Venus flytrap
Dionaea muscipula
Also known as: Venus fly trap, flytrap, meadow clams
How do you care for a Venus flytrap?
Light: Full sun to partial shade. Missouri Botanical Garden notes it often does not grow well as an ordinary houseplant; a sunny patio or a terrarium suits it better. Water: Never let the mix dry out. Use rainwater, distilled water or reverse osmosis water; treated or hard water can kill the plant. It is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
About Venus flytrap
Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous perennial in the sundew family, native only to coastal North Carolina and a small area of northeastern South Carolina. Each leaf ends in a hinged trap that snaps shut when an insect touches two of its six trigger hairs. NC State Extension recommends full sun to partial shade, high humidity, a constantly wet sandy or peat-based mix and no fertilizer, watered with rainwater or distilled water because chlorinated or hard tap water can kill it. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Venus flytrap quick facts
- Botanical name
- Dionaea muscipula
- Family
- Droseraceae (sundew family)
- Native to
- Coastal North Carolina and a small area of northeastern South Carolina
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade. Missouri Botanical Garden notes it often does not grow well as an ordinary houseplant; a sunny patio or a terrarium suits it better.
- Water
- Never let the mix dry out. Use rainwater, distilled water or reverse osmosis water; treated or hard water can kill the plant.
- Soil
- Whole-fiber sphagnum moss, or equal parts peat moss and coarse vermiculite or sharp sand. Do not fertilize.
- Dormancy
- Needs a winter rest, usually triggered in fall as temperatures drop below 10 °C (50 °F). Pots brought indoors can winter in a sunny, cool spot at 4–10 °C (40–50 °F).
- Size
- 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall, with leaves 5–13 cm (2–5 in) long in a rosette of up to 8.
- Wild plants
- NC State Extension describes it as an endangered species that cannot legally be collected from the wild. Buy nursery-propagated plants.
- Cats and dogs
- Non-toxic. The ASPCA lists Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) as non-toxic to dogs and cats. Source: ASPCA
Sources: NC State Extension: Dionaea muscipula; Missouri Botanical Garden: Dionaea muscipula; ASPCA: Venus Fly Trap
Venus Flytrap care at a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect. Wants bright, indirect light — sensitive to both extremes. Too much direct sun causes burns, too little causes stretching. Grow lights: Thrives under artificial grow lights (LED or fluorescent, 10-12 hours/day). A great option if your space lacks natural light.
- Watering
- Let the soil dry out significantly between waterings — this plant is very sensitive to overwatering. When in doubt, wait another day.
- Humidity
- Not fussy about humidity. Handles average indoor conditions without issue.
- Temperature
- Prefers moderate temperatures (60-80°F). Keep away from radiators and intense afternoon sun windows.
- Soil
- Standard well-draining potting mix works well. Add perlite for extra drainage if you tend to overwater.
- Pets
- The ASPCA lists Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) as non-toxic to dogs and cats.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Common Venus flytrap problems, answered
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Venus Flytrap Traps Not Closing: Causes and Fixes
A Venus flytrap trap that will not close has usually been touched only once, closed recently, been triggered too often, or grown in too little light. Dormancy, mineral-laden water and dry media weaken the whole plant and show up in the traps.
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Venus Flytrap Light Requirements: Sun, Windows and LEDs
Venus flytraps need full sun to light shade, which indoors means several hours of direct sun in a south- or west-facing window or strong artificial light for 12 to 14 hours a day. Poor light produces weak, straggly traps that do not work properly.
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Does a Venus Flytrap Need Distilled Water? Safe Water Options
Yes, a Venus flytrap needs mineral-free water. NC State Extension warns that chlorinated or hard tap water can kill it. Rainwater, distilled, reverse osmosis or deionized water are the safe choices.
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Venus Flytrap Dormancy: Temperature, Length and Care
A Venus flytrap is a temperate plant that rests each winter. Shortening days trigger dormancy, leaves blacken and die back, and the rhizome survives underground. NC State Extension recommends at least 10 weeks at 2–10 °C (35–50 °F).
Questions about Venus flytrap
Is Venus flytrap toxic to cats and dogs?
The ASPCA lists Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) as non-toxic to dogs and cats.
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