Basics

Carnivorous Plant Seed Sowing Tips

Seed Storage: Store seeds in a dry, sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator until you’re ready to sow them. Germination rates decline over time, but well-stored seeds can last a long time. Most Drosera, Drosophyllum, and Byblis seeds can remain viable for years, even decades. Sarracenia and Darlingtonia seeds can be stored for at least a few years, while Pinguicula and Utricularia have a shorter shelf life. Nepenthes seeds don’t store well and should be sown as soon as possible. Stratification: Many temperate...

September 6, 2024By BasicsComments OffRead more...

USDA Zone Chart

If you're growing cold hardy carnivorous plants, the USDA Hardiness Zone Chart is useful to determine the type of winter protection you will need to provide for your plants. Each zone is based on the average lowest recorded temperatures in a given region. The lower the number, the colder the winters.

July 30, 2023By Basics0 CommentsRead more...

Fun facts about the Venus Flytrap

There are several strange but true Venus Flytrap facts that are worth telling. The Venus Flytrap plant, unlike most plants, actively seeks insects, not to pollinate, but to feed on! You see, Venus Flytrap plants grow in soils that are poor in nutrients. And Venus Flytraps catch insects and digest them for the nutrients that they cannot get from soil. Here are a few interesting facts about Venus Flytraps: Venus Flytrap plants are not tropical plants. Venus Flytrap plants are native to North America. The...

May 10, 2021By Basics, Venus Flytraps0 CommentsRead more...

Growing Venus Flytraps from seeds

Growing a Venus Flytrap from Venus Flytrap seeds is not for the beginner. Although many North American plants can be easily grown and cultivated from seeds, the Venus Flytrap plant is a little more difficult. The Venus Flytrap produces a small white flower in the spring, typically in April through May. The flower produces small seeds that can be used to grow new Venus Flytrap plants. So Venus Flytrap seeds are usually available at pretty good prices in June and July. Remember that...

May 10, 2021By Basics, Venus Flytraps0 CommentsRead more...

All about the Venus Flytrap

Venus Flytraps are rather unique and unusual. They are unique in that they grow in soils and conditions that most plants would find difficult - wet, acidic soils with poor nutrients. Venus Flytraps are unusual in that they are able to live in poor nutrient soils by capturing and digesting insects, and using the nutrients from insects to make up for the poor soils. There are many varieties of insect eating or carnivorous plants in the world. But most of the carnivorous...

May 10, 2021By Basics, Venus Flytraps0 CommentsRead more...

How to feed Your Venus Flytrap

There has been a fair amount of confusion among gardeners about Venus Flytrap feeding, and what is the proper way to make sure your plant gets the nutrition it needs.  But the answer to proper feeding of your Venus Flytrap may surprise you. First, before we discuss ways to feed your Venus Flytrap plant, let us first take a look at the native habitat of this fascinating plant, and what it can tell us about how the plant feeds itself.  The...

May 10, 2021By Basics, Venus Flytraps0 CommentsRead more...

Venus Flytrap soil and potting techniques

Can’t find the proper ingredients to mix your own soil? Buy Venus flytrap potting soil or New Zealand Long Fiber Sphagnum. It is very important to use nutrient-poor soil to grow Venus Flytraps.  Regular potting soil or enriched soil will burn the roots and kill your Venus flytrap very quickly.  We do not recommend fertilizing Venus flytraps.  The fertilizer can burn the roots and likely kill the plant. Some expert growers use extremely diluted fertilizer. In most cases, fertilizer is applied only to the leaves of the...

May 5, 2021By Basics, Venus Flytraps0 CommentsRead more...