Expert: Christopher Littrell - 2/12/2009

Question
Hi there, I have had my venus fly trap for about 6 months now and during the summer, there seemed to be enough 'house insect' in the house for the fly trap to eat.  Now during the winter months, there are no insects.  I am worried that my fly trap will starve to death.  Is this possible?
Thank you

Answer
Hello Jenny,

Venus Flytraps are garden plants that grow in temperate areas of North Carolina. They should be placed outside if they are to survive longer than a year as they need to have direct, full sun like a rose plant and they need to feel the seasonal changes so that they go dormant in winter. If these criteria are not met the plant will likely live only a year at most.

Carnivorous plants are primarily plants. They survive by absorbing sunlight and water from their environement. Insect prey is the last consideration to carnivorous plant health. Insects provide Venua Flytraps with fertilizer. The plant really does not eat the insects even though it does break down the proteins into easily used peptides that bacteria can absorb quickly. The bacteria in turn leave nitrogen (fertilizer) as waste for the plant to absorb through its leaves. Nitrogen is only required in small quantities so would be more like vitamins for plants. Plants need sunlight first, nitrogen much farther down the line. It is kind of like a starving human given the option of a hamburger or a bottle of B12. Which would be the first chosen item? The hamburger of course since the B12 would only provide a supplement, not actual food for the starving person. The same goes for plants. Sunlight is the primary source of food for plants. Fertilizers from whatever source are more like supplements.

No, your Venus Flytrap cannot starve from a few months or even years of not catching insects, but might die from insufficient light and no winter dormancy.

Christopher