Expert: Christopher Littrell - 5/24/2007

Question
Hi   my husband and I have been growing some venus flytraps over the last two or three years and I've never really seen one do this as of yet so I thought that You'd probably know if its normal. We normally get our plants from the carnivorous but we saw one on clearance in the garden shop at walmart for 2 dollars and he had to get it. I think it might be a low giant because its leaves where folded over the side of the three inch it was in and they're nearly an inch wide and it had about 13 big traps close to an inch long. In any case it was more than too big for the small pot. My husband figured it had split into two plants but after getting it out of the pot it was only one. It was wrapped up in the moss so tight you wouldn't believe,its a wonder it could live. its been two weeks since he repotted it and now it has 12 of its big traps and about 30 or more little ones right in the middle,just starting to go everywhere. There is so many coming out I don't see how it will grow being so crowded. Should I let it grow and see what it does and try to divide it later or is it ok to it now. You're the expert, what would you do?......thanks again for all your help

Answer
Hello Kelly,

Venus Flytraps do divide their rhizome or bulb as it is called. When this happens, you will see several crowns with their own growth points for young leaves to grow out of. When repotted, if the divisions are ready to survive on their own, they sometimes drop off or feel loose. If they are only loose, they can be carefully freed with a razor by cutting the divided part loose from the parent. In any case, if the divisions are firmly affixed, don't worry about trying to divide them manually, they will loosen over time.

It sounds like a typical Flytap to me. They often grow traps about an inch to one and a half inches long when adult. The giant cultivar, called Bigmouth grows traps about two inches long.

It is a good idea to repot the plant so it can get some room for it's roots. They do not like being cramped in tiny pots and can grow roots up to a foot in length in some cases. Now that it has been repotted, the plant is probably going crazy growing since it has more space. That might be the plethora of new traps you see growing, however, that is a large number of traps to grow at one time, so it might be several younger Flytraps growing under the adult. I have one doing the exact same thing. It has one growth point on the adult, but the rhizome is elongating and there are about four smaller plants growing right against the adult.

In nature, Flytraps do not have anyone to divide them manually, so it really is not a problem. Just let them grow for a year or two and when you repot them, check to see how the rhizome is growing and how many growth points it has. Only divide it in early spring after it comes out of dormancy so that it has all year to regrow and recuperate.

Good going with your Flytraps.

Christopher