Question
QUESTION: Hey guys, got a couple of questions for you. Most of my flytraps are
producing a flower stalk. I've noticed that maybe 4 of them not only have one
growing already but they have a second one coming in. So basically, these
four have 2 flowers stalks coming out. Should i be worried? Should i cut one
off? Should i just let them grow? I know it's not two different flytraps
producing the flowers because they're right next to each other.
This is my first attempt at growing Sarracenia from seed and i can see that
maybe 10 are already emerging. Should i just keep growing them along my
other Sarracenia as I'm doing now or should they have special treatment?

ANSWER: Hi Manny,

In order to answer your question properly, we first have to address the current growing condition.  Since you didn't specifically provide that information, I can't really comment on it.  For now, I'm including an article that I wrote for our newsletter.  It addresses the issue of flytrap flowers.

After reading the article, visit our website and read our care sheet for flytraps:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

Also watch our video podcasts for monthly updates about carnivorous plant care:
http://www.cobraplant.com/podcast

With your Sarracenia seedlings, they don't require any special treatment.  Grow them outdoors.  You can shade them with other plants, as that's what they would experience in the wild.  By their second, they should grow in full sun.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

____________________

ONE MYTH BREEDS ANOTHER

If you have been subscribing to the Growers?Secrets for a while, you probably know by now that needing to grow Venus Flytraps in a terrarium is a myth.  Well,there is another myth about flytraps: your Venus flytraps will die if you let it flower.

It is true that when a plant produces flowers, it does so at the expense of producing new leaves.  However, it is not true with healthy Flytraps grown in their optimal growing conditions.  In fact, we have seen very little difference in growth between flowering plants and non-flowering plants.

The only time you want to cut off the flowers is when you grow them in the shade or in a terrarium.  In other words, with unhealthy plants grown in poor growing conditions, you will need to cut off their flowers.  (Of course, you wouldn't grow your Flytraps in the shade or in a terrarium, now would you?)

Producing a flower takes a lot of energy, and with an unhealthy plant, what little energy it has will go into the flower as a last ditch effort for survival.  After that, the plant goes to the Big Garden in the sky.

This is why this myth is around.  It's the result of another myth that Venus flytraps need to be grown in those goofy mini-terrariums.

Because our flytraps are well acclimated to outdoor growing, we haven't lost a single one because of flowers.  We have lost them to squirrels, Jays, and our dog Hank wagging his tail and knocking over the pots, but never to flowers.

So take some time this summer to enjoy the flowers of your Venus flytraps. Later this fall, you will have lots of seeds to start your own colony of these delightful plants.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry about that. I wrote the first message late at night and was a bit tired so
i didn't get all the information out. I live in southern california. The weather
here has been spring like for about a month now. Average daytime
temperatures are between 65-80 and nighttime temperatures are between
45-60. All my flytrap are grown outdoors in full sun. They now get around 10
hours of direct sun and the humidity where they are growing is normally
around 40%. I know flowering won't kill a flytrap if it's grown in proper
conditions but my question had to do with two flowers coming out of a single
plant. Never seen that happen before so i thought i'd ask to see if it's normal.
Out of the 30 or so flytraps flowering, 4 of them have two stems growing at
the same time. Sorry, one more question. Would aphids and other pests
attack my Sarracenia seedlings? and if so, would it be safe to use a systematic
insect killer on them? Okay, two questions, but thanks for all the help. You
guys have helped me out a lot.

Answer
The flower stalk is a common mutation that occurs mostly when flytraps have a short winter dormancy.  We see that a lot whenever we force flytraps out of dormancy in late winter.  This would also occur in warm temperate climates, such as southern California.

The main mother plant will slow down in growth due to the extra energy going into the double flower stalk.  Will it eventually weaken the mother plant to death?  Most of the time the mother plant survives, but the risk is there.  So it's a judgment call on your part.

To deal with aphids, use Systemic Insect Killer by Ortho?  It's safe to use on carnivorous plants, and we use it at our nursery.  In fact, I just sprayed a bunch of tropical sundews the other day.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin