Expert: Christopher Littrell - 6/6/2007

Question
QUESTION: How many hours of sunlight should my venus flytrap(s) get? I dont know if my vft that "disappeared" will come back. There is only one more leaf that is visible with a tiny tiny baby new leaf coming out.

ANSWER: Hello Ryan,

Sorry to hear about the Flytrap. As far as specific hours a day of full sun, each source will say different things, however; a minimum of 4 or more hours of sun is good, but the more the better. Venus Flytraps that do not get enough sun tend to loose their coloration, slow down in trapping ability, and are incapable of digesting prey. They also have trouble weakening during flowering.

So far as the Flytrap that disappeared, look out for birds and mammals, sometimes they like to eat anything that is not nailed down. If you suspect animals are eating your Flytraps, try to protect them with a wire cage made from 1 inch chicken wire fencing. You can easily buy a small roll and cut a section, then just mesh the ends together in a 1-2 foot wide and 1 foot tall cylinder with a top. That should keep most animals from bothering your plants while allowing them sun and insects.

Christopher

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Do you think I took care of them right? Do you think its just the store that I bought them that they died? They lasted awhile but there is only one vft leaf left, what should I do?

Answer
Hello Ryan,

It sounds like you have been trying to find out as much about your plants as possible so you can care for them. In all likelihood, the plants were just weak before you bought them. We have all lost plants before, no matter how skilled the grower and regardless of fault.

In any event, do not give up on them until they have no roots left... Venus Flytraps can sometimes surprise you. If you are interested in continuing to grow them, something I would encourage, keep reading up on them on Sarracenia Northwest's site and look over their care pages and check out some books by D'Amato, Slack, and Pietropaolo not to mention the E-book by Sarracenia Northwest. If you decide to buy more, you might try an online company like Sarracenia Northwest or California Carnivores as they often try to send the plants preadapted to low humidity and already grow them in high intensity light, so they will be healthy plants regardless. I have never lost a plant from Sarracenia Northwest and always get them within 2-3 days of Email confirmation of shipping.

If you see any carnivorous plants for sale at hardware stores, make sure they are recent stock, like within a week, so you know that they have not been in low light and weakening conditions for too long.

In any case, keep looking for new growth in the plants you already have. So long as the crowns are still present and colored white and/or red, they are still alive. Sometimes time is the only cure for an ailing plant. Once you have them in optimal conditions, just keep them there and see if they make it. If they don't, it is no fault of yours. Kind of like getting a goldfish that gets sick and dies a few weeks after purchase, sometimes it is out of our hands.

Keep trying,

Christopher