Top 6 Reasons Beginners FAIL Growing Venus Flytraps + Care Tips For Healthy Carnivorous Plants

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

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[@grandtheftgameryt]

Omg! That last bit about the reporting shock is sooooo true! It happened to me and I was about to throw it out. It looked like it was about to rot, but no! Within about a week, it looked amazing and grew huge within the following months

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I've seen people throw their plant out after a couple weeks. I've seen them recover from REALLY bad shape before. I never throw out a flytrap until it's been "dead" for at least a couple months.

[@buggsy5]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Keep in mind that VFTs can be propagated from root cuttings. So even if the corm dies, there is a small chance that one of the roots will decide to bud and grow. I suspect that is what may be happening with a plant that has appeared to be dead for several months.

[@kittenbraden9800]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I went to a garden center with a good reputation (and higher prices) and was sold mostly sick plants 💀 I've been bingeing so much plant care content and trying to treat the plants. I overlooked my poor Venus Fly Trap because it seemed alright, and I forgot to move it back outside after taking it inside once. It had a crown rot party, and so I performed bottom surgery on it yesterday, guided by your video. I hope the little fella will recover q-q watching this video now for more potential mistakes to avoid in the future

[@promisedjubileedaniels]

My husband just bought me one as a surprise. I live in the Pacific northwest too, and I am feeling anxious about this little dude! Thanks for sharing!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Of course, good luck!

[@misskfountain4070]

This is such a good video. It has helped me a lot. I realize that my mistake is overwatering. Hopefully, it is in time to save my traps. Thank you, well done!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you for your kind words! I'm so happy this video helped. Overwatering is so common, probably the most common thing I see. Glad we could get it corrected! Good luck growing! If you get time, let me know how it's going.

[@albertoburrito1874]

I totally agree with you on humidity, they don't need much at all. During the summers here in southern arizona, the humidity is almost always under 10%, and as long as i keep the tray filled with about a centimeter of water, they grow fine.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Ya, I've never seen low humidity be a reason the didn't grow well. We are usually around the 30% mark, better than AZ but still pretty low.

[@pupstermobster8567]

Same. I never pay attention to humidity. It gets enough humidity just from its moist soil. I use sphagnum moss and find it retains water too well, so i have to keep the trays dry for a few days to avoid algae growth. My plants are thriving. I live in the Northeast US for reference.

[@chevyfish4028]

This is such a true and complete how-to video on flytrap care. I will be recommending it to others. 🌱

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you Chevyfish, that really does mean a lot to me! Share away!

[@cursedimageseveryday5559]

I once glued 2 sock puppet's eyes on a side of a big venus flytrap mouth and gave it to my sister as a birthday gift

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Ha! I bet that was strange looking.

[@sherreydobson686]

Got mine from Walmart and I'm glad I came here ! Thanks for the information

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Awesome, so glad I could help! They can be tricky at first.

[@MarisaAndChew]

I just put mine in one of those half globe "terrariums", the light is aimed at the front (hole) and it's good a good sized hole on the top. I moved it BC it was in the tiny 1.5 inch pots and it's moss was up around the crown and I didn't have extra moss or nutrient free substrate to put it in a different pot... Hopefully it will be ok. Where I live the ambient humidity gets to 30% in winter in here and I just a humidifier. I realize it will go dormant for a few months but I didn't want it to melt from crown rot. I'm using a 250 watt equivalent Sansi bulb, it's not the grow bulb but the bulb has caused sunstress in my Aloe and Jade. I can move it to the sansi grow light if I have to, it will just need to be rigged up oddly lol It ate an ant yesterday so I'm hoping that's a good sign as far as lighting goes. It was a bit slow to chomp down but it's got new traps popping up... Hopefully it will be ok. If not, I'll try again. Do the tiny Walmart traps get bigger as they age or is the species just known for smaller traps? I didn't realize there were different ones until I started to look earlier this summer but I was scared to spend 40 dollars on my first one, esp since mail sucks here so it could be a week before it sees the light.

[@censusgary]

Another flaw in the little plastic boxes is that they don’t allow air circulation. Without air circulation, and with a continually moist substrate, you’re likely to get fungus or mold inside that box.

[@therandomman6647]

Okay I just got one out of a death cube a few weeks ago, and it only has one jaw that doesn't have a black spot. I put it in a new pot when I got it, and it has soil with only a bit of moss, now. I'm going to see if I can bring it back to life with these instructions!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Good luck! Hope it does really well!

[@sethbrooks8889]

Thank you I was worried about too much sun in Arizona desert, so I'll make sure it gets morning sun and then back in some shade later

[@n0xsludge012]

I as well want to start a carnivorous plant nursery with a touch of cacti and succulents, but until I stumbled across your videos a while back, I didn’t know that. I just subscribed, please forgive me for not doing so sooner. Thank you for inspiring me ❤️ much love from the southeast US ❤️❤️❤️

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I'm rooting for you! I wish you so much success. Your comment motivates and inspires me!

