Question
HELP!  My beloved venus flytrap's stems are beginning to turn black - between the trap and the soil.  I only use "RO" water and water from the top of the pot trying not to water the plant itself
when the soil seems to be less wet.  Am I suppose to keep the pot in a bowl with water so it absorbs from the bottom and then the soil is very soggy????
I appreciate your assistance.

Answer
Venus Flytraps should be grown moist, not wet all the time, in order to avoid rot and to be their healthiest and happiest.

Older leaves naturally turn black and die, usually starting from the trap or the upper margins of the flare of the petiole (the stem that the traps are attached to), so the first thing to do would be to determine whether it is only the older, outer leaves that are blackening and possibly dying. If so, and the leaves in the center of the rosette (the center of the growing crown) are green and healthy, then the plant is probably OK and may simply be entering their winter dormancy.

Regarding watering, it is good, if there is not much fresh air movement and the humidity is high, to water from the top, avoiding the plant itself if possible, and allow the excess water to drain from the bottom, then discard the drained water. Reverse osmosis water is fine, if the RO membrane is still effective and the TDS (total dissolved solids) in the water is still under 50 parts per million. Watering from below (by standing the planter in a bowl or tray of water) is also fine if the bowl or tray is removed after water has been absorbed by the growing medium (in 20 minutes to an hour or two).

Try to let the growing medium dry to just moist before watering again. A larger, deeper planter may be better (Venus Flytraps like to have at least 4-6 inches depth of growing medium for their roots).

It would be very helpful to see a photo of your plant. Please consider posting a photo along with your questions at an online forum such as the FlytrapCare Forum.

FlytrapCare Forum
http://www.FlytrapCare.com/phpBB3/

Grow Venus Flytraps "moist, not wet" :-)