One plant that is not seen too often in landscaped lawns is the Venus Fly Trap. This plant originated in the boggy areas of North and South Carolina. It grows in soil that is sandy, and high in acidity and moisture. The plant is nutrient deficient which allows it the ability to eat insects. Venus Fly Traps gets its food from the soil and by way of photosynthesis. The insects help supplement their need for nutrients. Because it can grow in sandy soil makes the plant one of the easiest to care for. Anywhere that the soil is sandy and moist, the fly trap can be grown. They are easy to care for also. Unlike most plants that may need some type of plant food for nourishment, the fly trap can obtain its own. It is simple to get started growing the fly trap.
- The first thing to do is to have a plastic pot with very good drainage. Put in a one to one ratio of sand, and a commercial peat moss.
- Use distilled, or rain water for watering them. Do not use water from the tap.
- Feed them small insects, and allow them to get at least 12 hours of direct sunlight.
- During their dormancy, give them less sunlight and water, and repot them as they continue to grow.
- Be sure to prune any dead fly traps, and the ones that look like they are dying. Do not let them produce flowers.
- People have a tendency to what to poke the fly trap, but avoid the temptation to poke them to see what they will do.
Enriched soils, compost, or regular potting soil should not be used for growing the Venus Fly Trap, neither should any other mosses be used except for the peat moss. Also be careful not to use the sphagnum moss because it holds excess amounts of water, and it has a neutral ph. Growing and caring for the Fly Trap requires that you use a horticultural sand, not sand that comes from the beach. Gravel can be used at the bottom to help with drainage. The soil in the pots should always be kept very damp at all times. You may just need to water them every three to four days. If you live in a dry, humid area, or if you are using large pots, you may need to water the Fly Traps every day. You may need to feel the lower layer of soil if you use large pots, or live in a hot area, because these conditions will have the peat moss dry and the rest of the layers will still be damp. If you are one who may forget to water, or just do not have the time, you may consider putting the pot into a tray to hold in the water.
Venus Fly Traps will grow better during the hot summer months than in colder weather. Many lawn management personnel may not be aware of the ideal environment for a Fly Trap. They need daylight temperatures above 70 degrees, and nighttime temperature no less than 55 degrees. During the winter months, the Venus Fly Trap will do great in a terrarium. Knowing these facts will make lawn care much easier if the Fly Trap is expected to be a lawn plant. It has a high sensitivity to all chemicals and minerals. This is the reason that distilled water, or rainwater, is used when watering. This carnivorous plant has leaves that are hinged which gives it the ability to open and close.