Expert: Christopher Littrell - 10/2/2008

Question
I have lots of quarter inch size or smaller traps on most of the 10 flytraps. I see much larger traps in the garden stores where our science classes got the plants a few years ago. Is there a way to increase the trap size? Would trimming off the small traps help? I also have one plant with tiny spikes (~1/32nd") in the leaf and stalk structures that would seem to interfere with the trapping process. Should the kids get rid of that plant or would it help to trim most of the plant away to see if regrowth is normal? There is also one trap on one plant with a fold on one side. It looks normal but the fold would let the bug out. Should it be trimmed off the otherwise healthy plant? Do you know what might cause the tiny stalks and fold? Is there a better or best kind of bug for the plants to eat? Thank you

Answer
Hello Irvin,

It sounds like a combination of factors might be at work here. Since you have had the plants for a while I am assuming they have undergone a dormancy period each year during winter and that they have been getting relatively bright light, otherwise they would have likely expired a long time ago.

If the plants you are describing have proportional trap to petiole size as compared to adult plants then they are merely young offspring of likely expired parent plants. If so, give them time and they will grow larger.

If the plants have not received full sunlight or the equivalent in artificial light they would produce long spindly petioles and very tiny traps. If your plants look like that, acclimate them for a few weeks to stronger light until they are in full sun. They will recover and grow normally if it is not too late.

Deformed traps are indicative of mutation, low light, and water contaminated by minerals. Some Flytraps do produce traps that are basically non-functional due to physical defects. Low light can cause miniature or even deformed traps. Tap water or bottled water... not to be confused with distilled or reverse osmosis water, will result in deformed and even dead plants according to the amount of minerals that have been deposited over time.

Hormonal imbalances can also cause spontaneous plantlet growth on odd parts of the parent plant. Such hormonal imbalances are invariably caused by a lack of proper dormancy.

Pests can cause deformity in plant growth and small leaves. Make sure there are no aphids or mealybugs chewing on the plants.

In any case, just make sure they are getting full sun, clean water (no minerals), winter dormancy, and no fertilizers at all.

Flies, beetles, spiders, ants, and basically anything the plants catch themselves is prey. I know they are fascinating plants due to their adaptation to seeming carnivory, but they are really just obtaining fertilizer in a different way than other plants. Best bet is not to feed them so much as just care for them and watch them catch things on their own.

Christopher