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venus fly trap
i recently got a venus fly trap and need some help as i know close to nothing for caring for it.
i live in northern new jersey and because it's winter now, it's very cold and windy outside. i am aware that the traps should be kept outside where it gets a lot of sun, but it came in a small glass container with the soil and i'm afraid it will get hurt from the wind and lack of humidity.
if have experience in this and you can answer any of the following questions, please do.
1. should i leave it outside in the cold and wind? there is no humidity outside at all.
2. does it still need a dormant period for this winter? i just set it up today.
3. am i expected to move the soil and venus fly trap to a container with holes on the bottom so it can soak in water? (it came in a small glass container)
4. i know that one should only feed it distilled water and insects a few times a month, and it needs 14 hours of sunlight (... that doesn't happen around here ... what should i do?).. but what else is there?
5. should i leave it outside during the day and bring it inside under a fluorescent lamp in the evening? if i were to do that, how would i prevent the small glass container from tipping over from the wind?
6. i don't understand the dormant period... how do you know when it's ready to be dormant?
i am SO worried it'll die. this is day one and i've already made a few mistakes. somebody help me!
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Personally, I have never cared for a venus fly trap. I have, however, looked up online some of your basic care questions for venus fly traps. I couldn't imagine anyone being able to say it better than the sources below, as a multitude of procedures are covered.
The information below, unless otherwise specified, is from: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
"Care: Venus' Fly Traps are perennials that form bulbs. They are winter hardy from about Maryland, southward. If you plan on growing the plant outdoors in this region [Maryland, southward], sink the pot or container in the ground to help prevent rapid temperature fluctuations. A winter layer of pine needle mulch, three inches deep, may help in areas that are borderline for hardiness. North of zone 7, keep the flytraps protected from deep freeze during the winter. A cool window, garage, root cellar, or basement can work. Winter storage temperatures should range from about 30-50F. This cold rest will satisfy the plant's need to go dormant or "sleep" through the winter. Leaves may die back during winter dormancy. Though awkward terrarium plants, due to light and dormancy requirements; it is possible to grow them in a terrarium if the plants are kept 4-7 inches from fluorescent lights (see terrarium page in web site for details on lighting), and cold dormancy temperatures are provided. Do not freeze terrariums or the glass may break!
Sun - From early spring through late fall, Venus' Fly Traps should get between full sun and 50% shade. Provide more shade during very warm months and more sun in spring and fall. Long spindly leaves are a sign of not enough light. A healthy plant will have some red or pink color in the mature traps. Dark red forms, such as "Akai Ryu", need stronger sun to develop best color. Add sunlight slowly, over the course of a few days, to prevent sunburn. In bog gardens, flytraps thrive near tall pitcher plants that can provide some shading. Often, Flytraps will thrive in constant full sun. Artificial light can work, as long as it's very bright and not too hot, e.g. 4-7 inches below fluorescent plant lights.
Moisture - Keep moist and in a relatively humid environment. Periodic flooding is a good idea, but be sure to provide drainage. Flytraps do not thrive in constantly flooded or stagnant conditions. In terrariums, flood the container, then siphon off the excess water.Place the siphon as close as possible to the container bottom while draining. This helps prevent salt buildup and stagnation. If you are growing in a pot, use a plastic pot with drain holes. Most water sources are OK. If your water is especially full of minerals, salty or basic, use rain or distilled water.
Temperature - Grow at temperatures between 45-98 degrees F. Provide ventilation in terrariums or plants will cook in hot sun! See "Care" for winter temperature preferences.
Soil - We use about 1/3 clean sand + 2/3 Peat Moss. A 50/50 blend of Peat Moss and sand also works well, but will dry out quicker. Some growers use pure peat moss with no sand. Do not use potting soil, Michigan peat or soil-enriching additives. Flytraps like acidic, poor soils that don't stay waterlogged. There is evidence that Venus' Fly Traps grow better if they are repotted in fresh peat/peat mix every year or two. This is probably due to the fact that older media gets leached of nutrients and also becomes less acidic.
Trimming - When flytraps begin spring growth, they send up a flower stalk. Most growers cut this off to enhance trap formation. If not removed, small white flowers will appear and may form tiny, black seeds. Flytraps treated in this manner tend to grow slower and may weaken until the seed is mature. Dead leaves or traps can be trimmed off and are normal.
Repotting - This is needed when the plant appears crowded, dries out too quickly or has divided into two or more plants. Early spring is the best time to replant, but flytraps can be moved around anytime freezing is not a threat. Use the above soil mix and water well after repotting.Do not fertilize flytraps! With simple care, flytraps can live many years."
Here is also a good source for information about caring for venus fly traps (the information below has been taken from such source unless otherwise specified): [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
In regards to dormancy:
"All Venus Flytrap must have a period of dormancy each year of 3-5 months.
If your Fly trap is an outside plant and your climate is right, you can allow it to experience a seasonal dormancy. In the fall it will slow growth and then begin to show blackening on the traps and leaves. Reduce the water and prune the plant where it blackens. In the spring, when it shows signs of growth, resume normal watering.
Most of us will be growing our Flytrap indoors and will have to force it to go into dormancy. Do this around November or December. There are a couple of methods you can use, based on your climate.
1. Put the FlyTrap, pot and all in a garage or storage are where it will receive very low light and cold but not freezing temperatures. Check on it occasionally and trim off any blackened leaves and traps but don't bring it into warmth. Water very lightly, it will rot if it gets too much water during dormancy. After 3-4 months, bring it back to the house, repot if necessary, and start watering normally. After a couple of weeks you should see new growth.
2. Remove the Fly trap from it's pot/terrarium shake off the excess soil and carefully trim all but the shortest leaves and traps. Trim them back almost to the bulb and then sprinkle with a little fungicide power. Wrap them in damp sphagnum moss, seal in a plastic bag. Put them in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 months. Check on them occasionally to make sure they haven't dried out and you don't see any mold or rotting. If so, trim it off, sprinkle on a little more fungicide and replace in the bag. Around March or April you can bring them out, replant in fresh medium, water normally and place them in a warm, bright location. After a couple of weeks you should see new growth.
If you purchased a healthy, growing flytrap in the winter, then you probably have one that was in forced dormancy during the summer. In this case your new flytrap won't need a dormancy period until the following winter."
If you are still in need of information or viewable sources then please check out the list of very informational videos that have been uploaded to ExpertVillage on the care of Venus Fly Traps:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
I hope the above sources will help you solve your problems. It appears that they can be fairly easy to kill if you do not follow some guidelines, such as allowing them a dormacy period. Read as much information as you can on them and I'm sure things will go well with the little guy.
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