Expert: Christopher Littrell - 5/23/2007

Question
Ok well I got my VFT from Walgreens... anyhow I placed it outsice noticing that some of the leaves where kinda already dead... so I took them out... now new ones are growing. They seemed fine... but they have this.. sorta wavy look... a wrinkle...like a dry wet dollar. How long does it take for the leave to grow with a trap? Also I live in Yuma Arizona... does it really need something over it for humidity? Its in it's pot on a plate with water and a plastic soda bottle thing over it. (that I cut the edges off) Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hello Jose,

1.  It will take the plant time to get used to full sunlight outside as it might have been in low light in the store you bought if from. Place the plant in a lightly shaded place, or an east window indoors, for now because it could get cooked by the humidity dome you have on it in bright sun. The leaves will become thicker and waxier looking, but grow stouter and stronger in bright sun and low humidity.

2.  Venus Flytraps do not need a humidity dome. It will take the plant a couple of weeks of slow adaptation to get used to low humidity too. They can adapt well to low humidity and are healthier without the dome. Every 3 days, just punch some holes in the dome and make the holes larger and more numerous until it no longer holds humidity. After 2 weeks, it should be so full of holes that it just lets air in freely and you can take it off. Yuma, Arizona humidity is about 50%, so is fine.

3.  After taking the humidity dome off, place the plant in stronger light progressively over the next week or so. Keep it in the east window the first week then place it in a south window or in shade where it would get morning and evening sun the second week. After that, place it in full sun. One word of caution, Venus Flytraps can handle temperatures up to 100 degrees, however; if the temperature gets over that where you live, give the plant some shade during the hottest times. Make sure to keep it watered well all the time, always keep the soil moist, but never waterlogged.

4.  Venus Flytrap leaves take a couple of weeks to fully develop. After they open, it takes the trap a few days to mature and start producing nectar. You should start noticing the leaves stand up and grow stronger after taking the humidity dome off and give it more light. Some leaf burn might occur after placing it in full sun for a few days, but the plant will get a tan and start making leaves that can handle ultraviolet light.

Keep up the good work and your plant will thrive.

Christopher