I just got a Venus Flytrap from TraderJoe. Is there any secret to growing these so they live long and prosper?
They cannot have regular soil. Only specific carnivorous soil or pure sphagnum moss (not miraclegro or any with any additives/fertilizers). Put it in a bowl with *only distilled or rain water* to bottom water & a day after the bowl dries, fill up again. The drainage holes must be in the water. They like water & the evaporating water will create humidity. Don't trip the traps. If you want to feed it (indoors only), the bug must be ⅓ size of the trap.
@ExecutiveFunction404 @YouInMyEye (looks up from her platoon of 12 traps) Condolences on your new addiction. Remember, your new friend wants to be in a nutrient-depleted Carolina swamp. When in doubt, ask yourself: What can I do to make this environment more like a nutrient-depleted swamp?
@ExecutiveFunction404 @YouInMyEye Also, everything already said, plus: As much sunlight as possible, until it's time for dormancy (4 months/year!). The girls here do love a bright windowsill! If they get the light and distilled water they need, you don't even need to feed them. (If you do feed them, it's no more than once/month -- strictly supplemental.)
(Also, if you're not on the Greg app yet, it's a good place to be!)
I can't do the Greg app. I thought it was the vft page that gave bad info (on the website, at least), but I guess it was a different plant. It was egregiously wrong.
For vfts, I use https://venusflytrapworld.com for info on them.
@ExecutiveFunction404 @YouInMyEye That's an excellent site -- I was there often in the first few years of... entrapment? 🫠