rodrigozuniga5340]

I am a newbie regarding growing VFT, and I have 2 pots about 4inches tall standing in a small tray of water all single day. The VTF grew a bit from the seedling but they stopped growing. Seeing this video really helped me understand why they might stop growing since I have like 3months not seeing progress and could be they are overwatered and letting be all day in a tray with water might be harming their growth as your explanation. For the record I think my mistake was leaving my babies VTF on a 4inch tall pot in a tray of water all day around nonstop isn't?

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

Flytraps are generally slow growers and do stall in growth from time to time. If fed regularly, they'll usually keep growing. Sitting them in water all the time can lead to disease and/or a less-than-ideally-healthy plant, but it usually isn't a reason for a stall in growth. It could be a variety of reasons that your plant has stopped growing. Usually, the most common one is that they're ready for their "rest period" or dormancy. It could also be that there is something that they're not happy with in their environment, such as older soil or soil that's too wet, so it is a possibility that was the mistake but I can't say for certain without more information and some photos of the plant.

[@jessicaberrios9149]

If after you put your plant in the soil, you use you screwdriver directed at an angle (bottom closest to the plant) pushed into the soil and push towards the plant, you can push the soil towards the roots causing less time planting. We use to use that method planting tobacco when one was missed in the machine planting process. Hope that helps~!

[@mikedinni6318]

Interesting to see the pest differences from the US to the UK. Aphids are a nightmare for me here in the UK. Yet I've never seen spider mites in the 5 years of me doing it.

[@ToastbackWhale]

Same here in Ohio. I’ve had to soak all of my carnivorous plants in water for 48 hours to kill aphids before…I’ve never seen a spider mite on them.

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

That's super interesting. I believe I read that spider mites are native to South America so perhaps they aren't as prevalent on that side of the big pond. They are a serious nuisance here and have been in every climate that we've lived -- Colorado, Oregon, and Missouri -- and they are by far the most common pest we've seen in photos over the 15+ years we've been fielding questions from growers and customers.

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

@@ToastbackWhale aphids can be quite a pain on sundews and Sarracenia for sure. I haven't grown many other CPs long enough to know any trends, but spider mites are definitely the primary pest we've encountered and by far the most common one we've seen in photos from growers and customers with pest issues over the last 15+ years we've been in the hobby.

[@DavinStewart]

@@MattMillerFlytrapStore I just realized, based on your description, that I've got red spider mite on several of my plants. I was trying to figure out why some of my plants were doing poorly but thought it was a virus or fungal infection. Didn't even consider spider mites. What do you use to go nuclear on them?

[@LarsLarsen77]

I leave mine in a couple inches of water all the time in really short pots. I'll swap them for super tall ones.

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

You should see much healthier plants!

[@Tommyr]

Another great video! Thanks Matt & Leah!

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

Thanks Tommy!

[@yuipadd]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!❤

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

Thank you for watching!

[@FavOnIcon]

Hai matt

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

Hai 😁

[@Wulfenite295]

I live in Colorado so I leave my plants in 2 inches of water witch is about 30 percent of the pot and I fill the tray every day too three days and my plants haven’t rotted. Squirrels are my biggest pest.

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

I started growing flytraps as an adult while we were living in Boulder -- I sure do miss the mountains! I definitely lost a number of flytraps to rot when we were living there during the winter months when I kept them too wet. Sorry if it came across in the video that plants *WILL* rot if left sitting in water. What I intended to communicate is that it increases the chances of rot, particularly in cooler climates. In warm climates, leaving plants sitting in water isn't usually an issue.

[@Wulfenite295]

Ok thanks for the reply and info

[@DeadlyPlants2024]

My other flytrap just seems to stop growing. I put it through winter dormancy. It grew a couple of warped traps then just stopped growing altogether. It sits next to my B-52‘s which are growing fine now.

[@Crystalspets]

Oh wow I live in Kansas not that far from where you are

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

Awesome! Maybe you can come over for one of our open days when we finally get ready to have them. Hopefully next year!

[@Jesus-eg3yb]

This was great information, thank you for this content. How do you recycle peat? Do you rinse it and just mix it in with new peat?

[@frkifrk]

can one sprinkle with tap water cause crown and leaf rotting?

[@cooperbentley7548]

I thought you’d be interested. Here in Austin I use a Zero water filter and have had great success.

[@Wulfenite295]

Hi so I have a Gj manticore Venus flytrap under some tube grow lights in a basement sitting in 20% of the pots hight in water . The new leaves have a copper color on the leaves but not the traps . Should I be concerned and if so why and what should I do?

[@dayertrevizo3092]

Nice video 🤙 I’ve ordered 2 fly traps this year so far from you guys, who knew you could find better then Walmart fly traps lol.. just got one today from you guys thank you.. what kinda pot is that matt planting in ? Is it a mother pot as he call it in other videos ?

[@leahmiller507]

Hi Dayer! Yes you're right, it is a mother pot, so glad you're enjoying your traps, thanks for choosing our little Store!

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

Hi Dayer - That "mother" pot is something I bought over 10 years ago now. It is a polyurethane foam insulated pot. They're super nice but I've not been able to source any more for many years.

[@dayertrevizo3092]

Thank you both for the replies. Been enjoying my plants, polyurethane foam insulated that sure is a unique for sure.

[@dayertrevizo3092]

I just ordered 6 🤙

[@DeadlyPlants2024]

I’ve noticed my fly traps are growing deformed I think from spider mites. How often should I spray them with insecticide? Also, how often can I spray my fly traps with Maxsea fertilizer?

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

Spider mites don't deform traps. The signs of spider mites are yellowing and browning traps. Deformed traps are usually caused by aphids or thrips. As for fertilizer, we don't fertilize our flytraps. We've tried controlled experiments a number of times over the years and the plants with fertilizer did not grow noticeably faster. They did, however, have a lot of algae and carpet moss in the pots.

[@XxAmayaSanxX]

My flytraps all turned black from sunburn. Theyre comming back though!

[@Rose_A]

Which type of grow light would be best for a fly trap?

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

There are many good LED options these days but unfortunately I am not well-versed in lighting options. I've mostly grown under fluorescent bulbs with a 6500K color temperature. I have also used a Spiider Farmer LED fixture. Both work great. However, the best option is natural sunlight. Indoor growing is riddled with problems and unnecessary challenges that aren't encountered when growing outdoors or in a greenhouse.

[@Rose_A]

@@MattMillerFlytrapStore we can't grow outdoors in Canada during our long winters, this is why I'm wondering

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

@Rose_A many growers in Canada grow outside during the summer months, then either do a fridge dormancy or use a sunny, south-facing windowsill in winter.

[@plantingwithnat]

Hi, I have a question which Miticide would you recommend. I want to have the item on hand in case I do have spider mites.

[@leahmiller507]

Avid!

[@plantingwithnat]

@leahmiller507 thank you

[@dave3763]

Would a shade sail be to much shade for flytraps ?

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

In very hot and sunny climates, a shade cloth is actually advisable. Depending on how sunny the growing location is and how hot the days are, anything between 40% and 60% shade cloth would work great. Some growers report excellent success with aluminet reflective shade cloth. We've used white shade cloths in the past in the very hot and dry Oregon summers with good results too.

[@dave3763]

@Matt Miller - FlytrapStore Co-Owner im in northern california ill wait till it get around the 90's until i get a shade clothe thank you for the advice

[@MattMillerFlytrapStore]

@@dave3763 You're very welcome! Good growing!!

[@lyonscultivars]

killermite for people wondering.