FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Matt said that my Venus fly trap looks pretty healthy that it just needs light

I agree with Matt, the plant looks nice and healthy. A fluorescent lamp close to the new leaves may start putting a little color in their cheeks. This photo inspires me to try to grow a VFT on my desk at work. What a pleasant distraction not to mention attracting more people than flies. I really appreciate this photo. I wish you continued good luck in growing these gems.

Best regards,
Curtis

It's funny that you mention a fluorescent lamp, Curtis. Here's what I emailed to Freddy:

Your venus fly trap looks pretty healthy, but it is definitely starving for light. You see how long and thin the leaf-bases are and how the growth looks "spindly"? That is indicative of a plant that is etiolated (receiving too little light). It looks like you are growing it on a desk in an office or something like that. If possible, try to put it in a sunny window or get a Compact Fluorescent Bulb and a lamp and put it right over the top of the plant (within 3 or 4 inches of it). That would definitely help it out a lot.

If I still had a desk job, I would definitely consider having a VFT on my desk. It would be a neat distraction for sure!

thank you all

Wow, I like how all yours have grown upwards... Mine all seem to go flat along the soil, my last one used to grow over the side of the pot, this one hasn't gotten to that stage yet...

Is there a trick to it? or is it just different variations do different things?

WORMSS wrote:Wow, I like how all yours have grown upwards... Mine all seem to go flat along the soil, my last one used to grow over the side of the pot, this one hasn't gotten to that stage yet...

Is there a trick to it? or is it just different variations do different things?

Some plants grow upright year round, but most Venus Fly Traps put out upright leaves in spring and early summer. Then in later summer, they will put out the low lying leaves. But again, some plants put out low lying leaves all year.

I wish I could get a fluorescent lamp, I'd love to have a VFT at my desk! My rats would eat it though... -_-

RATS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I ask why you have rats on your desk? I take it you keep them as pets? Many years ago I kept rats great pets

They are my beloved pets, yes. They already took a chunk out of my bamboo plant, though.

Need to get a metal mesh over the top me thinks?? with gabs big enough to let insects in, but keep the rats out..

I have a similar set up with my plants that I grow outside. I have a "cage" that I set over the top of my plants to keep squirrels (tree rats) out of the plants but let the insects in. Works like a charm.

I am planning on having Ferrets one day, and I was wondering if I would need to have a similar thing for them too.
Might buy a cheap dying looking plant from my local 'HomeBase', who seem to not know how to care for them, and test one of them to see if ferrets will try and eat it or not.

I wouldn't, I've read that VFTs might be toxic to pets.

Kayota wrote:I wouldn't, I've read that VFTs might be toxic to pets.

Interesting! I haven't read this or heard this. What's your source?

I... don't remember. It didn't kill them but it made them ill, so it's not of EXTREME importance. I THINK it was from Rice's site, though.