You can propagate a Venus flytrap by division or by seeds. You can get seeds for Venus flytraps from specialist retailers. If you are already growing a plant, you can also harvest the seeds yourself. Since there is only one species of this carnivorous plant, the young plants remain pure.
How do you harvest Venus flytrap seeds?
To harvest seeds from a Venus flytrap, you should fertilize its flowers yourself and wait until the seed pods are dry. Then tap the dried flower lightly so that the ripe, black seeds fall out. Store the seeds in a cool, dark place until sowing in spring.
Venus flytrap flower needs to be fertilized
In order for the flower of a Venus flytrap to develop seeds, it must be fertilized. This is usually done by insects, of which there are enough in the house.
If you want to be absolutely sure, pollinate the flowers yourself. To do this, you will need a brush with fine bristles (€18.00 on Amazon). If necessary, a cotton swab will also work.
Run the brush over the open flower of the Venus flytrap. Then brush over the next flower. Repeat this until all individual flowers are fertilized.
When is the seed ripe?
The capsules with the seeds form when the flower dries up. However, this will take some time.
Once the seed pods are dry, the seed is ripe. The capsules contain a variety of black seeds.
How to harvest the seed
To harvest the Venus flytrap seed, you have several options. You can cover the long-stemmed flowers with a plastic bag that you tie at the bottom.
It is also possible to cut off the dried flowers.
The easiest way to do this is to place a flat plate under the flower. If the seed is ripe, it falls into the shell by itself when tapped lightly.
Store in a cool, dark place after harvesting
- Store in a cool place until sowing
- preferably use the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator
- Keep seeds dark
To grow new Venus flytraps from seeds, you have to wait until spring.
In the meantime, store the seeds in a cool, dark place. Since the seeds only germinate if they have gone through a longer cold phase, place them in the refrigerator until sowing.
Wrap the seeds in an opaque bag to keep them out of light.
Tip
Most Venus flytrap growers cut off the flowers of the plant as soon as the base develops. The plant needs strength to flower. It then forms fewer traps.