Question
i recently bought two venus fly traps for an experiment. the experiment is with all other proper growing conditions but no sunlight can a venus fly trap thrive? But with more and more research i am finding out it may kill the plant. the span of experiment is about a month. is this a safe experiment and after it will the plant be able to recover with regular sunlight conditions?

Answer
Hi Luke,

I'm afraid the experiment is doom for failure.  Flytraps require full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight) for optimal growth.  This is the same type of sunlight that you need to grow roses and tomato plants.  Lack of sunlight is the main reason why people kill their plants.  They think it's a type of tropical plant that can be grown in the shade.  Flytraps are actually temperate plants native to the coastal plains of North Carolina.

It's also a myth that carnivorous plants uses insects as a way to sustain themselves.  Rather, insects are simply forms of fertilizer.  Just as regular plants get their fertilizer through their roots, carnivorous plants get their fertilizer through their leaves.  Both type of plants still must undergo photosynthesis to produce sugars, which is what they use for energy production.  Without adequate sunlight, plants can't produce sugar for energy.  Eventually they weaken and die.

Fertilizer, or insects in the case of carnivorous plants, only supply minerals, nitrogen and proteins necessary to build new tissue.  These nutrients are like the bricks and mortar of a building, but you need workers to build the building.  This is where sunlight comes in!  Sunlight provides the plant the necessary energy to build new tissue.

For more information about growing flytraps, read our care sheet online:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

Good growing!
Jacob Farin