Some plant lovers don't like growing carnivorous plants like Venus flytraps. Because the question arises as to what feeding looks like - especially in winter when there are hardly any insects. The good news is: You don't have to feed a Venus flytrap at all. If you still want to do it, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Do you have to feed a Venus flytrap?
A Venus flytrap does not need to be fed as it is able to provide itself with nutrients and attract insects. If you still want to feed, use only live, small insects and feed in moderation to avoid an overabundance of nutrients.
Why feeding is not necessary
In the wild, the Venus flytrap feeds itself on the ground and on insects that are attracted to the folding trap. Even if you keep the carnivorous plant on the windowsill, it will attract and digest flies, mosquitoes and other creatures.
Additional feeding is unnecessary when kept as a houseplant. The substrate usually contains more nutrients than the plant needs. That’s why fertilizing is completely unnecessary. Should a nutrient deficiency actually occur, the Venus flytrap supplies itself from the stores in the leaves.
Lovers of exotic plants don't have to forego breeding Venus flytraps because they don't have to provide a supply of insects in winter.
What does a Venus flytrap actually eat?
The Venus flytrap mainly eats smaller insects such as mosquitoes and flies, but is also not averse to woodlice.
The insects are attracted to the red interior of the folding trap. As soon as they touch the trap, it closes and traps the “food”. Digestion occurs through certain secretions. After a few days the trap opens again to catch again.
Never feed dead animals or leftover food
- Only live animals
- no big insects
- never dead animals!
- no leftover food
Even if you don't actually have to, you can still feed your Venus flytrap occasionally. As a carnivore, it eats all animal products.
However, you should refrain from adding milk, leftover food or anything similar to the folding trap. The plant absorbs this, but in most cases the food spoils and causes the trap to rot.
Only feed live animals that should not be too large. Wasps, for example, are already too huge, so the trap dies afterwards. Feeder insects should not be larger than a third of the size of the trap.
How often can you feed?
Opinions differ on the question of how often you can feed a Venus flytrap. Some plant lovers feed regularly at intervals of several days.
Better be careful when giving food. With the Venus flytrap, too much leads to the premature death of the plant because it simply absorbs too many nutrients.
If you feed a Venus flytrap occasionally to enjoy the spectacle of the trap snapping shut, that's fine, just don't overdo it.
Tip
The Venus flytrap trap also closes if you just stick a finger in it. As interesting as snapping the folding trap of a Venus flytrap may be, don't try it too often. Once the trap has opened seven times, it dies.