[@finsterhund]

My first flytrap was in a death tube. I remember being so excited to see them for sale I bought him immediately. Haven't found any for sale locally anywhere else since. Very sad. But I saved "Shadow" from the death tube and he lived for several years and both survived flowering and overwintering before I left him with a friend while I was trying to find a new place to live and he killed my sweet son in under a month. After years I finally felt better to try again. "SHADOW II" hopefuls are currently stratifying in the fridge. Some sort of bimbo cross I think. Super excited. "Please I need more light and I'm drowning" is EXACTLY how I invision they would speak omg. I also use the Sansi bulbs. Good quality grow lights.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Oh man, so many plants died at the hands of unreliable friends/family. Lol. I'm so sorry to hear that, hopefully Shadow II lives a long and prosperous life!

[@thatonedog819]

I got a very sad looking Venus fly trap last November. I stuck it in an airtight plastic container, but it by the window in my sun room, and completely forgot about it until may. It was full and beautiful and completely rebound. This year I just learned about dormancy and am planning on trying it this winter.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Wow, that's incredible. That's not typical. Usually, you can get away with skipping a dormancy but for the long term health it will probably need one. The water kept that entire time huh? That's pretty cool.

[@uknowy539]

this was really entertaining to watch i sometimes zone out on other carnivorous care tutorials but this kept my attention the whole time :)

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Aww, thank you Denise, really appreciate that!

[@MateoGordo11]

My Venus fly trap is turning yellow and brown. I think it might be the sun, but I’m using the right soil and water, so I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Do you know what I’m doing? I’ve been following your instructions for the care btw, and I grow my CP’s outside. Thank you. Good video! 😁👍🪴

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It could be the sun, I actually just did a video about burning traps. Check it out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4WodGuerdSCac0si=WGTBDYSEag2lbiwf

[@mwoehlcke]

I am new to carnivorous plants and I absolutely love your channel!! I have learned so much. I live in PA and I recently bought 2 VFTs. They are fairly small. They look healthy but the traps won't close. The nursery told me that they weren't mature enough yet. That for now they just need light and distilled water. Does this sound accurate or have I been scammed? Haha Thanks for any help you can give!! ~Michelle

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Maturity should not factor into whether a trap closes or not. Traps start closing at a very young age. I've seen mine when propagating close when a gnat lands on it. So, I don't think this was accurate information. It's more than likely that the lack of good care has resulted in the traps not closing correctly. Make sure to give them a lot of light and correct substrate and water, see if the new traps that come out are able to close. If the traps are really old sometimes, they won't close anymore. Test new traps coming up to see if the plant is getting the correct care!

[@inco-gneito7543]

Where in Pa? I wish I could find a nursery that sells these plants here.

[@lindsaywills6535]

So I've had to replant my venus fly traps twice now since getting them about a week ago i.made the mistake of putting them in to.small of a container I'm worried I've overly stressed them out they look pretty good except they r pretty droopy but it is late october and they r about to go into dormancy any suggestions would b great I love ur channel 2 btw

[@blackbears2020]

I’m trying to go through all your videos to answer a question. But it’s a bit of a struggle. Could you please tell me, When a trap turns black… can I cut it off? If so how far down do I cut it? Thank you for your time ☺️

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You sure can and you probably should. I usually leave stuff that's green and cut off all the black stuff. You can cut all the way down close to the rhizome when removing a dead leaf.

[@helliumballoons7546]

I want to create an open terrarium, since I live in a very hot and insanely dry climate (plus, once a or twice a year I leave for 1 to 2 months to see my grandparents and, despite my best efforts of setting up watering systems and getting friends to try and keep up the schedule, it has been the demise of quite a few of my babies). Any tips on container size, how big of a water reservoir I should add, and what plants I can grow flytraps with? Since they can’t have nutrients in the soil or water, I can’t keep them with many other plants. I was thinking of adding some species of smaller sundew. What do you think?

[@fenrirgg]

You need a watering system, if not automated then a huge bottle upside down dripping when the water level below evaporates.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Flytraps grow well with Sarracenia and can do well in a bog garden type environment. However, I don't recommend a terrarium for a venus fltyrap. I know you said an open terrarium, which might be closer to a bog, so that might work. But you need deep substrate which is usually harder to do with terrariums. I would avoid, pings, sundews and nepenthes with venus flytraps. Mostly because most of those require dormancy. There are some temperate sundews that would do well with flytraps, that might be an option. Just make sure it's a sundew that requires a winter dormancy.

[@kutathompson765]

This helped so much and I look forward to watching more of your videos! I have always wanted a venus fly trap and got brave and bought one. It looked pretty sad so I'm hopeful it will pull through. It currently has a mixture of Sphagnum Moss and soil. How do I know if I really need to repot? The soil and moss seem well. I'm terrified of repotting things. It only has three traps and no other greenery besides tiny stubs at the base of the plant. I will be investing in a grow light. I have been giving it afternoon sun light

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Sounds like you are off to a good start. If it has new healthy growth coming up, you can probably wait until the end of dormancy to repot. Maybe flush it and test the water that comes out with a TDS meter. This can be a good indicator of how good the soil is. Thank you so much for checking out my content, I really appreciate it! I hope your flytrap gets big and strong!

[@kutathompson765]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub you had said in one of your videos about making your own soil, has that happened yet? I would gladly buy from you guys!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That means so much to me, it really does. We have ran into so many road blocks, both with the soil and with things going on in our personal life. It's not there yet, but it is on the way. I'll make a video and probably post on my community tab when it's available. You are amazing, I really appreciate you!

