Question
I'm attempting the task of growing Venus Fly traps from seeds. They are in their silica sand and compost, with a water tray and by the window. They have not germinated. Is it possible to keep them out side when eggs in central England or will the climate be too severe for them. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hope to hear from you.

Answer
Hi Lewis,

As in my previous answer, since your seeds are a year old and wasn't refrigerated, only time will tell if your seeds are viable or not.  If they are, you will need to wait at 4-6 weeks before you see any germination.  Flytraps grow very slowly, so you'll need lots of patience.

I'm also not sure what you mean by compost.  That term is fairly generic and can mean lots of things.  At least in the United States, the term refers to decomposed organic matter that is rich in nitrogen and other nutrients.  If this is the case, this would be the wrong growing medium.  You need to use sphagnum peat moss instead.

I'm also not sure what you mean about eggs in central England.  That might be an English idiom that I'm not familiar.  In any case, keep your seeds in a sunny south window.  The growing conditions in your home is fairly consistent, which will assist your seedlings once they start growing.

If this is your very first time growing flytraps, I suggest getting an adult plant.  Seedlings will remain very small for the first two years before they enter a growth spurt and produce a flower.  Seedlings are also more temperamental than adult plants and require more attention.

There are numerous nurseries in England that specializes in carnivorous plants.  You can do a web search to locate these nurseries.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

Good growing!
Jacob Farin