Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 6/22/2010

Question
I'm just checking to see if I'm doing anything wrong.

I grow my venus flytraps in full sun, and I water with distilled water. I let them catch insects by themselves. I put them in my garage for dormancy, with a plastic bag covering them. Thats all I do for them.

P.S: Do you think I'm experienced enough to grow flytraps from seed?

Answer
Hi Cory,

If your plants are growing well for you, and coming back each year, you're doing great.  I think your just the right person to try and grow them from seed.  

The reason we say that first time growers shouldn't start with seeds is that you need a basic understanding of how to keep an adult plant alive before you try fussy little seedlings that require special care.  The North American cp seeds also require cold stratification, and take up to 5 years to reach maturity.  I've often found the folks who want to try them from seed are parents wanting a cheap way to get their children started on the hobby, but it's false economy.  Young children also don't have the patience to let an adult plant grow let alone 5 years for seed.  This is why those popular little kits being sold in toy stores and science places infuriate cp growers like us.  They just help add to the myth that all carnivorous plants are hard to grow.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com