For a plant, the carnivorous plant has a very special taste. Here you can find out everything you need to know about feeding the Venus flytrap.
The special attraction in keeping a carnivorous plant like that Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) lies in being able to watch them catch their prey. If you haven't seen an insect for a long time, you tend to go hunting yourself and feed your Venus flytrap. But the carnivorous plant is picky and cannot tolerate every well-intentioned prey. We will explain to you whether you should feed your fly trap and, if so, what you should be aware of.
Venus Flytrap: Do You Need To Feed It?
The Venus flytrap is characterized by a rather low appetite. In most cases she can manage without your help and is adequately supplied with nutrients. However, feeding is not harmful as long as a few things are observed.
Feed the Venus Flytrap: Suitable food
Feeding a carnivorous plant like the Venus flytrap is an attraction for young and old. If you observe the following 3 tips, nothing should stand in the way of successful predator feeding.
1. Feed live prey
It is important that you feed live insects. The movement of the living insect within the closed catch leaves provides a stimulating effect Stimulus that ensures the gradual secretion of digestive enzymes that kill the prey and then decompose. If you were to feed a dead insect or even a small piece of meat, this stimulus would not take place and the trap door would open again after a while. This costs your Venus flytrap a lot of energy and reduces the number of possible closings per catch leaf.
2. It's all about the right size
So that the Venus flytrap can use its prey effectively, it must be the right size. Insects that are too small can flee because the catch leaves do not close flush. Insects that are too large often manage to fight their way freely or perish in a trap without being able to be completely decomposed. The “putrefaction” of the insect's body can lead to the formation of molds and bacteria, which can severely weaken and even kill your Venus flytrap. As a rule of thumb, the prey should be about a third the size of the catch leaves for effective digestion.
3. Do not feed too often
You can safely feed your Venus flytrap with one insect every four to five days, but you shouldn't do this much more often. Natural catches can also occur between feedings, which also ensure high nutrient input. If you overdo it with the feeding frequency, it can lead to excess nutrients in the plant and thus to overgrowth. In addition, the plant becomes more susceptible to disease because it develops fleshy tissues. So stick to the principle: less is more.
Tip: It is completely understandable that one is curious about what happens when one holds a finger in the trap. You are welcome to pursue your research instinct, but it is best to leave it at one try, otherwise you will only weaken your Venus flytrap unnecessarily.
Venus Flytrap: Further Care
The greatest unique selling point of the Venus flytrap is its carnivorous diet. But other aspects of their care requirements also clearly set the Venus flytrap apart from conventional houseplants. She likes a permanently moist plant medium, although she also tolerates waterlogging. The Venus flytrap can usually do without fertilization completely. We explain these and other special features in our Special items for proper care and Propagation of the Venus Flytrap.
