Question
QUESTION: Ok,i just bought a venus flytrap at a Lowes store.When i bought it,it had five VERY small mouths, and they were all black exept for one very very very small one.That one has still not open it's mouth.

PS: the plant it self is tiny

ANSWER: Hello Cody,

I am not sure what your question is.

The only advice I can give you is to remove the dome that probably came with it slowly. Raise the dome a fraction of an inch every three days until it is two or more inches above the pot, brace it up with tape and toothpicks, and then remove it after two weeks of such treatment. Place the plant in a very sunny window, a morning sun window first while the dome is on, then progressivley brighter windows each week until it is in a south facing window. After a week in the south facing window you can place it outside in full sun.

That should help the plant adapt to lower humidity and brighter light, which it needs.

Water it with distilled, reverse osmosis, or rain water only as tap water and drinking water will kill it.

Never fertilize the plant as it is carnivorous. It will fertilize itself when it is healthy. It will only be able to trap and digest insects when it is in bright light, like full sunlight. Artificial fertilizer will kill the plant in normal mix ratios.

For now just give the plant what it needs and leave it alone until it is healthier. Flytraps bought at generic stores like that often come with inadequate instructions and just as often die due to misunderstandings and myths about them. They are plants that need full sunlight and care just like a garden plant except they do not need fertilizer in the same way as cabbage does.

Christopher



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

QUESTION: Oh,im sorry,my question is,is why is my plant so small and why havent any of the traps opened up


ps:thank you for your help

ANSWER: Hello cody,

The plant might be young or sick. Venus Flytraps bought in stores like that are often starved for light, so will probably be quite small and sickly when you get them. The fact that the plant has several leaves that are dying and only one leaf that has a very small trap indicates that this is likely the case. Follow the instructions I gave you and good luck. That poor plant will need all the help it can get to survive. If it dies, remember that it is not your fault. You can try again with a healthier plant later. If it lives, congratulations.

Christopher



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

QUESTION: Ok,thank you so much for your advice.But i have one more question.I already took the plant out of the dome the first day i got it and put it in a pot with a cover so it stays humid.I also keep my plant under a lamp that keeps it warm.Also for 2 hours a day,i take it outside for a little bit ofsun.Are these conditions alright?

Answer
Hello Cody,

You can slowly remove the cover on the pot like I described earlier. Venus Flytraps do best when they are grown open pot with no cover if they have time to slowly adapt to low humidity. Terrariums and high humidity increase the chances of infection and weak plants. It is a complete myth that Venus Flytraps need high humidity.

What environment are you in? Your Venus Flytrap will be just fine in regular temperatures outside unless you live in a region that is always too hot or too cold. Venus Flytraps can take heat of up to 100 degrees and down to below freezing for short periods of time in winter... they are hardy North American plants. They do not need a lamp to keep them warm unless you live in an area that is always very cold.

Venus Flytraps need far more light than that to survive. They require at least 8 hours of direct full sunlight outside. Best bet is to keep the plant in one place too. Moving them around can stress them out. They grew roots to hold them in place, so they do not like being walked around from one environment to another. Just find a good full sun spot and leave the plant there after you have gone through the adaptation period for humidity and light intensity that I described before.

Christopher