Why will I love it?
Looking to add a touch of intrigue to your houseplant collection? Look no further than the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). This carnivorous plant will not only add a touch of intrigue to your home, it will serve as a natural pest control.
Light or shade?
The plant thrives in bright, indirect sunlight. Place it near a window with filtered light or in a well-lit spot indoors. Avoid exposing it to direct sunlight as it can damage the delicate leaves.
Where should I put it?
Create a warm and humid environment for your Venus flytrap to flourish. Consider housing it in a terrarium or on a bathroom windowsill, where the humidity levels are naturally high.
How do I keep it alive?
Keep the soil consistently moist. Opt for distilled water or rainwater to avoid minerals found in tap water, which are harmful to the plant. During winter, embrace the Venus flytrap’s natural dormancy period by providing cooler temperatures (around 10-15C). While it may shed its leaves, they will return come spring, ready to capture prey once again.
Did you know?
The Venus flytrap is native to the wetlands of North and South Carolina in the US. Its trap mechanism evolved as an ingenious survival strategy in a nutrient-poor environment. Each trap contains tiny hairs that, when triggered by an insect, cause the leaves to snap shut within a second.
