Venus Flytrap growing

The Venus flytraps for “Growing in poor conditions” experiment have been purchased. We purchased them for NZ$10.99 from the “Red Barn” garden center in Dunedin, New Zealand. They have nice big red traps and are looking relatively healthy at the moment.

Specimen A: Distilled water

The total number of traps was five, three of which were elevated, two were sitting at soil level, plus two stems were forming new traps. The largest trap was 27 mm across. The maximum stem length was 80 mm.

Specimen B: Tap water

The total number of traps was four, two were elevated and two traps were at soil level. The largest trap was 29 mm across. The maximum stem length was 70 mm.

Specimen C: Control plant

The total number of traps was six, all were sitting at soil level, plus there were two new stems beginning to form traps. One of the traps had a black spot. The largest trap was 27 mm across. The maximum stem length was 28 mm.

Many of the experts claim that growing Venus flytraps in shaded, dry indoor areas is difficult/impossible. So here at flytrapgrowing.info we are going to conduct some experiments to demonstrate what effects poor conditions have on Venus flytraps. Many complete novices report having their flytraps survive torturous conditions, out of the sun, tap water, dead bugs and occasionally letting their plant dry up and yet still their plants survive and grow big red healthy looking traps.

We are going to purchase two brand new Venus flytraps from a garden center. The plants will placed in our high tech new Venus flytrap growing facility. The facility (my bedroom) is on the third floor of an inner-city apartment block and looks out onto a wonderful concrete building which blocks all direct sunlight bar the occasional smidgen in the morning. The plants will be kept at the perimeter of the building behind a pane of glass (my window sill). Neither of the plants will be stored in terrariums, but will be left to fend for themselves in their mildly dry environment.

Specimen A will be watered with distilled water whereas Specimen B will be watered with tap water. The tap water supply here in Dunedin is treated with both fluoride and chlorine and contains large amounts of dissolved solids. It is a relatively soft water supply however, hence doesn’t contain many of the dangerous cations such as calcium and magnesium which are known to negatively affect Venus flytraps. As a control test, we have purchased a third plant (specimen C) which will be kept in a sunny location inside a glass enclosure and will be watered using distilled water.

Reports on the progress of the three plants will be posted here regularly over the next year - assuming they don’t die before hand!