Re: Venus Fly Trap

Clarke Brunt (clarke@brunt.demon.co.uk)
Mon, 6 Mar 1995 20:16:54 +0000

> My son received a little Venus Flytrap in a box for his birthday two years
> ago. For about 18 months "Venus" as we call it, grew and grew and ate and
> ate. Then it flowered and now it grows new leaves but the traps never
> develop. They stay very small and then turn black and fall off.
>
> Can anyone tell us what to do? We love Venus and this is very depressing.
> Especially because we don't have a clue as to what is going on.

If it did well for 18 months, then you can't have been doing much
wrong. Did you start doing anything any different? If not, then
maybe it could do with some fresh 'soil', unless some sort of pest
is getting at it. Is it getting enough light? They don't usually
grow traps in Winter.

For 'soil' use straight peat (some people seem to call this peat
moss), or sphagnum moss. Include some lime-free sand if you like.
Do not use proprietary potting composts which will include plant
food, or lime. Keep the plant stood in rain water or similar, and
do not apply any plant food.

-- 
Clarke Brunt (clarke@brunt.demon.co.uk)