Expert: Christopher Littrell - 7/23/2008

Question
I grow my venus flytrap outside in full sun. Gets about 8 hours of direct sunlight and i notice the soil tends to heat up, reaching 110 F sometimes. Is there anything i can do to solve this (put white tiny pebbles on it or something?).

Answer
Hello Catalin,

That kind of heat can harm and kill Dionaea. You could place the plant near objects that provide shade for the pot while giving the leaves full sun. Shrubs, other potted plants that can withstand high heat levels, low steps, a stack of bricks, basically anything that would provide insulation by placing your Dionaea among or near such objects can help protect from extreme temperatures while leaving the leaves exposed would help out. You could place a layer of perlite over the soil as an insulation layer since perlite is light and airy. Pebbles tend to trap and radiate heat sicne they are dense. Light, airy substances provide a sheild of material with air layers between in within. Keep the plant hydrated in such high temperatures. I have tomato plants dry up and wither in just a few days in heat levels over 100 degrees. Dionaea would fare worse.

If need be, you could even place a light shade cloth over the plant that would only lessen the imnpact of midday sun while giving it full morning and afternoon sun. In such high temperatures, it becomes a balancing act trying to provide everything the plant needs without harming it.

Christopher