Growing a venus flytrap requires providing it with the right conditions to thrive. An often overlooked but critical aspect of flytrap care is selecting the optimal pot. Choosing the wrong container can harm or even kill your plant. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about picking the ideal pots for your venus flytraps.
Pot Material
The most suitable pot materials for venus flytraps are plastic, glazed ceramic, resin, and styrofoam These provide insulation from temperature extremes and do not leach any harmful minerals into the soil.
You should avoid unglazed terracotta, concrete, clay, and metal pots. Over time, these can release minerals into the soil that will accumulate and burn the sensitive flytrap’s roots. Signs of mineral toxicity include blackened or yellowing leaves.
Glass is acceptable as it won’t add any elements to the soil, but it lacks insulation properties that help buffer temps.
Pot Size
Match the size of the pot to the size of your plant for optimal growth.
-
For a single adult venus flytrap, choose a 4 to 6 inch diameter pot that’s at least 4 inches deep.
-
Smaller juvenile plants can thrive in 2 to 3 inch pots
-
If growing multiple plants together, use at least a 6 inch diameter container.
Having a pot that’s too small will restrict root and plant development.
Drainage
Proper drainage is imperative. Venus flytraps need a consistently moist environment, but poor drainage leading to soggy soil will rot the roots.
Always select a pot with multiple drainage holes in the bottom. This enables watering from the bottom tray and prevents soil from getting waterlogged.
Color
Pot color is not critical, but lighter colors can help with insulation in hot outdoor conditions. For example, white pots are great for flytraps grown in full sun.
Airflow
Avoid any enclosed containers like terrariums or domes. Venus flytraps need airflow and will quickly rot in soggy, stagnant conditions.
Additional Tips
-
Use saucers or trays under the pots to provide water. Avoid materials like terra cotta that can leach minerals.
-
Soil matters! Use a peat and perlite or peat and sand mixture. Avoid regular potting mix, compost or fertilizers.
-
Repot plants each year in fresh soil to flush out any accumulated minerals.
-
When repotting, ensure the rhizome is buried but new growth and traps are above the soil line.
By following these guidelines on pot selection, your venus flytraps will thrive. Pay close attention to material, sizing, drainage and airflow. With the right pot, your flytraps will flourish for years to come!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/venus-fly-trap-plant-profile-4688605-5-77c865f45e094739a592d2eca8824c3d.jpg)
Everything you need to know about pots for your Venus Flytraps!
Venus flytraps are small plants, growing to about 5″ tall or wide at maturity. Thus, they don’t need pots that are very wide, but depth is helpful.
Deeper pots allow for root growth. Root growth is helpful for the Venus flytrap because longer, thicker roots help the plant wick up available water. Roots also help flytraps appropriate nutrients from the growing medium (soil). With deeper pots and tray-watering the plant is forced to grow longer roots in order to reach the water.
This encouragement of root growth is the same reason expert growers use the technique of watering their Venus Flytraps, then waiting until the growing medium has lost much of its moisture, before watering again. Watering in this way, the Venus flytrap is forced to grow longer thicker roots. It will actively send roots down as it chases the water to the bottom of the pot. If the Venus Flytrap is left constantly sitting in water, there is no motivation to grow longer thicker roots because water is easily and readily accessible at all times.
It’s sort of like a military boot camp where you’re forcing your Venus Flytrap to get tough and strong, by not pampering it too much. Of course you never want your Venus Flytrap growing medium to go entirely dry, but making it work for its water results in a stronger tougher plant.
The type of pot then that you choose for your Venus Flytrap can encourage or discourage root growth. A minimum of 4″ in depth is necessary so that the rhizome or “bulb” of the plant doesn’t get too much water. And 4″ of roots is sufficient to get a fairly large specimen because the roots can develop at least somewhat.
Any height taller than that minimum is optimal. Venus Flytrap roots can grow to around 12″ or so with some variation. So a pot that is slightly taller than that forces the roots to really bulk up and lengthen. If you see roots from Venus flytraps that have been in taller pots and have not been overwatered, they’re incredibly thick and long, like Venus Flytrap dreadlocks!
For the width of the pot, more space is helpful in terms of insulation. The more soil that is in the pot, the more the rhizome of the Venus Flytrap is insulated from extreme heat and cold. Venus flytraps are great in temperatures between about 40-95F but can get overheated or freeze in extreme temperatures.
Venus Flytraps, especially those with larger rhizomes, more mature and older, can actually survive a frost/freeze or two. However, they’ll likely lose their foliage up top until the growing season starts again in Spring. The more growing medium that surrounds the rhizome, the more insulated it will be against extreme conditions. This means that the cold and heat and less likely to reach the rhizome at their full intensity. This protection from extreme temperatures is very beneficial.
Growing medium for Venus flytraps can add up in cost though. So really realistically, you need only 2 inches or so around each side of the rhizome and 6 inches outwards of the rhizome in each direction. This provides really nice insulation. In the most extreme of temperatures, of course, all the insulation in the world won’t keep the plant from freezing. So there is a point where you bring the flytrap inside of course.
In terms of pot/container types, again look for insulation. So glass is definitely out because it magnifies the heat/cold coming at it. Ceramic is not great either. Plastic is fine, especially thick plastic. Fiberglass is great, especially thicker fiberglass. Whatever the type of pot, be sure to consider the insulation. Especially as related to the extremes of weather where you live with your Flytraps.
It’s not a big deal, actually, the insulation thing, because most growing locations don’t have extreme temperatures most of the year. But to be safe, it’s good to prepare for extremities. Thus, pot your Venus Flytrap in a pot with good insulation and good space for growing medium. The added insulation will protect it from unexpected or temporary extreme weather conditions.
In terms of the growing medium for the pot, and calculations for insulation possibility, you’ll want to keep in mind that although a peat moss type of growing medium doesn’t encourage the growth and transplant recovery like premium long-fibered sphagnum moss does, it does insulate a little bit better.
So your calculations will involve:
- temperature extremes in your area,
- insulation of your pot, and
- insulation of your growing medium.
You can decide based on these factors what type of pot you will choose.
If all of this seems complicated, please know it’s actually not, we’re just going into depth because we’re trying to cover all the details. But it’s really not terribly complicated. Just check on your flytrap by feeling the outside of the pot. If it feels uncomfortable to you then it’s uncomfortable for your Venus Flytrap, too, either too hot or too cold. Adjust accordingly.
The great-case scenario is one of those taller white Styrofoam cups. They insulate great, they’re white so they reflect some of the heat back outward, and they’re cheap. Of course, they are terrible for the environment. But honestly, it’s a decent and easy option to serve as your Venus Flytrap pot.
The Complete Venus Fly Trap Care Guide
FAQ
What kind of pot does a Venus flytrap need?
Typically, you should re-pot your venus fly trap into the correct soil and a 4 or 5 inch pot.
Can a Venus flytrap live in a pot?
Small to medium-sized Venus Flytraps will grow well in a 3″ pot, but large or extra-large plants will need a 4″ or 6″ pot.
How do you take care of a potted Venus flytrap?
They are a swamp plant, so warm & wet. Never ever let it dry out. They like light, but indirect is best. They will burn with prolonged direct light. Do not trip the traps unnecessarily. It takes a fair bit of energy and can promote die off. Only feed it one little bug every month-ish. Distilled water only.