-»«- 



-J*. 



VENUS FLY TRAP CULTURE 



The best planting media is pure sphagnum peat moss, or peat and sand in various proportions up to 50/ 

 50. Attempting to grow the plant in most other media is risl<y. Don't use garden soil or planting mix or 

 you will probably kill your plant. If you buy your plant in some weird medium, like shredded fir bark, you 

 should repot it ASAP. 



As the soil is broken down quickly by the constantly wet conditions, you should repot your plant every 

 two years just before the start of the new spring growth. 



Venus Fly Traps (VFTs) have fairly long roots. Most commercial plants are sold in little 2 inch pots. The 

 plants will not prosper for long in this size container. Use no smaller than a 4" pot, or even a 6" pot if you 

 want the best growth. In smaller pots, the roots that hit the soggy bottom of the pot will rot and eventually 

 kill the plant. 



The plants will also rot if grown in a dark, humid atmosphere. Grow them in bright light (even full 

 sun). Water on the "tray method". Stand the pot in a saucer of distilled water, and keep about 1/2" of water 

 in the tray at all times in the growing season. Don't use tap water! When grown in bright light, the plants 

 appreciate a relative humidity 30% or above, so keep away from forced-air vents, etc. 



Finally, VFTs have a dormant period in winter and need to be exposed to shorter daylight times and 

 cooler temps. In many parts of the U.S., they can be left outside during winter if sheltered from hard frost. 

 During dormancy, the soil should be kept just barely damp to avoid rot. If you try to grow VFTs without a 

 dormant period (like indoors under grow lights), it will decline and die after a couple years. When growth 

 stops, reduce water, and let it go dormant. It'll come back again in spring. 



When you understand the needs of the plant, it will grow like a weed and reward you with strong, 

 healthy growth, and lots of offshoots and flowers (if you let them develop). 

 Rick Walker, President, \nlernational Carnivorous Plant Society, walker@cutter.hpl.hp.com 



Newton Greenhouse 



32 Amesbury Road, Newton, NH 03858 

 603-382-5289 



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OCTOBER^^NOVEMBER 1996 



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