In the past I have taken a leaf pulling of my flytrap and planted it in a 50:50 mix of peat moss and washed sand (as I would pot up any of my flytraps) in the hope that it would then be able to produce another plant. Unfortunately though I found this method to be not the most successful as I could succeed less than half of the time. Earlier this year I stumbled across water propagation and decided to give it a go.
This is possibly the most successful propagation method that I have tried on my Venus flytraps. Using this method I was able to have a success rate of almost 100% for all the leaf pulling’s that I took.
The basic process is just taking the leaf pulling and then placing them into a container of water and putting under a grow light for a month or so. I will break down the entire process I used into five individual steps with some photos I have taken and if you are interested in doing this you can give it a go yourself.
I started this little experiment at the start of April 2015 and I potted up the pulling’s in June and July 2015.
Venus flytraps are fascinating carnivorous plants that have the ability to trap and digest insects. Their unique trapping mechanisms and intriguing habits make them extremely popular houseplants and additions to any carnivorous plant collection.
If you already have a Venus flytrap, you may be wondering if you can propagate it to get more plants without having to buy them. The good news is – yes, propagating Venus flytraps is easy and can be done through several methods!
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about propagating Venus flytraps. We’ll cover:
- Sexual propagation from seeds
- Vegetative propagation through divisions, leaf cuttings, and flower stalk cuttings
- Advanced tissue culture techniques
Let’s dive into the details on how to make more of these amazing carnivores!
Sexual Propagation Through Seeds
The first way to propagate Venus flytraps is through seeds This involves pollinating the flowers to produce seed pods that contain dozens of minute black Venus flytrap seeds
Here is the process
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Allow your Venus flytrap to send up a tall flower stalk from the center. White flowers will bloom on the stalk.
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When the flowers open, use a cotton swab to collect pollen from the anthers (small tips inside each flower).
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Gently brush the pollen onto the stigma (fuzzy center part) of another flower to pollinate it.
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After a few days, pollinated flowers will wither and a green seed pod will form at the base.
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When the seed pod turns brown and crispy, collect the tiny black seeds inside. Venus flytrap seeds are only around 1mm long!
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Sow the fresh seeds on sterile, moist peat or carnivorous plant soil. Keep warm and humid.
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Seeds will sprout in 2-4 weeks. Keep seedlings in bright, humid conditions as they grow.
It’s best to sow Venus flytrap seeds right away for highest viability. Stored seeds lose viability after about 3 months.
While growing from seed is rewarding, it’s a slow process – seedlings take 3-5 years to reach maturity. For faster propagation, vegetative methods are preferred.
Vegetative Propagation Methods
To get mature, clone Venus flytrap plants more quickly, various vegetative propagation techniques can be used:
Dividing Established Plants
Mature flytrap plants often produce multiple crowns or growth points from their underground rhizome. When distinct crowns are seen, the plant can be divided:
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Carefully dig up and rinse off the entire plant.
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Look for a natural division between two crowns and slice the rhizome between them with a clean knife or razor.
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Replant each crown separately. Keep them moist and bright until established.
Dividing mature plants yields instant clone flytraps!
Leaf Cuttings
You can also take leaf cuttings for propagation:
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Carefully detach a healthy outer leaf from the rhizome with a bit of rhizome attached.
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Trim off the trap portion and stick the leaf base in moist soil.
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New plants will sprout from the cut rhizome end. Keep warm and humid.
Flower Stalk Cuttings
Trimmed flower stalks will also root readily:
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Cut off flower stalks near the base as they appear.
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Stick the cut end in moist soil. Small plantlets will emerge from the stalk.
Easy! Just be sure to remove flower stalks so the plant focuses energy on traps and growth.
Tissue Culture Propagation
You can also rapidly propagate Venus flytraps through sterile tissue culture techniques:
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Surface sterilize a tissue sample like a leaf, seed, or stem tip.
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Culture it on special sterile, nutrient agar in sealed vessels.
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Plantlets are transplanted to soil once established.
Tissue culture allows quick mass production of clones. But it requires training and specialized equipment best done in a laboratory.
Propagation Tips for Success
Follow these tips to maximize your propagation success:
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Take cuttings only from very healthy, vigorous flytrap plants. Avoid flowering or stressed plants.
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Use sterile tools and clean cuts to prevent disease. Dip cut ends in rooting hormone.
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Keep high humidity around new cuttings until established.
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Provide bright, indirect light for 12-14 hours daily.
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Repot new plantlets once a good root system develops.
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Avoid fertilizers until plants are larger.
With good sterile technique and proper care, you can achieve a high propagation success rate. Be patient – vegetative propagation takes time, but it’s worth it for more vigorous carnivorous clones!
Hopefully this guide gives you all the information you need to start propagating your own Venus flytraps. Both sexual and vegetative propagation can be easily accomplished at home.
While growing from seed is slow, vegetative techniques like division, leaf cuttings, and flower stalk cuttings offer faster results. Follow sterile procedures and give your new propagules the proper care and humidity.
