Question
QUESTION: Hey guys, Jason from AZ here. I'm curious about the growth of some of my fly traps. Specificly the ones I have outside. Some of the traps form with teeth and some very little teeth. Do these plants do that just as part of their nature?
Thanks, Jason

ANSWER: Hi Jason,

This could just be some natural mutations.  I've seen plenty of weird traps form on Venus flytraps.  Is the plant healthy looking overall?  Do you have a photo of it?

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com

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Fly Trap no teeth   QUESTION: Hey Jeff, yes the plant is healthy. New growth is always coming up. I did however spray it with the bayer rose product about a month ago pretty heavely. Here is the pic.

ANSWER: Hi Jason,

This plant is pretty crazy looking.  It looks like you may have an actual variant here.  It looks like a Dente that stays yellow with short teeth.  Does this plant always grow this way?  Plants like this (if the mutation is consistent) are big stuff these days for nurseries that like propagating odd forms.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com

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QUESTION: Hey Jeff, well last year the plant was in my green house and did not do this. It had tall leaves with normal looking traps. This is its first season out side here. Some traps that form now have teeth and others don't?? I have a bee issue because they are drinking the water in the trays. I would wonder if the bees might have bitten the forming leaves and that causes some to do this?? I have found bite marks on the edges of some leaves but there are no sign of snails or slugs. Hmmmmm

Answer
Hi Jason,

It must be environmental then.  It could be the high temperatures.  I've seen our flytraps take on a similar appearance during bouts of hot dry weather, but not as extreme.  Try doing lots of top watering of the pots to see if anything changes.  I don't think the insects would have caused anything like this.  It is possible the insecticide had some affect.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com