In the garden centre there is one plant that captivates children more than any other plant and that is the Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula). They are an interesting looking, carnivorous plant that eats bugs which is what children of all ages (including adults) are fascinated by. In our climate they are an indoor plant but in southeastern United States they can be found growing outdoors in marshes and bogs.

When you look at a Venus Fly trap plant with open leaves, you will notice that the leaves consist of two lobes that are hinged. Each lobe has jaws or teeth on the outer edges that lace together. The flat inside surface of each lobe is slightly pink and has tiny little hairs on it. These hairs are sensitive to touch and when something such as an insect touches the hairs, the two lobes will quickly snap shut to trap in, whatever touched it. If it is something that the plant will eat the lobes will remain shut and the jaws will close in preventing anything from escaping. If it is something that the plant does not want to eat, or the insect has escaped, or someone touched the hairs, the lobes will open up again in a day or two. Touching the leaves to set the trap will eventually kill the plant so do not play with it. When the plant has been successful in finding dinner the lobes will remain closed for several days as the plant digests the insect.

Venus Fly traps are not hard to care for if they are given the correct growing conditions. You want to mimic their natural growing conditions. They enjoy a moist, nutrient poor, soil, that is slightly acidic which is why they are grown in sphagnum moss or peat moss as these hold lots of water. Do not give them fertilizer as this will kill them. Venus Fly traps get their needed nutrients through the insects they eat. Keep the growing medium moist but not soggy as Venus Fly traps are used to growing in bogs. Do not let them dry out, but don’t keep them too wet as this will cause the roots to rot. When giving them water, use rain water or distilled water. They need lots of light, but keep them out of the hot direct sun. They enjoy warm temperatures and a high humidity when they are actively growing. Placing the plant in a terrarium works well.

The plant can go into dormancy over the winter. Keep the plant in a cooler location and remove the leaves as they turn black. New leaves will appear in the early spring.

A Venus Fly trap will eat insects that are small enough to fit comfortably inside the trap. The leaves of the plant have a way of attracting the bugs with a sweet smelling nectar. Do not feed the plant dead bugs or raw meat. A plant does not need a lot of insects, 2-3 per month. If you want to feed the plant use live insects as this will set off the trap. 

– Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George:\

• Highway 16 West at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road