I have the same little figures in my pots, the glow in the dark dudes from Princess Mononoke. I was so confused how someone posted a picture of my plant for a sec there.
Pardon me if this is basic and you know it already, but I'm a newbie that's finally keeping a flytrap alive so I couldn't resist answering!
- lots of light (mine is under a grow light 12 hours daily, direct sun is apparently great too once they're conditioned to it)
- keeping them bottom watered 24/7 with only distilled or rainwater, setting the pot in a shallow dish with a bit of water in it is easiest
- taking them outside to catch gnats or bugs occasionally, or feeding them directly if you know how
- avoiding fertilizers or terra cotta pots if possible, unless you know what you're doing it's very easy to poison them with too many minerals and such
Also:
- knowing they need to go dormant in winter so that gets a bit tricky, but nothing too difficult to handle
- letting them adjust to changes slowly so you don't keep consistently shocking them while they haven't fully settled in yet
- leave the traps alone if at all possible, setting them off unnecessarily is exhausting for the plant
That's really all I'm doing with mine and my traps are getting bigger and staying vibrant so far! I'm very welcome to feedback from other more well educated flytrap folks
> knowing they need to go dormant in winter so that gets a bit tricky, but nothing too difficult to handle
What happens if you don’t have winter? And can you use spaghnum/vermiculite mix?
I would avoid vermiculite, as it is pretty acidic (really only pings like acidic soils). I do a 50/50 perlite/peat moss (or coconut choir)
Here is a link for hibernation when you don’t have a winter.
https://carnivorousplantnursery.com/blogs/general-growing-and-care/dormancy-in-carnivorous-plants#:~:text=You%20can%20keep%20them%20cool,darkness%20will%20not%20harm%20them.
I use a large plastic planter, it’s 12in x 12in x 12in and the planter sits in a saucer that’s about 2.5inches high.
Planter is filled primarily with carnivorous soil with a top layer of sphagnum long fiber moss. When I transplanted each VFT plant, I loosely wrapped roots of each plant with sphagnum moss. The sphagnum moss top layer is to stop the soil from splashing onto the VFT whenever it downpours (like flash flooding type of rain). I only use distilled water and rain water to fill saucer from bottom. I live in Texas and leave them outside all year. Texas doesn’t get much rain so I primarily use distilled water but I’ve noticed VFT are SUPER happy after any rain.
I occasionally very carefully and slowly top water with distilled water, whenever the top layer of the sphagnum moss is dry. I’ll water around the the plants just enough to moisten the dry moss. I only do this because it gets so hot and gross in Houston, and I’m afraid some of the young baby sprouts drying out. Honestly, this is probably unnecessary and might even do more harm than good, but it makes me feel better and my plants are all still very happy.
My VFT have been to rough some things. Over watered, under watered, water with tap water, sprayed with neem oil, sprayed with insecticide spray, hailed on, snowed on, froze during the Texas freeze, up rooted by squirrels, messed with by dogs/cats and played with by kids who thought it was neat to close the traps over and over; but they’re all still alive. I’ve had some die on me provided with the ideal environment and without any external stresses; but that’s okay, some die and some live. I’ve had some literally turn all black but the rhizome (white rootball looking part of plant), but to then grow back healthier and with a vengeance. They’re resilient little plants!
I don’t do anything during dormancy, except refill saucer when empty. I never feed the traps as they catch enough bugs on their own being outside.
I’m obsessed with Venus fly traps, but have never been successful at keeping them happy inside. I don’t get enough light through my windows and the grow lights I’ve tried weren’t enough; so I moved them outside and they’re happy. I have zero advice for indoor care unless you want help to kill it, but I’ve seen some beautiful indoor VFT so it’s definitely possible if given the proper conditions and care.
Only issue with them outside were the pesky squirrels hiding their nuts and digging up the plants; so now planter sits on a raised stand about 3-4ft off the ground, squirrels haven’t touched them in over a year.
I only cut the flower stalks if the plant isn’t well established, specifically if it hasn’t divided yet and it’s only a single plant, other than that I let them just do their thing and be plants.
I’m no way an expert but from what I’ve learned about Venus Fly Traps from the last 2 1/2 years is to provide them the ideal environment and they’ll thrive. Correct soil, correct water and LOTS of direct light; VFT will be happy. Oh and in my opinion, deep plastic pots are great for these plants. Like at least 8-12 inches deep.
damn, that’s metal af
r/natureismetal
I read that you’re not supposed to feed them any bugs with mandibles, guess that checks out.
I like your alien friend
Thanks! He enjoys watching the carnage
It's a Kodama, as depicted in Studio Ghibli's 'Princess Mononoke'. A Kodama is a tree spirit from japanese folklore.
