Growing the fascinating carnivorous Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) as a houseplant can be rewarding but does require some special considerations when it comes to picking the right pot Unlike regular houseplants, flytraps need pots that provide adequate drainage, insulation, and depth for their root systems. With the right container, you’ll have a healthy flytrap that thrives indoors
Choosing a Pot for Proper Drainage
Venus flytraps prefer their soil to be moist but not soggy A quality potting mix of one-third perlite (or sand) and two-thirds sphagnum peat moss provides the drainage flytraps need Always choose a pot with holes in the bottom for drainage.
You can improve drainage further by placing a layer of small gravel, clay balls, or pebbles in the bottom of the pot before adding soil This creates a reservoir for excess water to drain into
Avoid pots without drainage holes, as these can easily become waterlogged. Likewise, steer clear of decorative cache pots or double potting without drainage. A simple plastic nursery pot with holes works great.
Providing Insulation Against Temperature Extremes
Flytraps grow best with daytime temperatures of 70-95°F and appreciate humidity. However, they can withstand short periods of more extreme cold or heat. The pot you choose can provide insulation against temperature swings.
Avoid glass terrariums or containers, as these magnify heat. Thick plastic pots work well for insulation. Fiberglass or foam materials also help moderate soil temperature.
The size of the pot matters too. A wider pot allows more insulating soil around the roots and rhizome. 2-3 inches of soil surrounding the rhizome offers protection from cold and heat.
Allowing Room for Root Growth
Flytraps have naturally shallow root systems. However, their roots will grow longer in deep pots. A depth of 4-6 inches or more encourages downward root growth as the plant reaches for water.
Deep pots also prevent standing water around the rhizome or crown, which can rot. Always use a tray under the pot to provide moisture without saturating the soil. As the plant grows, the extra root mass will also help hold more moisture.
Drainage Materials
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Perlite, sand – improve drainage
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Gravel, clay balls, pebbles – reservoir in bottom of pot
Good Pot Materials
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Plastic – affordable, provides insulation
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Fiberglass or foam – insulates against temperature extremes
Key Pot Features
- Drainage holes – prevent soggy soil
- 4-6” depth minimum – room for root growth
- Wide pot – insulation from soil
What to Avoid
- No drainage holes
- Glass terrariums
- Double potting
- Pots that are too shallow
Caring for Flytraps in Pots
Choosing the right pot is just the start. Flytraps also need:
- Bright light – at least 4 hours direct sun daily
- Distilled or rain water – no tap water
- Constant moisture – tray watering maintains soil moisture
- Low nutrient soil – peat/perlite or peat/sand mix
- Periodic dormancy – 10-12 weeks cool rest period
With the proper pot, soil, water, light, humidity, and dormancy, Venus flytraps make unique and unusual houseplants. The right container provides drainage and insulation that contributes to their success indoors. Follow these tips, and you’ll be able to grow this carnivorous plant as a thriving pet plant.
Death traps aka Terrariums
One last thing: please, for the love of Venus Flytraps, do not put your plant pot in a terrarium. Terrariums are death traps for your Flytrap. Or geez forbid, one of those domed situations that are touted as Venus Flytrap habitats. A covered pot is only good for growing seedlings, not for Venus Flytrap plants older than that. You’re just asking at that point for rot and disease. Let your Venus Flytrap in its pot be outside in the glorious sunshine with the glorious air movement. It’s best for its health, I promise you. And probably humans too!.
Everything you need to know about pots for your Venus Flytraps!
Venus flytraps are small plants, growing to about 5″ tall or wide at maturity. Thus, they don’t need pots that are very wide, but depth is helpful.
Deeper pots allow for root growth. For the Venus flytrap, root growth is good because longer, thicker roots help the plant soak up water. Roots also help flytraps appropriate nutrients from the growing medium (soil). When you water plants in trays or pots that are deeper, they have to grow longer roots to get to the water.
This helps the roots grow, which is also why professional growers water their Venus Flytraps and then wait until the growing medium has lost most of its water before watering again. Watering in this way, the Venus flytrap is forced to grow longer thicker roots. It will actively send roots down as it chases the water to the bottom of the pot. Because water is always available, the Venus Flytrap has no reason to grow longer, thicker roots if it is left to sit in water all the time.
You’re making your Venus Flytrap tough and strong by not giving it too much attention. It’s kind of like a military boot camp. That being said, you never want the growing medium for your Venus Flytrap to be completely dry. Making it work for its water makes the plant stronger and tougher.
The type of pot then that you choose for your Venus Flytrap can encourage or discourage root growth. At least 4 inches deep is needed to keep the plant’s rhizome, or “bulb,” from getting too much water. And 4 inches of roots is enough to get a pretty big specimen because the roots can grow at least a little.
Any height taller than that minimum is optimal. Venus Flytrap roots can grow to around 12″ or so with some variation. So a pot that is slightly taller than that forces the roots to really bulk up and lengthen. You can tell Venus flytrap roots that have been in taller pots and haven’t been overwatered because they are very thick and long, like Venus flytrap dreadlocks!
For the width of the pot, more space is helpful in terms of insulation. For the Venus Flytrap, the more soil there is in the pot, the better the insulation it has against very hot or very cold weather. Venus flytraps are great in temperatures between about 40-95F but can get overheated or freeze in extreme temperatures.
Venus Flytraps, especially those with larger rhizomes, more mature and older, can actually survive a frost/freeze or two. However, they’ll likely lose their foliage up top until the growing season starts again in Spring. The more growing medium that surrounds the rhizome, the more insulated it will be against extreme conditions. This means that the cold and heat and less likely to reach the rhizome at their full intensity. This protection from extreme temperatures is very beneficial.
Growing medium for Venus flytraps can add up in cost though. Really, you only need about 2 inches of space around the rhizome on each side and 6 inches of space on each side of the rhizome. This provides really nice insulation. There is no way that any insulation could keep the plant from freezing in the coldest weather. So there is a point where you bring the flytrap inside of course.
In terms of pot/container types, again look for insulation. So glass is definitely out because it magnifies the heat/cold coming at it. Ceramic is not great either. Plastic is fine, especially thick plastic. Fiberglass is great, especially thicker fiberglass. Whatever the type of pot, be sure to consider the insulation. Especially as related to the extremes of weather where you live with your Flytraps.
The insulation thing isn’t really a big deal because most places where plants grow don’t have really hot or cold weather for most of the year. But to be safe, it’s good to prepare for extremities. Thus, pot your Venus Flytrap in a pot with good insulation and good space for growing medium. The added insulation will protect it from unexpected or temporary extreme weather conditions.
As you choose the growing medium for the pot and do the math for possible insulation, keep in mind that peat moss doesn’t help plants grow and recover from transplants as well as premium long-fibered sphagnum moss does, but it does insulate a little better.
So your calculations will involve:
- temperature extremes in your area,
- insulation of your pot, and
- insulation of your growing medium.
You can decide based on these factors what type of pot you will choose.
If this all seems hard to understand, please know that it’s not; we’re just going into more detail to make sure we cover everything. But it’s really not terribly complicated. Just check on your flytrap by feeling the outside of the pot. If it’s too hot or too cold for you, it will be the same for your Venus Flytrap. Adjust accordingly.
The great-case scenario is one of those taller white Styrofoam cups. They insulate great, they’re white so they reflect some of the heat back outward, and they’re cheap. Of course, they are terrible for the environment. But honestly, it’s a decent and easy option to serve as your Venus Flytrap pot.
The Complete Venus Fly Trap Care Guide
FAQ
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