In no time you’ll have tons of vigorous flytrap clones to expand your collection or share with other growers! Propagating these fascinating carnivores means you’ll never run out.
Step 1: Getting the Leaf pulling’s
Taking the leaf pulling’s is best done when repotting your flytrap. When I have upended my pot I will shake loose the excess soil and then I place the entire plant into a bucket of water and let it soak. I will shake the plant gently so that there is no soil remaining on the plant. Once you have done this you will be able to divide the plant into however many plants have divided from it naturally. I place all of the smaller divisions into a bowl of water and leave them be until you are ready to pot them up. This can even wait a day if you aren’t quite ready straight away. I then grab the largest healthiest looking plant and find the big healthy leaves on it and then pull them gently downward towards the rhizome (The leaves that are easiest to get are the ones that are growing from the outside of the rhizome). The leaf will break off at the base of the plant and you will see there is a bit of white rhizome on the base of the leaf. Keep doing this until you have removed all of the accessible healthy leaves from your plant, and the amount you want, while leaving the main part of the plant with many leaves also.
Note: Don’t forget to pot up the original plant that you took the leaf pulling’s from after you are done.
Step 2: Preparing the Leaf pulling’s
Put all the leaves from each different plant cultivar into their own separate jars and rinse them in lukewarm water a few times to remove all of the dirt that was on them. Once you have all your leaves of the one plant together take them one by one and cut off the trap at the end of the leaf.
How to Grow an Infinite Supply of Flytraps – How to Propagate a Venus Flytrap
FAQ
Can I grow a Venus flytrap from a cutting?
The process of propagating Venus flytraps through flower stalk cuttings is uncomplicated. First, cut flower stalks after they grow 2-4 inches. Then, plant the flower stalks in carnivorous plant soil. Finally, provide water and lighting. Flower stalks exhibit growth within 2-5 months.
Can you propagate a Venus fly trap in water?
Earlier this year I stumbled across water propagation and decided to give it a go. This is possibly the most successful propagation method that I have tried on my Venus flytraps. Using this method I was able to have a success rate of almost 100% for all the leaf pulling’s that I took.
How do Venus flytraps multiply?
Venus flytraps reproduce sexually through flowering. Vegetative or asexual reproduction occurs from buds that grow from short rhizomes.
How do you propagate a Venus fly trap flower?
- Cut the Flower Stalk: Remove the flower stalk from the Venus flytrap, as close to the base as possible.
- Cut into Sections: Divide the flower stalk into 1-2 inch (2.5-5 cm) pieces.
- Prepare the Medium: Use a sterilized medium like peat moss and perlite, or long-fibered sphagnum.
- Plant the Sections: Lay the flower stalk pieces on the medium, lightly covering the cut ends.
- Maintain Humidity and Warmth: Use a humidity dome and seed heating mat to ensure the pieces don’t dry out.
- Provide Adequate Light: Use LED lights on a 16:8 light:dark cycle, keeping the pots a foot below the lights.
- Patience is Key: New plantlets may take a few months to appear.
- Treat as Seedlings: Once the plantlets emerge, treat them as you would any Venus flytrap seedling.
How do you propagate Venus flytraps?
The process of propagating Venus flytraps through flower stalk cuttings is uncomplicated. First, cut flower stalks after they grow 2-4 inches. Then, plant the flower stalks in carnivorous plant soil. Finally, provide water and lighting. Flower stalks exhibit growth within 2-5 months.
Can you grow Venus flytraps from seeds?
You can also grow Venus flytraps from seeds. It’s easiest to buy these, but you could try harvesting them from seedpods if your plant has produced them. Use either a seed tray or a 4in pot if you are sowing a small pinch of seeds, says gardening expert Sean Lade. Fill the container with pure, unenriched peat moss mixed with perlite, Vladan says.
Can Venus flytraps be propagated through tissue culture?
Venus flytraps can be propagated through tissue culture by using seeds, leaves, or flower stalks. Tissue culture is the fastest way to produce a lot of plants. It is the preferred method of rapidly propagating genetically identical plants, such as Venus flytrap cultivars.
Do Venus flytraps need fertilization?
‘Venus flytraps grow in nutrient-poor environments,’ Vladan points out. Not only is fertilizing unnecessary, but it can also be harmful, since the extra nutrients can burn the roots and even kill the plants, he says.
Can Venus fly traps propagate clones?
Tissue culture allows rapid production of many identical clones. But it requires specialized sterile equipment and techniques best done in a lab. To maximize your propagation success with Venus fly traps: Take leaf/flower cuttings from only healthy, vigorous plants. Avoid flowering or stressed plants.
Do Venus flytraps weaken after repotting?
Venus flytraps weaken after repotting. Ensure the potting medium is always moist. It is possible to extract a Venus flytrap leaf attached to part of the rhizome and produce a new plant. This process is called leaf cuttings. The best time to pull leaf cuttings is during the spring or summer. Do not attempt this method during dormancy.