[@psychicmediumleoshelton5027]

Bro, I DONT doubt you. You're good to go. 👍🏾

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

No way man, you're the one that's good to go!

[@mandyfair9082]

This is an amazing informative video. And all of the links are great. You are going to have the most wonderful business once you open. Thank you!!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

As always, thank you for your kind words! 🙏 I really appreciate you!!!

[@cathyny83]

I'm going to repot this to a bigger pot, but I was told should not use sand, perlite and coco peat as this plant is not likely to have the salt mineral for fast growing

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Coco peat is definitely a huge no, unless you know you can get it from a source that has low salts and it's soaked for days.

[@cathyny83]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHubI haven't try it myself, mine still in a small pot, but I just see others using different medium, perhaps you could take this to the next video as to compare which one is better. Happy Gardening!

[@moss_glow]

I recently bought a kit to grow these guys from seeds (apparently Hobby Lobby sells them?) , and upon reading the (admittedly skimpy) instructions, I decided to do my own research. The only place I have to keep it at can get hot, and I don't know how well it'll survive. The spot usually works well for drought resistant plants(especially outside). Will the heat harm it?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Full sized venus flytraps do pretty well in heat. Seedlings might not, I probably wouldn't put them in super hot direct sun. Although, the sooner you expose the flytraps to hot sun the sooner they will acclimate and harden off. I'm just not sure if seedlings could endure extreme heat. I always start mine off inside under grow lights before moving them out and hardening them off.

[@andreaamplified]

I just bought one from Trader Joe's and I am really happy I found your video. Mine is sitting right next to my aerogarden for the light out of the death box. The instructions were pretty good, not as detailed as you.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I'm not super familiar with aerogardens but hopefully it's providing enough light! Thank you for your kid words, I really appreciate it!

[@andreaamplified]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub so far it has caught 4 banana flies in a week! I see the little bulge in the closed ones. I might need to get another one since I love bananas and always get the little flies. I will keep you posted. I have not repotted yet. I will probably go with the premade soil.

[@Hikomii_cc]

I have a question. I just got a Venus flytrap yesterday from Home Depot. I can’t grow it outside, so I’m growing it inside. I got this light from Home Depot outside of the options you mentioned. This light is specifically made to grow plants. Do you think that this will work for my Venus flytrap? The type of light is Feit electric LED grow light.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Can you send me a link to this light online? I need to know the wattage output. It needs to be 24w at least. Most bulbs sold in big box are like 10w and not strong enough.

[@jboogz1990]

My girlfriend just got a VFT, but she's not best when it comes to taking care of any kind of plants. Mainly due to the fact that she doesn't research how to care for it so this video will be extremely helpful, but I do have some questions she has some white rocks that she use to decorate the pot, which I'm assuming is river gravel. I didn't think that was safe, but I see you have some rocks yourself, so one is that safe, and two, is it ok that she put it in a glass container?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You just have to make sure that the rocks you use are hard and inert. If I don't know whether they are inert or not, I just avoid using them.

[@justinlynch3]

I don't have a fly trap but I am curious. What if you boiled water and (obviously after it colds down not while it's boiling hot) you gave that to a fly trap. Would that be a good water for them? I mean sometimes when there is an issue with the water lines or whatever the town council will tell you to boil water before drinking it, so in theory that should remove any impurities right?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Boiling will get rid of bacteria, but it does not eliminate dissolved solids.

[@justinlynch3]

OK thanks for the info.@@CarnivorousPlantsHub

[@ravennightmare6070]

Hello. I bought a thirsty venus flytrap with a super dry soil today, in a store. I gave it a rain water. It will need to be repotted. I'll do it in the spring. Not sure if it's okay to repott in winter. Also, the plant doesn't seem to be dormant. It's December and the leaves look like summer leaves. They are long. Shouldn't be winter leaves short? 🤔 Also, should it stay in the room temperature or better go to colder place?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It's probably not dormant yet because it was likely kept under lights at whatever commercial nursery it was raised at. If the ant seems pretty healthy, I'd allow it to go into dormancy until March or so.

[@ravennightmare6070]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Thanks! There's actually a little flower starting to grow from it as well. The flytrap seems to be stuck in summer.

[@Scareaddict]

Do you have any advice for raising fly traps in tropical places? I live in Hawaii and I’m wanting to raise some Venus fly traps but I’m not sure if there is anything I need to look out for.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Tropical is great! You get consistent warm weather. The huge downfall is that flytraps need a cold winter dormancy. however, you can prep them and put them in a fridge for a few months to assist with this. The only other thing I'd be careful of is excessive rain. I know it can get wet in HI, just make sure if it rains for more than a couple days to try to put it in an area where it's not under water all the time. You can also remove the tray its in so the water doesn't build up while it's raining.

[@chickens636]

Hi I have a question how do you know when it goes dormant and do I stop giving it water and sun in winter and dormant?

