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Dionaea muscipula

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is probably the best-known carnivorous plant of all. It occurs exclusively within a radius of about 100 km around the city of Wilmington in the United States. Its distribution range lies in pocosin bogs located in the states of North and South Carolina.

These bogs have very nutrient-poor and acidic soils that are peaty and sandy. The habitats are permanently moist and always located in very sunny, open areas. In the wild, Dionaea muscipula is already threatened, yet it is available in almost every well-stocked garden center or hardware store, and sometimes even in furniture stores.

In its natural habitat, temperatures range from -10 °C to 40 °C. Venus flytraps require a winter dormancy for healthy long-term cultivation. During winter, temperatures should not exceed 12 °C.

Cultivation

Ideal Conditions

Parameter Suggestion Notes
Temperature (Day)Summer) 22–3510 - 30 °C e.gAlso Manywithstands plants grow well between 20–3040 °C.C but isnt recommended. Substrate should stay cooler
Temperature (Night)Winter) 20–25-10 - 12 °C e.g. Shouldnt fallshould below 1512 °C in Winters to stay in dormancy
Light 100–3001500–2000 PPFD InformationFull aboutsun light habits ofin the plantoutside is preferred, 8hrs or more. Wont live behind windows for too long
Humidity 80–10030–60 % DescribeNeeds the plants preferred humidity conditions and if theresno special characteristicshumidity, aboutbelow it,70% likeoften evaporationprevents protectionmold (indumentum) or smthg like thisissues

Substrate & Fertilizing

Parameter Suggestion Hinweise
Substrate ListPeat, SubstratesPerlite, Sand mixes or Sphagnum OrganicOne orof Mineralthe Substratevery preferredfew species which isnt recommended to have potted in anything else 
Potsize eg. bigger or small pot e.g.it crawls slowly forward and deeper into the plantpot. roots9cm verypot wideenough andfor hasmany more or less sensitive rootsplants
Watering Always keep very moist MaybeHaving naturala occurencetray habits,always peatyfilled swamps,with only epiphytic...water
Fertilizing Amount2-3 and frequencyOsmocote (eg.per 500Pot  µS every week) mineralicOsmocote fertilizeris something which works well with Flytraps
Fertilizer Tolerance medium to high e.g.Doesnt need Pitchers get damagedfertilizer if fertilizingkept wasoutside, tooit muchwill catch insects for sure

Unique characteristics 

  • BildetIs Teppicheavailable auswith zahlreichenmany Basaltriebenunique traits and mutations
  • SehrOften schnelleswont Wachstumget beired hohenwhen Temperaturenroots are disturbed in the same season
  • HochkannenFlower werdenstalks nurcan seltenbe gebildetused for propagation
  • InDormancy vielencan Farbvariantenbe erhältlichdone in the fridge if no other good space is available
  • Doesnt need any light below 5 °C
  • Flowers occur between April - May, they can be cut to save the plant a lot of energy
  • Monotypical Genus
  • Rhizomes can be divided for propagation
  • Dormancy in a bog often without any issues when temperatures arent below -10 °C
  • Seeds remain viable only for a very short time and should always be sown immediately, does not require stratification

Galery

General Pictures

User Cultivatad Plants 

Bild Conditions

Dionaea_muscipula_megatraps.jpg
Dionaea muscipula - Megatraps

 

Dionaea_muscipula_megatraps_Frost.jpg
Dionaea Nepenthes ampullaria BE-3390 Kannemuscipula - Megatraps at frost

 

 

Dionaea_muscipula_GJ_Shir_Khan.jpg

Temperature
  • SummerOutdoor Day: 24–30 °C
  • Summer Night: 23–28 °C
  • Winter Day: 24–25 °C
  • Winter Night: 22–23 °Cmiddle-Germany
Humidity
  • 85–97 %Weather-dependant
Light Intensity
  • ca.Southwest-facing 200balcony PPFD→ full sun from around 12:00 noon
Notes
  • BE-3390Cultivated "Limein Twist"pots placed in Euro trays and 9 × 9 cm pots, standing permanently in about 3–4 cm of water.
  • PeatCovered Substrat
  • in
  • alwayswinter veryfor moist
  • frost
  • high transparent pot
  • Fertilized every 14 Days - 1200µS Hakaphos
  • Biggest Pitcher: 11 cmprotection
Cultivated By: KevinTim

Common Issues

  • Way too less light
  • No Dormancy period
  • Watering with tap water (lime !)