Your Guide to Venus Flytrap Care
Learn how to care about Venus flytraps with my guide prepared for you. From soil to feeding and seasonal care, I provide you everything you need know to keep your carnivorous plants healthy and thriving.
Light
Watering
Soil
Humidity
Dormancy
Flowering
Light
Venus flytraps thrive in bright, direct sunlight. For optimal growth, they require at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, but ideally, they should receive 10 to 12 hours of full sun for the healthiest growth and vibrant coloration.
If growing indoors, use a high-quality grow light (such as LED or fluorescent) that provides at least 12 to 14 hours of strong, full-spectrum light per day. Without sufficient light, flytraps may become weak, develop green traps instead of red ones, and struggle to produce strong leaves.
Watering
Venus flytraps need pure, mineral-free water like rainwater, distilled, or reverse osmosis water. Tap water can harm them over time.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy. It should never dry out completely, but standing water can cause root rot.
Use the tray method—place the pot in 1–2 cm of water and let the plant absorb moisture from below. Empty the tray occasionally to prevent stagnation.
Water more in summer, as the soil dries faster. In winter dormancy, keep it slightly damp to avoid rot.
Soil
Venus flytraps need nutrient-poor, well-draining soil. Regular potting or garden soil will kill them due to harmful fertilizers and minerals.
A mix of 4 portions of sphagnum peat moss and 1 portion of perlite retains moisture while allowing airflow. Pure long-fiber sphagnum moss is another good option. Avoid fertilizers, compost, or regular potting soil, as they can burn the roots.
Use plastic or glazed ceramic pots to prevent mineral buildup, and ensure good drainage with pots that have holes. Repot yearly to refresh the soil and prevent compaction.
With the right soil, your Venus flytrap will stay healthy and thrive for years!
Humidity
Venus flytraps thrive in 50–80% humidity but don't require it as long as they get plenty of sunlight and proper watering.
Outdoors, natural humidity is usually enough. Indoors, if humidity drops below 40%, increase it by placing a water tray nearby, using a vented humidity dome, or grouping plants together.
Avoid growing them in a closed terrarium, as poor air circulation can cause mold and rot. Keeping the plant too wet, especially in humid conditions, can lead to fungal infections. Remember, strong light is far more important than high humidity for a healthy Venus flytrap.
Dormancy
Venus flytraps go dormant every winter from late fall to early spring to conserve energy for the growing season.
During dormancy, growth slows, and many traps turn black and die—this is normal. The plant isn't dead; it's strengthening its underground rhizome.
Keep dormancy temperatures between 1–10°C (34–50°F). Outdoors, they can stay outside unless they freeze solid. Indoors, place them in an unheated garage, basement, or even a fridge if needed. Water less, keeping the soil slightly damp but never dry.
Skipping dormancy weakens the plant, while overwatering can cause root rot. In spring, new growth will emerge, and regular care can resume.
Flowering
In spring, mature Venus flytraps may grow a tall flower stalk a few weeks after dormancy. While the white flowers are delicate, flowering uses a lot of energy.
If your plant is healthy with strong traps, you can let it flower to collect seeds or enjoy its natural cycle. However, seed propagation is slow.
If your plant is small, weak, or recovering, cut off the flower stalk early to help it grow stronger traps. Trim it at 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) using clean scissors. You can also plant the cut stalk in damp sphagnum moss to try for new plantlets.