[@ryandoesit5407]

I seen in your vid you have fly traps growing in rocks ? I thought about growing mine in rocks also and is it only rocks in the pots or do you have soil in there too?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I really just used a few rocks at the top for decoration. It can also help during dormancy. I decided to go away from the rocks because it was throwing off the weight of my pot. I use the weight to determine watering, I couldn't tell if it needed water by weight with the rocks in it. I also noticed that the rocks kept moisture in making the plants more subject to rot. If you live in a hot area, the rocks or sand would work great!

[@TheEpicFlyer]

Can you use water from a hose? Because I just got one today, and I don’t think I can do everything in one day.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Probably not, the water running to your hose is likely the same source as the water running to your sink. You can test the water with a TDS meter but its impossible to know if the water is suitable without testing. However, most tap water (even from a hose) has TDS that is too high for flytraps.

[@Divine937]

Do you leave the black traps or should you remove them - if so then how? Great Vid btw

[@Nightdominia]

Personally, I pinch them off and leave the main leaf kinda like you do when you dead head some flowers. It keeps the looks up and saves the greenery to keep producing food for the plant.

[@robbiefleming6050]

Thank you! Just bought my first Venus Flytrap plant from Lowe's today. :)

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Right on, good luck Robbie!

[@robbiefleming6050]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHubTY I should have watched your video first,then buy the plant.I believe it's dying. Live and Learn! :)

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Don't be hard on yourself. These plants are tricky. If it does die, I strongly recommend giving it another try. Took me 4 or 5 before I finally figured it out and I still kill them from time to time.

[@robbiefleming6050]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub I might try it again after I study your videos. Thanks for responding and I do admire your plant growing skills. :)

[@brandon1448]

Can you overfeed a VFT? Would feeding multiple mouths drain the plant too much? Or could I feed one mouth like every other day?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I've heard many people talk about overfeeding a venus flytrap. I'm sure you could, if you kept feeding them as soon as they open back up. But, when my flytraps are outside, almost all the traps are closed most of the time with insects. They seem to be pretty happy. So, I think you would have to try pretty hard to overfeed.

[@qiqismcdonalds1105]

Hello can I just ask if I can use any alternative waters instead if I don't have distilled water or rain water

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Can you get your hands on a Zero water pitcher? Check this video out, it's a great way to get zero water in your home! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2Ssmp5rYqdkkJY

[@livphobia]

I live in Northern California and I just bought a Venus Fly Trap, but I am a bit weirded out about putting it outside since I am concerned about it getting Hiroshima'd by the sun since it gets pretty hot here (100-110) and it gets extremely dry here (almost 0% humidity). Any good tips for care?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

They can survive in temps that high but you have to be very diligent with water. Forgetting for even a day can end up toasting them. I recommend putting them somewhere they can soak up the morning sun but maybe end up under a shade cloth for the afternoon when the sun is the strongest. Maybe full sun until 1, then indirect sun the rest of the day. Once temps drop down into the 90s, you can remove the shade cloth and allow them to have full sun.

[@Tammissa]

I’m from Vancouver BC, similar weather as you. I’m trying to get my VFT to get through the winter. I’ve not been able to get one through yet, hopefully this is my yr. My plant isn’t wanting to eat right now, I’m assuming it’s in dormancy right now. I’m crossing my fingers.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

They do tend to stop closing when in dormancy. They really don't need to eat during dormancy since their growth has mostly stopped.

[@abstracttom.cleanelephanto5659]

Not all tropical plants need humidity I’ve even grown some ferns without humidity before.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I 100% believe you, I certainly can't speak for all tropical plants.

[@PaintingsbyRaymond]

Love it just subscribed got my first fly trap today. Hopefully it all goes well with all your tips

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Right on, thank you so much for the sub, appreciate it so much! I really hope you can grow your flytraps! They are so amazing!

[@Jack1994hoo]

I have a question regarding Rain. Rainwater is supposed to be a good water for them. But if I'm growing her on the yard, should I leave her out during a rainy day or should I put it under shade while it rains?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Nothing wrong with leaving her out on a rainy day. If it rains for more than 2 or 3 days straight, I might pull them out of the rain until it stops. You can also remove the tray and allow the water to just flush out the bottom when it rains for multiple days. But if you get a nice 1 or two day rainstorm, no reason you cant leave her out and let the tray fill up!

[@Jack1994hoo]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub awesome! Thank you!

[@junezhang5455]

Hi, thanks for sharing. May I leave my indoor venus outside for the winter to help it getting winter dormancy？ could it be too much of a shock for the plants？

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Hello June, it just depends what your winters are like where you are. You do want to avoid large changes in temperatures as they are subject to shock. If you want to move it to a much colder climate, start with a couple hours a day, and work your way up until its outside full time. That will help it acclimate to colder temps.

[@juliem8936]

I looked at my venus fly trap and it looks small and suddenly a lot of black traps. Im reallt concerned that it's sick or dying. We've been hsing eltric heaters since the normal heaters are hetting repaired... So nights and such are cold where they're at. I have it in the window with the most sun. I also have 4 lights as well that I keep on for 10+ hours. Any advise?

[@jackyfriedrichsen2969]

Hi! I had gotten a VF from lowes the other day (I reported it the moment I got home) and my quest is when will the transplant shock start and how long will it last for?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It's hard to say, sometimes it doesn't hit. I've had it last for a few months. I've had it not impact the plant at all. Usually you will start to notice within a few days if leaves are starting to turn black and die off.

