Venus Flytrap
Dionaea muscipula
A carnivorous plant that captures and digests insects. Fascinating to watch and surprisingly easy to grow from seed with the right conditions.
medium
Full Sun (4+ hours direct)
Keep soil constantly wet — use distilled water only
3-5 years to full maturity from seed
How to Grow
Sow tiny seeds on the surface of a peat/perlite mix — do not cover. Keep in a tray of distilled or rainwater. Full sun is essential. Do NOT fertilize. Provide winter dormancy (2-4 months of cool temperatures). Never trigger traps for fun — it wastes the plant's energy.
Growth Phases
Germination (2-4 weeks)
Tiny green sprouts appear on wet peat
Seedling (2-3 months)
First miniature traps form — 2-3mm wide
Juvenile (6-12 months)
Traps grow larger and begin catching gnats
Maturity (2-4 years)
Full-sized traps can catch flies and wasps
Care Tips
- •Use only distilled water or rainwater — never tap water
- •Full sun is essential — not a windowsill plant
- •Never fertilize — they get nutrients from insects
- •Requires winter dormancy to survive long-term
Companion Plants
Community Interest
Real-time — updates when others show interest