Adequate lighting is very important to keep a Venus flytrap healthy. During their active growing season, Venus flytraps should receive a minimum of 12 hours of light. A minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight is recommended. The more direct light the plant receives the healthier the plant will be.
The absolute best place to grow Venus flytraps is outside. The sun’s UV rays kill most mold and fungus spores. The rain washes them away. The wind blows them away.
Venus flytraps growing outdoors are always on the hunt and usually capture a lot of prey. Outdoor growing is the easiest way to keep your Venus flytrap at its healthiest. We recommend only growing Venus flytraps outdoors.
Venus flytraps are captivating carnivorous plants that make for unique and fun houseplants. However they have very specific lighting needs. Flytraps thrive best outdoors but can be grown indoors under artificial lights. Picking the right type of grow light is key to keeping your flytrap healthy and vibrant when grown inside.
Why Proper Lighting Matters
In their natural habitat, Venus flytraps get abundant sunlight. They rely on specific wavelengths and intensity of light for photosynthesis and growth. Without adequate lighting, flytraps will decline and eventually die.
Indoors most windowsills simply can’t provide the 12+ hours of bright direct sun that flytraps require. Supplemental lighting is often needed. Grow lights also allow adjusting the photoperiod to prevent dormancy issues.
Key Factors in Choosing Grow Lights
Several variables play into selecting optimal grow lights for Venus flytraps:
-
Intensity – Flytraps like very bright light. Look for high lumen output around 2000-3000 lumens for a single plant.
-
Light Color – Flytraps do best under cool white or blue light in the 5000-6500K color range which mimics natural daylight.
-
Coverage Area – Match the bulb or fixture wattage to the number of plants. A 4′ shop light works well spaced close to several pots.
-
Adjustability – Being able to raise/lower the lights is helpful to control intensity.
-
Timer – A timer or automated lighting controller allows setting the necessary 12+ hour daily photoperiod.
Top Lighting Options for Indoor Venus Flytraps
Here are some excellent lighting choices to keep your flytrap thriving inside:
Fluorescent Grow Lights
-
T5 or T8 Fluorescent Tubes – Affordable tubes provide bright, full-spectrum light. Use 6500K tubes in a reflector 2-4 inches above plants.
-
CFL Bulbs – Compact fluorescents like 65W Daylight or Spiral CFLs provide intense light for one or few plants.
-
Shop Lights – Basic 4′ long fixtures with two T8/T12 tubes work perfectly. Use T8 6500K tubes.
Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights
-
LED Grow Bulbs – Screw-in bulbs (E26 base) provide full spectrum light. Use equivalent 100W+ Daylight bulbs.
-
LED Grow Panels – Contain powerful LED arrays in sleek, low profile fixtures. Great for multiple plants.
-
Flexible LED Strips – Stick-on strips allow custom placement. Use 5050 Daylight strips with high lumen output.
-
LED Grow Bars/Pucks – Direct lots of light in a small area. Position a few inches above the flytrap.
High Intensity Discharge Lights
-
Metal Halide – MH lamps put out intense light mimicking natural daylight. Use 125-250W bulbs in a reflector.
-
High Pressure Sodium – HPS grow lights work well for flowering/dormancy. Use 250W bulbs with orange spectrums.
Setup Tips for Growing Venus Flytraps Under Lights
Once you’ve selected lighting for your flytrap, use these tips to create an optimal indoor growing area:
-
Place plants as close as possible without burning the leaves – 2-6 inches is ideal for most lights.
-
Use adjustable cords or chains to easily raise/lower the lights as needed.
-
Set up reflectors, tents or enclosures lined with reflective material to maximize light exposure.
-
Keep ambient room light low to promote upward growth towards the main light source.
-
Use timers to control the photoperiod. Flytraps need 12-16 hours under lights.
-
Monitor trap color and growth rate. Adjust the light intensity and distance as needed.
-
Allow lights to fully warm up before powering on/off to avoid jarring temperature shifts.
Transitioning Flytraps to New Lighting Conditions
Introduce flytraps to significantly different light levels gradually to prevent stress and leaf burn. Some tips:
-
Start with just 1-2 hours under the new stronger light source, then slowly build up over days/weeks.
-
Acclimate outdoor plants brought inside under lights over 2-3 weeks.
-
Harden off indoor plants before moving outside in spring over 7-10 days.
-
Keep leaves lightly shaded or tinted while adjusting to increased light intensity.
With the right type of lighting tailored to their needs, Venus flytraps can thrive indoors year-round under Grow Lights. Take the time to create an optimized setup and your flytraps will vigorously grow while adding unique interest to your living space.
Department store Venus Flytraps
Venus flytraps at hardware stores are often stuck on a shelf where they receive woefully inadequate lighting.
When you bought your Venus flytrap at a hardware store or similar store, it was likely getting very little light and not being in direct sunlight at all. You will need to harden off your Venus flytrap. Slowly introduce the plant to direct sunlight to prevent its leaves from burning and dying.
Give the Venus flytrap about an hour of direct sunlight for a few days to start. Then, raise the amount of time it spends in the sun to two hours for a few days. Keep raising the amount of time it spends in the sun until you can leave it out all day.
Alternatively, you could just put the plant in direct sunlight right out of the store. All of the leaves will burn and turn yellow or brown and then eventually black. But it won’t be long before it starts sending out new leaves. These new leaves and traps will be fully hardened to the sun.
If you decide to just leave the plant out in the sun, you might kill it.
Growing Venus Flytraps outdoors
If you grow your Venus flytraps outside in an open space, you won’t have to worry about making sure they get enough light. They will get all the light that they need to be at their healthiest.
Venus flytraps shouldn’t get burned or dry out during the day, so if you live in a very hot and dry area, give them some shade. Shade cloth between 30% and 50% will work well. In the same way, dappled light through a tree’s leaves will protect you from the direct sunlight while still giving you enough light for good health.
As we already said, Venus flytraps will find all the food they need if they are grown outside. If you really want to keep your little friend inside, put it on a windowsill that faces south, east, or west and gets at least four hours of direct sunlight a day. It is good to regularly feed Venus flytraps that are grown indoors.
LED Lights for Tropical Carnivorous Plants
FAQ
Can I put a Venus Flytrap under a grow light?
What lighting is best for a Venus Flytrap?
What is the best grow light for carnivorous plants?
What is the best growing medium for Venus flytraps?