[@jackyfriedrichsen2969]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Thank you so much! I didn’t know it could last for months. I’ll make sure to keep an eye on it and not freak out if it last that long

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It's a little more rare. Usually, the existing traps suffer while the new ones growing look good.

[@koncomartalegawa]

Thankyou for the complete and comprehensive video. Your content quality goes up one notch, keep it up! Greetings from Indonesia. 👍

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you Konco, I really appreciate that. Trying hard to bump the quality up!

[@aliencultivations3635]

Gettings! I just recently bought 3 box store flytraps. They came in sphagnum moss and are in decent shape. I live in zone 10b and fall/winter is here. Would it be beneficial to repot to pete and dormant them outside? Or wiser to grow under lights untill spring? I have 3 outside ive had for a almost a year and this is their first dormancy. I hope to divide them come spring

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I'd probably allow them to be outside and go into dormancy, 10b stays pretty warm and shouldn't be too harsh on the plants.

[@Jack1994hoo]

Great video. Very informative. Just got my first flytrap a few weeks ago, her name is Cleopatra. I live in Florida, our hardiness zone is 10b, however, even during winter temperatures rarely go bellow 55 degrees. We do get a couple cold weeks in December where it can go down to 32, but just for a few weeks. Is that enough for winter dormancy? And if not, what can I do to help her get her beauty sleep?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I've seen this go both ways. I've talked to some people who live in Florida that have acclimated their flytraps to survive with a warmer dormancy period. I should also note that these flytraps in Florida are some of the biggest and healthiest I have ever seen. I have also seen people use a fridge to extend the dormancy. I think if it was me in Floriday, I would try to acclimate mine in accordance to the temps presented. What you do have a little of control over is the amount of light they get. Reduce their photo period during the colder months to maybe 4 to 5 hours a day max. Do this slowly, not all at once, allow them to acclimate to less light. Maybe go one hour less than what they normally get a week until you get them down to 4 to 5 hours. The colder temps and the lower light should help them acclimate over time and stay really healthy.

[@Jack1994hoo]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub thank you so much! I really appreciate you answering me! I will do that right away. We're just in the start of their winter and I can start reducing her sunlight for a few days untill March. Will be keeping her at home during a few hours at the day and will pull her out in the afternoon so she catches the end of the sun hours. Thanks again!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Good luck! Hope she does well!!

[@Jack1994hoo]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub hey there, sorry to bother you again. Thanks again for your insight in the first comment. Been reducing Cleopatra's light exposure one hour every week, funny enough we are in the middle of a cold patch so temperatures drop dramatically at night and rise to mid 70's during the day. She has a few traps that have turned black and have dried out (maybe about 2/3rds of her traps) so I'm a little worried. Should I be concerned? She has been eating a lot (she catches a lot of flies by herself).

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It's not too unusual for some of the older traps to die off as the plant goes through a change. Putting a plant into dormancy can shock it a bit. If she is still eating and growing new traps, she should be fine!

[@hannahdeblois5802]

Thanks.😁 I have a fly traps and your care guide really helped me.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That is awesome, so glad it helped!

[@anshrx9]

My VFT is wilting. is it due to tap water? can it flourish again if I repot and feed distilled water?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Definitely! Flush it several times with distilled water and it should be okay! You can measure the water coming out of the pot if you have a TDS meter, to make sure you have flushed it enough.

[@christineb1464]

I have a trap where the new traps arent developing fully. They are like little mini traps that never fully grow and develop. Any ideas on what the issue is?

[@Paul_Fus]

Thanks for the video. Is vermiculite an ok substitute for perlite when mixed with spaghnum peat moss?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

There are a lot of factors with vermiculite. It depends on where its from and how its processed. I've seem some that is find and I've seen some I wouldn't put anywhere near a VFT. Rinsing it and using a TDS meter to see what the runoff looks like might be a good place to start though. I wouldn't recommend it to beginners, but if your experienced, you can probably figure it out.

[@mrmagoo600]

Great info. Is there a preferred time to put them through a re potting stage either before, during or after dormancy or mid year? I also want to use some stones etc around my plants so they don’t look like they are just sat in a plain pot and also aid leaf support, can any stones be used or any to avoid that might leach nutrients, I read that terracotta is not good for them?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

The best time to repot is toward the end of dormancy before they really start growing again. You can absolutely use stones. Just make sure you find a hard stone that doesn't absorb anything. Quartz or silica based stones are usually the best as they are non porous. Find anything thats non porous and you should be okay! Terracotta is very porous and is usually a hard no for venus flytraps. Not only does it leach nutrients but it also saps water out of the soil and away from the plant.

[@mrmagoo600]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub awesome thanks

[@theNoogler88]

Exactly my question, thanks to both of you

[@Jesus-eg3yb]

Hilarious Independence Day 👽 speaks moment. Actually had me laughing with your little voice over clips. Keep the videos up the good videos brother. Always enjoy watching. Thanks for the continued knowledge sharing. “Peace . . . No peace.” Lol 😂

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Ha! Thank you. Trying to make the vids a little more interesting. Hopefully, everyone enjoyed.

[@FarradMuseumofTruth]

I needed this lol. Let's start. Thank you. Very beautiful wow

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Good luck!

