Last updated on January 26th, 2022
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Should you let your Venus fly trap flower?
Venus fly traps are carnivorous fly-eating plants that are native to the east coast of North and South Carolina in the United States. They are very popular plants and adored by many people who love growing them, but one frequent question we often get asked is ‘Should you let them flower?’
The short answer for most people (especially if you are new to growing them) is ‘no‘. As soon as you see the flower stalk start to emerge you should cut it back to the base of the plant.
The flower stalk is easily identifiable because they are a cylindrical-round shape with a ball shape at the end and they emerge from the centre of the plant. The flowers are actually quite attractive so “Why not let it flower?” you ask.
Why you should not let it flower
A Venus fly trap takes a lot of the plant’s energy to produce the flowers. In their native bog land, they usually recover fairly quickly, but the problem is that everything needs to be just perfect for them to recover. When grown at home this is usually not the case and they usually die, especially if they are young plants.
When to let your Venus fly trap flower
If you want to let your plant flower then make sure it is at least one year old, fairly established in its pot and happy. It is recommended that experienced growers should be the majority that does let them flower, so if you are new to growing them, learn more about them first and once your plant is fully established give it a try, however, be prepared for the worst.
Ideal growing conditions
- They prefer moist soil but well drained, we recommend mixed 50% peat with 50% perlite.
- In the growing season (which is usually between March and September) keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet as this can cause problems. They go dormant for the winter and need this time to rest, reduce watering and only water when the soil starts to become dry but do not allow the soil to totally dry out.
- Grow in a position where it gets at least 8 hours of sunlight, this is essential because they need lots of sun.
- Never feed with fertiliser. They live in poor, acidic soils and feeding with fertiliser can kill them. They get all the nutrients they need from the light and insects they catch.
- Only feed them once a week, a couple of flies is usually enough. If you keep them near a window or door that regularly opens and closes they may catch enough insects themselves.
