We began offering carnivorous plants recently at the garden center! They are aptly named “little pot of horrors”. Theyve been flying off the shelves (well, table, actually) and I told my own children about them. My three elementary school-aged children were very interested in how Venus Flytraps and pitcher plants work and whether they really do catch flies and other small bugs. After having a deep conversation about bug-eating plants at dinner (hey, we keep it real around here), I bought a “little pot of horrors” to teach the kids about these important plants.
Indoor carnivorous plants need a little different care than other plants, but they are SO COOL that they are worth the extra care. So, lets learn how to care for these amazing plants, shall we!.
Venus flytraps are fascinating carnivorous plants that have captured people’s imaginations for centuries. Their unique traps that snap shut on insects make them must-have novelty houseplants. While they have a reputation for being difficult to grow, venus flytraps can thrive indoors if potted properly. This complete guide will teach you everything you need to know about choosing the right pot, soil, and water to help your venus flytrap flourish.
Choosing the Right Pot
The most important consideration when selecting a pot for your venus flytrap is the material. Avoid terra cotta or ceramic pots as these leach minerals into the soil that will harm your plant. Your best bet is to use a plastic pot, as these do not affect soil chemistry. Glazed ceramic pots also work, but plastic is ideal.
Make sure the pot has at least one drainage hole in the bottom to prevent soggy soil. The pot should be shallow and wide, as flytraps have horizontally spreading roots. A depth of 3-6 inches is sufficient. Match the pot size to the plant’s current size – a small plant will be happiest in a 3-4 inch pot while larger specimens need 4-6 inches.
The Perfect Soil Mix
Creating the proper soil blend is key to growing healthy flytrap plants. They require nutrient-poor soil that mimics their natural bog habitat. Be sure to use soil marketed specifically for carnivorous plants, or make your own mix.
A good basic homemade blend is 1 part sphagnum peat moss and 1 part perlite or horticultural sand. The peat provides moisture retention while the perlite/sand supplies drainage. You can also purchase individual ingredients like long-fiber sphagnum moss and silica sand to customize your own mix. Avoid regular potting soils, compost, or fertilizers.
Watering With Pure Water
Venus flytraps demand pure, mineral-free water. Tap water contains minerals that will accumulate in the soil and kill your plant. Rain water or distilled water are ideal. If collecting rainwater, use a plastic bucket or barrel – don’t use metal.
Always keep the soil moist, but avoid allowing the plant to sit in waterlogged soil. Water when the top inch of soil becomes dry. During active growth, you may need to water daily. In winter dormancy, scale back to keep just barely moist.
Step-By-Step Potting Process
Now that you understand flytrap soil and water requirements, let’s walk through the potting process:
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Choose a plastic pot that is wider than it is deep, with drainage holes. Reuse plastic nursery pots or buy terra cotta-style plastic pots.
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Add a half inch layer of pebbles or perlite to cover the drainage hole(s). This prevents soil from washing out.
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Mix your soil blend Moisten it so it is damp but not soaked
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Very gently loosen and spread out the flytrap’s roots if they are compacted from the nursery pot
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Partially fill the pot with soil. Create a well in the center by pressing your thumb into the soil.
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Place the flytrap in the well so the roots are fully buried. The lowest part of the leaves will sit at the soil level.
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Fill in around the plant with more soil. Gently firm the soil around the base.
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Water thoroughly with pure water until it drains from the bottom. Distilled water is recommended for the initial watering.
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Place the potted flytrap in a location with 6 hours of direct sun daily.
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To transition a flytrap from indoors to outdoors, do so gradually over 7-10 days to avoid shock.
Caring For Your Potted Venus Flytrap
Once your flytrap is happily potted, maintaining optimal conditions is vital to its health. Follow these care tips:
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Provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. A south or west-facing window is best indoors. Slowly acclimate outdoor plants to prevent sunburn.
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Use pure, mineral-free water – distilled, reverse osmosis, or rainwater. Water when soil is partly dry. The plant’s location impacts watering frequency.
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Avoid tap water or water with added fertilizer, minerals, or salts like softened water.
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Let the plant experience a winter dormancy period with reduced water and temperatures between 32-55°F for 3-4 months.
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Repot every 2-3 years in fresh soil, or when the pot is crowded with growth. Divide overgrown plants.
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Feed traps insects for optimal growth. Catch your own or use freeze-dried bloodworms or fruit flies.
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Remove dead leaves and traps as needed. Don’t trim any healthy parts of the plant.
With the proper soil, water, pot, light, dormancy, and feeding, your venus flytrap will thrive beautifully in its pot. Pay close attention to its needs and you will have a carnivorous companion for many years to come.
They love bright sunlight.
If you have a south-facing window you can place them near, they will bask in it. A bathroom window that gets a lot of light would be great for them because they love humidity. The extra steam from the shower would also be great for them. If your bathroom doesn’t have any windows or the ones you do have don’t let in enough light (like mine don’t!), a room that gets a lot of sun will work great. It’s possible to grow your carnivorous plants in an open terrarium if you’d like to add more humidity. Just make sure the opening is big enough so the plants don’t mildew. However, keeping the soil consistently wet should be enough humidity for the plant to survive indoors.
Use rainwater or distilled water to water your carnivorous plants.
Always using mineral-free water, as these two mentioned, is crucial to the health of these plants. Try keeping a bucket near the downspout to collect rainwater. Distilled water can be purchased at the grocery store in a gallon-size jug. Avoid using bottled water and tap water, as there are simply too many minerals in them. Carnivorous plants grow in nutrient-poor soils. The minerals from tap water can “over-fertilize” and “burn out” the plants.