[@MrMccubbin]

Thank great information I'm new to growing fly trap in the UK

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Good luck! It's pretty addicting!

[@electrawayne474]

If you open the terium if it has a big door will it survive better?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Ya, you can do that. They will survive in a terrarium but they need a dormant period. That's the biggest road block for successful terrarium setups. They also like some airflow and direct sun. You can do terrariums, I just advise against if your a beginner.

[@outbackexotics2265]

thank you so much! just impulse bought a flytrap today and your really helping!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Of course! Exactly why I made this video! Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!

[@lucidlemon786]

Is the tray water method necessary? I just got a fly trap and I have to keep it in my room, where my cat will definitely spash the water lol. I live in the PNW also and based on your previous vid I have a good idea how to solely water them but idk if there's a difference with your new location

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Ha! So, I have this same problem with out chickens. They like to drink the water out of my trays. When it's really hot, you can top water, it should be fine. I would be really hesitant to top water consistently though, when it's below 75 degrees. Much higher risk of crown rot when watered from the top. Also, if you don't tray water, you have to stay on top of it a lot better. In the heat, you may have to top water them daily. With tray watering, you might only need to water every 2nd or 3rd day. However, with cats messing with your traps, I understand the dilemma. You could get some cat grass and put it in a tray of water, close to your flytraps. Sometimes the cats really like a little patch of grass they can munch on and this might distract it from the traps. You could also go one more higher and put the flytrap in a little cage so the cat can't get to it. Those are a bit more extreme but it might help deter the cat. If all else fails, you can top water just be really careful not to overwater when it's lower temps!

[@zestyzman]

@2:52. I accidentally tore my death cube up to get the pot out since I didnt want it to be in there. I also noticed that the instructions sucked so I based most of my instructions on youtube videos and guides from nurseries.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Ya, don't even worry about messing up the death cube. Search for better instructions and toss that thing out!

[@Billsmafia15]

Thanks for the video! I am wondering if it’s a good or bad idea to put a heating pad underneath the fly trap, since I live in NY. Room temp of low 70’s doesn’t seem warm enough…heat pad under it on the lowest setting sounds like it could work?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

The don't need extremely high temps, it's more the amount of light they get. If you are growing them indoors, I'd focus more on making sure you have a strong grow light and not worry so much about the temps. 70s are find for them as long as they are getting the right amount of light and water.

[@Billsmafia15]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Thanks!!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Of course!

[@Michelleh20906]

Awesome I’m from the pnw also and I just got my Venus last night lol

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Right on Michael, where did you get it?

[@Michelleh20906]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub believe it or Not but I got it at my local usher Joe’s lol

[@stephen-truthseeker]

Do you keep watering in winter dormancy?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Yes, they definitely need water during dormancy. However, watering habits change greatly. One of the most common killers during dormancy is rot. When it gets cold, the pot and substrate will hold on to that water much longer. You can leave a flytrap in a tray of water for a month or more if it's cold. Make sure that the top of the substrate dries out completely before giving it more water. This time frame will vary drastically from summer time. If you notice the tray of water is sticking around for more than a few days, empty it out, the plant is saturated. It might be 3 weeks to a month between watering depending on conditions.

[@lauraswihart4816]

We're trying! 💚

[@monke1919]

I got a venus flytrap for 23$ at my local nursery. It's pretty big like and inch which is a lot bigger than my Walmart venus flytrap. I wish I knew what type it was. Do you think that a typical can get an inch? It's actually pretty good though it even came in a pot planted in peat moss. I also got some peat moss and perlite to make my own mix. And the instructions it came with were actually completely correct. They said that it was a baby venus flytrap. Which if it is do you think that it's a DC xl or a b52? It even only came with one dead trap but that was it.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That sounds awesome!! The rule is if it's not marked then it can't ve listed as a cultivar. It's a typical. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't have some B52 or other large cultivars in it, you just can't claim it as anything but a typical. I have some typicals that get about an inch big. Home Depot sells some big typicals. Sounds like you found a great plant from a good nursery! That will make it easier to care for!

[@monke1919]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub alright thanks

[@monke1919]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub they said that it was a baby venus flytrap. So if it's actually a baby that's an inch big it's probably a giant cultivar right? I guess I will have to find out when it starts growing again after dormancy.

[@MrWorstNews]

I impulse bought one of these 3 weeks ago. It's doing fantastic now thanks to the information conveyed in your videos. Thanks, bud 😉👌🇺🇸

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate it!

[@mikeypenny254]

Where in the pnw are you located!?..I am from the Oregon coast.i envy your dream of a carnivorous plant nursery and would hope to visit if you get it off the ground..more so I would love a job/career in plantcare in general.i was born with a permanent green thumb and would love to make a living of it as I and the wife find it very therapeutic.. Your doing great!, hope you end up where your goin!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I'm in North Idaho. We love the Oregon coast! I used to visit family in Vancouver Washington every year. My family would always take the trip down to the Oregon Coast. Haven't been there for a few years, but were planning a trip back soon. Would love to have you for a visit once I get it up and running!

[@thoreaubailey4836]

Would spring water work?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It depends on the PPM in the spring water. You would want to test it with a TDS meter before committing to it.

