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Carnivorous Plants/Venus Flytrap Progeny

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Expert: - 8/29/2007


Question
I've noticed that after my venus flytrap bloomed it has produced a tiny vegetative apomixis.  Any suggestions on exactly how and when I can successfully remove the bulbil (is it called?) for planting?  How large should it be before removing it from the adult?  Should it be dipped in hormone, if so any particular kind?  Does this mean that there will not be any seeds from this bloom or they will be sterile?

Thank you for being here, your time is appreciated.

Answer
Hello Ellen,

Apoximis occasionally does occur with Venus Flytraps when there is a hormone instability in the parent plant. In general, you might need to determine if seeds are more important, or the apoximis. If you note the apoximis developing roots on it's own, you can remove it and pot it in the hopes that it survives. If you wait for seeds, you will have to wait long enough for the scape to begin dying back and remove the apoximis before the dieback reaches it. This apoximis will take some of the energy from the parent plant, so that might reduce the likelihood of seed production in any quantity.

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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