For many gardeners, the first plant they were given to grow and care for as a child was a Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula). This fun plant is carnivorous and catches flies, much to the amusement of anyone lucky enough to see it in action. Native to North and South Carolina, Venus fly trap is named after the Roman goddess of love, Venus, due to its beautiful white flowers. The species name of muscipula (Latin for mousetrap) is thought to refer to the plants resemblance to a mouse trap.
The catching parts, or traps of a Venus fly trap are actually modified leaves, consisting of two, flat toothed leaves connected by a hinge. Inside the trap is nectar, which lures insects to their death – once the insect has made contact with one of the hairs within the trap it closes, trapping its prey inside. Once closed, enzymes within the trap digest the insect, which can take up to 10 days. When digestion is complete, the trap reopens.
Most Venus fly traps are grown as house plants, where their insect trapping actions can be observed up close. Many people, particularly children, push their finger into the traps or try to force them shut to see them in action – while this is tempting and completely harmless to you, this does waste the plants energy and should be avoided.
Venus flytraps are incredibly unique and fascinating carnivorous plants but they can be tricky to keep alive. Their specialized needs mean that Venus flytraps often die from improper care.
The good news is that with a few simple changes, you can revive a dying Venus flytrap and nurse it back to health. In this article, I’ll go over the most common causes of Venus flytraps dying and give you step-by-step instructions on how to save your plant.
Why Your Venus Flytrap is Dying
Venus flytraps have adapted to live in nutrient-poor environments and require specific conditions to thrive, Here are some of the most common reasons Venus flytraps decline
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Incorrect soil – Venus flytraps need low-nutrient, acidic soil. Regular potting mix will kill them.
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Tap water – Tap water contains minerals and chemicals that harm Venus flytraps. They need pure water like distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water.
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Lack of light – Venus flytraps require at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day. Insufficient light leads to all-green traps and drooping.
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Incorrect watering – Too much or too little water causes leaves to turn yellow and traps to droop.
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Low humidity – Venus flytraps thrive in humidity above 50%. Low humidity causes traps to turn green and droop.
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Pests or diseases – Venus flytraps are prone to aphids, fungus gnats, mold and root rot.
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Winter dormancy – Venus flytraps naturally die back in winter. This is normal seasonal behavior, not a sign of a dying plant.
7 Steps to Revive Your Venus Flytrap
If your Venus flytrap is struggling, don’t give up hope! Follow these steps to get it back to health:
1. Repot in Proper Soil
Get your Venus flytrap into an acidic, nutrient-poor soil as soon as possible. A good mix is 2 parts peat moss or sphagnum moss to 1 part perlite or sand. Or use a specialty Carnivorous Plant Soil Mix.
2. Water with Pure Water
Always use distilled, reverse osmosis, or rainwater. Never tap water, which will kill Venus flytraps. Flushing the soil with pure water monthly helps remove any built-up minerals.
3. Increase Light Exposure
Venus flytraps need at least 4 hours of direct sun daily. Acclimate the plant gradually if moving it from lower light conditions. Supplement natural sunlight with grow lights if needed.
4. Optimize Watering Frequency
Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Let the top inch dry out between waterings. Water from below to avoid wet leaves. Reduce watering in winter during dormancy.
5. Boost Humidity
Venus flytraps like 50-70% humidity. Increase humidity by misting the plant, using a pebble tray, or placing it in a terrarium. Avoid dry heat sources like forced air that lower humidity.
6. Inspect for Pests and Disease
Check for common pests like fungus gnats, aphids, and mites. Treat any infestations immediately. Also watch for mold, fungus, and root rot from overly wet soil.
7. Be Patient!
It takes time for stressed Venus flytraps to recover. Focus on dialing in proper care and wait for new healthy traps to emerge. Avoid repotting or fertilizing while it recovers.
Common Questions About Reviving Venus Flytraps
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about bringing Venus flytraps back from the brink:
Why is my Venus flytrap turning black?
Don’t panic if traps or leaves turn black – this is normal! Traps naturally die off every few months. Clip off dead traps to make room for new ones. Venus flytraps also die back entirely in winter dormancy.
Should I cut off flower stalks?
Yes, clipping flower stalks preserves the plant’s energy so snip them off. Flowers are pretty but very taxing for Venus flytraps to produce.
How often do I feed my Venus flytrap?
Healthy Venus flytraps catch their own food. You can supplement feed 1-2 live insects per month for indoor plants. Avoid feeding if your plant is stressed or dying.
Why won’t my traps close anymore?
Traps can only close a limited number of times before they stop working. Let new traps develop and avoid unnecessary closings by touching or manually feeding the plant.
How long does it take to revive a Venus flytrap?
Have patience! It can take weeks or months to see signs of recovery. Focus on adjusting care to meet its needs. In time, with proper conditions, it will rebound.
Final Tips for Keeping Your Venus Flytrap Alive
Follow this Venus flytrap first aid, and there’s an excellent chance you can nurse your plant back to health. Here are a few final reminders:
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Mimic the plant’s natural bog-like habitat – bright light, high humidity, moist acidic soil.
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Quarantine new plants before introducing to others to prevent disease spread.
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Avoid repotting or fertilizing while recovering. Wait for signs of new growth first.
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Acclimate plants slowly to any changes in sun exposure, humidity, or temperature.
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Be vigilant about pests like fungus gnats that easily infest stressed plants.
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Have realistic expectations – Venus flytraps grow slowly and success is measured in months.
Where to grow Venus fly trap
Grow your Venus fly trap on a sunny windowsill where it will get plenty of bright, direct sunlight. In summer you can move it outside, but make sure you bring it in again in autumn.
How to propagate Venus fly trap
Propagate by division in spring. Look for offshoots that develop from the base of the plant, and remove these with a sharp knife, taking care to ensure they have a good clump of roots still attached. Then pot them up into fresh acidic peat-free compost, ensuring they stay moist until established.
Venus fly trap is rarely troubled by pests, although aphids and fungus gnats occasionally turn up. You can gently remove aphids using tweezers. For fungus gnats, use sticky traps or buy a sundew plant, which is also carnivorous and will quickly eat them up.