[@frankho7095]

Do you know if you can use a coco coir perlite mix as the medium?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I have never used coco coir personally but I have seen people use it in the past. I've seen stories of people using it successfully and it not being so successful. The people that said they were able to use it successfully did say they had to soak it a lot before it was at a manageable PPM for flytraps. They had to soak for a week and rinse a few more times before the TDS meter read under 50 PPM. I think its usable but not out of the bag. If you are willing to put in the work and make sure it shows a low PPM reading on a TDS, then you can probably use it. But it will take some extra work.

[@alexgonzalez3857]

WOW THEY LOOK AMAZING

[@gkb0572]

Hey big man, got some Venus flytraps last week and Im wondering how big of space to give? Is 9cm circumference enough or should I get a 12-15cm?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Are you referring to the pot size? If it's a full grown venus flytrap, the deeper the better, I'd go for the 12-15, their roots grow straight down and like room.

[@ekaterinakulakovskaia665]

It was very helpful, thank you!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you!

[@rbbsinpro]

I have a question i just repotted mine and its going thourgh the shock how often should i water it?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Water as you would when it was healthy. Just be cautions not to overwater. Venus flytraps actually like the top layer of soil to be rather dry but with the ability to access water below. They grow natively in areas that have a lot of ground water but don't stay wet at the top. The rhizome of the plant can be subject to rot. I always let the top soil dry out just a bit before giving it more water. Many people just leave water in the tray all the time, but I've killed my share of flytraps with root rot from this method. Especially when temps get a little lower, allow the soil to dry out a bit before watering again but NEVER let it dry out completely.

[@rbbsinpro]

Ok thank You!

[@stephanie0071]

I got my Venus flytrap from someone in the Carolina’s where they say the plants are use to flowing water all the time. Is this with all flytraps or certain ones. Can’t I use another kind of potting soil mix then the sphagnum moss?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Yes, you can use a peat moss and perlite mix, even some silica sand can work well. They like to have constant water on their roots but a little dry on top. I don't like leaving the rhizome of the plant wet all the time, they can be subject to crown rot. Never let it dry out however, under an inch of substrate should always be wet.

[@stephanie0071]

Is it alright to repot before December?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

The best time is to repot at the end of dormancy right before the growing season. But they do okay whenever you need to repot.

[@stephanie0071]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub how can I send you a picture, I got it from you back in August and it’s in the same pot.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You could find me on Instagrram and shoot me a message!

[@Dont_Look_at_mee]

@carnivorousplantshub Not that I’m doubting you but I am a little confused based of my personal experience. We have one that we put in a cloche on a window sill and it’s been doing great for the past 9 months. You think mine is a freak of nature or something? Went to repot and found your video telling me to take it out and now I’m not sure what to do?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I 100% believe you. I know some people have success but I do truly believe your situation is an outlier. I receive messages from people almost every day where they have a flytrap slowly dying in a window sill. Extremely light starved. My goal is to help beginners, most beginners don't know what signs to look for if their plant is light starved. Most of the time, windows do not give them enough light. If you have had success or you are an advanced grower and know what signs to look for, go for it! I don't doubt you at all, I just think it's bad advice for beginner growers. Hopefully that makes sense!

[@stitISH]

do i have to feed them insects indoors in winter?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I think I answered this question on the other video, but I'll copy and paste! If you keep them indoors, it does help them to feed them insects occasionally. IT's not necessary but does boost the health of the plant. During winter however, it's not nearly as necessary. They should be dormant during winter, when dormant their growth slows way down, making the extra food not really necessary. During the growing season it definitely helps them to be fed.

[@stitISH]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub thanks

[@thereegamer1560]

Do you know any places that sell B-52 for cheap mines died today from a random frost from nowhere and turned it into a pile of rotting mush I got it from predatory plants as a gift from my aunt so anything would help

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

The cheapest place I know of is Cooks Carnivores. Not sure of they have any B52s in stock, but they are super affordable.

[@thereegamer1560]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub thanks I actually bought a psittacina from him I'll probably buy from eBay or save my money to get one from predatory plants or California carnivores since the ones on eBay told me that their b-52 aren't dormant yet so I'll probably have to do the fridge dormancy if I was to get from the ebay seller thanks for the info and good luck opening your carnivores plants nursery (:

[@buggsy5]

Sarracenia Northwest is also a good source and they ship their plants potted and ready to go outdoors - regardless if the time of year. I wouldn't throw out the VFT yet. A frost shouldn't kill it, although it might kill the top growth. Mine remain outdoors year around and the temperature sometimes gets down to below zero F here for short periods of time. Keep the plant in the sunlight and the media moist. If it does not start to regrow after 6 months or so, then you might throw it out.

[@thereegamer1560]

@@buggsy5 dude that plants long gone dead but thx tho

[@frostylonewolf1700]

i have something i wanted to ask what can i do to have them in a cool place for 2 to 4 months for dormancy cause my room temp is warm all the time

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Some people claim that with good strong lighting, you can skip dormancy. I haven't been able to replicate this long term yet, but I have tested it really strongly either. I do think you should give them a good dormancy period. Can you put them outside anywhere? Or in an unheated room? If not, there is a decent chance they don't make it more than a year or two.

