| Dionaea muscipula
Background Information
This is the famous Venus Flytrap which fascinated Charles Darwin when he saw it for the first time - it still fascinates me too! The trap on the Dionaea is capable or closing with incredible speed if it is warm, less so when it's cool as things slow down a little and most things are able to get out of it's grasp. The plant originates solely from a small part of North East Carolina USA and can be found no where else (except in pots!), it is rapidly loosing the battle of extinction in Carolina as the sandy swamps it inhabits are dwindling and all attempts to introduce it else where have failed.
The mechanism and speed by which this plant catches it's prey makes in unique in the plant kingdom, although, there is an aquatic plant called Aldrovanda which uses a similar trap but is not widely grown but is widespread. Three trigger hairs can be found on each of the 2 lobed sides of the Venus Flytrap which make up the trap and any wandering insect that triggers two of these hairs is in deep trouble as the trap closes upon it and the spiky fringe creates a kind of prison. There is a built in mechanism which tells the plant that if only 1 hair is triggered it could be a false signal but if two are triggered it usually means dinner, the reason for this mechanism is that the plant uses a great deal of stored energy in closing the trap and so it doesn't want to waste it on false alerts.
Once the trap has a victim enclosed within it begins to close tighter and tighter until it is almost flat, although you can see the bulge where the insect is being squashed inside. The inner surface of the trap secretes an enzyme which dissolves the insect and the resulting liquid is re absorbed by the plant.
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Temperature
This plant is hardy down to a few degrees centigrade and can even be grown outdoors in the UK in sheltered positions. It is advisable though to bring your plants in for the winter and keep them on a bright, cool windowsill.
Humidity
Venus Fly Traps aren't too fussy about the humidity and can safely be grown without the addition of extra humidity control.
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Compost
In cultivation the plant needs a very free draining compost mix consisting of up to 70% sharp sand, 20% sphagnum peat and 10% charcoal. As it is mostly comprised of sand you will need to place some kind of fine mesh over the drainage holes otherwise the sand will wash away, use a fine mesh such as a couple of layers of net curtain or something similar.
Watering
The plant should be place in a shallow tray or dish that is larger than the pots diameter by at least an inch all the way round, this should be filled with clean water from March to November to a depth of 1 to 1.5 inches and changed every week for fresh water to avoid stagnation. From November through the following March the plant should be kept evenly damp but as it will be almost dormant it shouldn't be kept totally wet.
Light
They like a good bright or sunny position and if this is what you give them then the traps will be bigger and a brighter red. Ideal for a patio or kitchen window as they will catch lots of flies during the summer
Feeding
Venus Fly Traps require no feeding as the traps are pretty good
at catching enough food for it's needs and too much food can cause
problems. The pot should be flushed with clean water every month
to keep the compost fresh. Live waxworms (type of catapillar)
can also be purchased here
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