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Carnivorous Plants/venus fly trap digestion

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Expert: - 2/19/2009


Question
i have read that it is common for a trap to turn black and fall off after a feeding,
but why is this?

Answer
Hello Dan,

Contrary to popular belief, Venus Flytrap traps do not ordinarily turn black after they capture prey. A healthy Venus Flytrap will be one that receives full sunlight or an equivalent in artificial light combined with window light. A healthy Venus Flytrap typically will be able to capture and digest 3-4 insects per trap.

Occasionally, an overlarge prey item, inedible object, like fatty red meat, or low energy from inadequate lighting can cause the death of a trap.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

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Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

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