[@frostylonewolf1700]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub i figured it out i will get a mini fridge and put the fly trap in that in end of october for winter dormancy

[@lonewolf.1751]

Wow, Absolutely superb video, very informative and exactly what i was looking for, many thanks for this.❤💯👍👍

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you my friend, I'm so happy that it helped you out!

[@lonewolf.1751]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub I already have some of your video's saved so i can go over them, really enjoyable to watch, thanks again.👍👍

[@natalieshirley3939]

This is my first fly trap plent and water in a bowl and take it outside of my apartment

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Right on, I hope it grows big and strong!

[@karenwilliams30527]

Love the Independence Day speech (can't remember the word)

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Lol, it just made sense to me!

[@dtpgameing5096]

is it cool if i use creek water for venus fly traps

[@buggsy5]

Buy an inexpensive TDS meter and check the dissolved solids level. Surface water supplies may also be contaminated with herbicides or pesticides.

[@dtpgameing5096]

@@buggsy5 oh i gocha btw thanks for the info

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I 100% echo Buggsy, most creek water is not going to work unfortunately, too many dissolved solids. But if it was coming from a really pure source and you are close to the source, it might be okay. The only way to tell is with a TDS meter. Keep in mind, TDS meters measure water differently when really cold and really hot, you can't get an accurate reading. Make sure to measure the water at room temperatures as you will get the most accurate results. Good luck, hope the water works for you!

[@dtpgameing5096]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub thx bro i appreciate it!

[@thecrazerkid2146]

I live in the antlantic northwest

[@Ivanwuyu]

thanks

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You are welcome!

[@greenthumbaquariums1185]

You say high humidity isn't required, but what is the right humidity range? If humidity is too low, how will a VFT "tell" you that it is?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Honestly, I never measure my humidity for my flytraps. Its just never seemed to be a factor. I live in a an area that's commonly 30s and 40s with humidity. I also see it jump in the 50s and 60s but I don't normally track with my traps. The only reason I think that higher humidity might help them grow a bit is because where they naturally grow is a more humid area, North Carolina. If I had to guess, I'd say that you can grow them fine with low humidity but you may get bigger traps and more vigorous growth with higher humidity. I wish I knew more, but I just don't monitor it much since it's never seemed very important. I don't like dealing with mold when I turn the humidity up, so I just don't bother with it.

[@monke1919]

Idk where you got that information from about how you should never repot during dormancy. It says it on your website. But it's actually the opposite because they are dormant its the best time to repot because they basically don't feel it at all.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Hello, I apologize, I can't seem to find where you are seeing that I suggest people do not repot during dormancy. The only thing I can find is that I suggest repotting toward the end of dormancy/beginning of growing season. Which is almost always the advice I give. If I have something different somewhere, Shoot me the link and I'll have a look and revise if necessary. Thank you!

[@monke1919]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub oh, I thought that you said it on your website. I must have misread something.

[@thecrazerkid2146]

Can I grow these in the Atlantic northwest ?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Absolutely! It's a little trickier, but you can. I'm in North Idaho and weather isn't terribly different here than it is where you are. It takes a bit more work, but it's 100% possible. Dormancy is a little tricky in the winter, but more than possible.

[@kopedwc]

Do I have to let it aclamate, if so how long

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Usually, once I bring one home. I'll give them 5 hours of sun a day for the first week. Then jump to 6 for the next week then 7 the next. And so on until you give them as much sun as possible.

[@buggsy5]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Make the acclimatization sun exposure early morning if possible.

[@juarezzz3475]

new video! 🙌🏼

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you for watching! Hope you enjoyed!

[@jz2926]

so it's okay to put rocks on the top?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Yes, you can. There are a couple of cons though. Make sure the rocks are non porous so they don't absorb and distribute minerals. It's harder to see your surface so mold and critters can build up and they are hard to see. The rocks also throw off the weight of the pot, which I use to determine if water is needed. Other than that though, using a topper can be great and help insulate the plant during winter. Some pros, some cons. Just like everything else!

[@danielyang1231]

0:30 good job a lot of information 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you!

[@nita2bjuan7]

Great content! Thank you!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you Juanita, appreciate you stopping by and checking it out!

[@matthewslotterback1985]

is miracle grow sphagnium peat moss going to kill my vft?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

More than likely. They put fertilizer in with their peat moss, which will kill a venus flytrap pretty quickly.

[@RoandyForever]

​@@CarnivorousPlantsHub is it possible to get rid or minimize the fertilizer in them or just get a different brand? and if so whats a good peat moss Brand?

[@BLOODKINGbro]

Flytraps have the same dormancy period as most tortoises and both can rest peaceful in refrigerators.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Interesting fact! We actually have a pet painted turtle. Fun fact about my family I suppose! His name is Flip and he is one of my favorite pets. Such a cool pet.

[@miguelrosas12]

Aye thanks for the vid bro it really helped👌🏽

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Of course, glad I could help out! Good luck with your flytraps!

[@ShawnsTrains265]

🤣 I love this video, very helpful, just got.my first one as a gift.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Woo hoo, congrats! You would have so much fun with it!

[@NabeelCassim_Tank50]

Amazing ... One day