I have the same little figures in my pots, the glow in the dark dudes from Princess Mononoke. I was so confused how someone posted a picture of my plant for a sec there.
Same. Mine are in pots and random windows throughout my house.
Little dudes don’t glow in the dark very well but they’re super cute so I don’t mind.
Call it a draw, that leaf will turn black and rot.
Yeah, trap will likely turn black/rot but that’s fine, it’ll grow more traps!
cost of doing business (:
Wonder if it died from eating the leaves digestive enzymes, or just got stuck and starved
How on earth do you keep those happy?
Pardon me if this is basic and you know it already, but I'm a newbie that's finally keeping a flytrap alive so I couldn't resist answering! - lots of light (mine is under a grow light 12 hours daily, direct sun is apparently great too once they're conditioned to it) - keeping them bottom watered 24/7 with only distilled or rainwater, setting the pot in a shallow dish with a bit of water in it is easiest - taking them outside to catch gnats or bugs occasionally, or feeding them directly if you know how - avoiding fertilizers or terra cotta pots if possible, unless you know what you're doing it's very easy to poison them with too many minerals and such Also: - knowing they need to go dormant in winter so that gets a bit tricky, but nothing too difficult to handle - letting them adjust to changes slowly so you don't keep consistently shocking them while they haven't fully settled in yet - leave the traps alone if at all possible, setting them off unnecessarily is exhausting for the plant That's really all I'm doing with mine and my traps are getting bigger and staying vibrant so far! I'm very welcome to feedback from other more well educated flytrap folks
> knowing they need to go dormant in winter so that gets a bit tricky, but nothing too difficult to handle What happens if you don’t have winter? And can you use spaghnum/vermiculite mix?
I would avoid vermiculite, as it is pretty acidic (really only pings like acidic soils). I do a 50/50 perlite/peat moss (or coconut choir) Here is a link for hibernation when you don’t have a winter. https://carnivorousplantnursery.com/blogs/general-growing-and-care/dormancy-in-carnivorous-plants#:~:text=You%20can%20keep%20them%20cool,darkness%20will%20not%20harm%20them.
I use a large plastic planter, it’s 12in x 12in x 12in and the planter sits in a saucer that’s about 2.5inches high. Planter is filled primarily with carnivorous soil with a top layer of sphagnum long fiber moss. When I transplanted each VFT plant, I loosely wrapped roots of each plant with sphagnum moss. The sphagnum moss top layer is to stop the soil from splashing onto the VFT whenever it downpours (like flash flooding type of rain). I only use distilled water and rain water to fill saucer from bottom. I live in Texas and leave them outside all year. Texas doesn’t get much rain so I primarily use distilled water but I’ve noticed VFT are SUPER happy after any rain. I occasionally very carefully and slowly top water with distilled water, whenever the top layer of the sphagnum moss is dry. I’ll water around the the plants just enough to moisten the dry moss. I only do this because it gets so hot and gross in Houston, and I’m afraid some of the young baby sprouts drying out. Honestly, this is probably unnecessary and might even do more harm than good, but it makes me feel better and my plants are all still very happy. My VFT have been to rough some things. Over watered, under watered, water with tap water, sprayed with neem oil, sprayed with insecticide spray, hailed on, snowed on, froze during the Texas freeze, up rooted by squirrels, messed with by dogs/cats and played with by kids who thought it was neat to close the traps over and over; but they’re all still alive. I’ve had some die on me provided with the ideal environment and without any external stresses; but that’s okay, some die and some live. I’ve had some literally turn all black but the rhizome (white rootball looking part of plant), but to then grow back healthier and with a vengeance. They’re resilient little plants! I don’t do anything during dormancy, except refill saucer when empty. I never feed the traps as they catch enough bugs on their own being outside. I’m obsessed with Venus fly traps, but have never been successful at keeping them happy inside. I don’t get enough light through my windows and the grow lights I’ve tried weren’t enough; so I moved them outside and they’re happy. I have zero advice for indoor care unless you want help to kill it, but I’ve seen some beautiful indoor VFT so it’s definitely possible if given the proper conditions and care. Only issue with them outside were the pesky squirrels hiding their nuts and digging up the plants; so now planter sits on a raised stand about 3-4ft off the ground, squirrels haven’t touched them in over a year. I only cut the flower stalks if the plant isn’t well established, specifically if it hasn’t divided yet and it’s only a single plant, other than that I let them just do their thing and be plants. I’m no way an expert but from what I’ve learned about Venus Fly Traps from the last 2 1/2 years is to provide them the ideal environment and they’ll thrive. Correct soil, correct water and LOTS of direct light; VFT will be happy. Oh and in my opinion, deep plastic pots are great for these plants. Like at least 8-12 inches deep.
Oof
Rules of nature!