The insectivorous plant Venus is a carnivorous plant that catches insects and breaks them down with enzymes into food. This plant is native to North Carolina, America, and can grow in warm, humid, or cold areas. Many people keep this plant as a hobby or fly repellent. However, if you want to maintain this plant, you must take care of it diligently. This includes feeding and watering, plant care, and dormancy. This article will show you how to buy and care for a venus insectivorous plant.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Buying Venus Insectivores
Step 1. Determine if you can really care for the Venus flytrap
This plant requires regular care.
- This plant can be kept indoors or outdoors, in pots.
- This plant requires sunlight and warm temperatures during its growth period.
- This plant requires a period of dormancy during the winter so you must be patient in maintaining it. During this period the plant will not grow much and will need to be cared for.
- Be prepared to cut off dead leaves and flowers to keep the plant healthy and water it regularly.
- You can feed the plant with crickets or other insects if the plant rarely catches its own food.
Step 2. Study the different varieties of the Venus flytrap
This plant has several different breeds and species.
- Some breeds are stronger than others.
- If you are buying this plant for the first time, several types of Venus insectivores are recommended by gardeners: King Henry, Dentate Traps, Dingley Giant or Microdent. These types tend to be stronger, disease resistant and the roots do not wilt easily.
- The DC XL insectivores are known to be very hardy, but they are much more expensive.
Step 3. Look for the Venus flytrap at your local plant store
This plant is usually sold in plant stores on a seasonal basis.
- The Venus flytrap is sold seasonally, usually around mid-spring to mid-fall.
- You can also try the plantation section of a large supply store.
- If the store in your area has a plantation section, they may have Venus insectivores in stock.
- Small privately owned nurseries may have stock of seeds when the season comes.
Step 4. Selecting plants
Look for plants that are healthy and will grow well.
- Avoid Venusian insectivores planted in plain soil. This plant requires special soil that is free of minerals.
- Look for the Venusian insectivores that have bright green leaves and shoots. The color of the trap is usually green or slightly reddish.
- Do not choose plants that have a lot of dead leaves that are not cut. Care is part of maintaining this plant so it's best to buy plants that are well cared for.
- Watch for plants that appear wilted, pale, or infertile. These plants may have mold or bacteria and are best avoided.
Step 5. Purchase a Venus insectivo on the internet
If you're having trouble finding this plant in a store, Venus insectivorous seeds can be purchased online.
- Try searching online shops such as www.tokopedia.com or www.bukalapak.com, or sites specialized for plant seeds such as www.bibitbenih.com.
- There are more varieties of the Venus flytrap that can be purchased online.
- This method is easier for those of you who are first-time Venus insectivores, as you can look for a stronger variety, or if you just want to increase the variety of your pet plant.
Part 2 of 2: Caring for Venus Insectivores
Step 1. Plant the Venus flytrap in special soil
Ordinary garden soil is not suitable for growing this plant.
- Often the Venusian insectivores to be purchased are already planted in suitable soil. However, if the pot needs to be filled with soil, you will need the correct type of soil.
- The Venus flytrap will die if planted in garden soil or mixed potting soil.
- Venusian insectivores live naturally in soils that contain very few nutrients and minerals.
- The Venus flytrap grows naturally in sandy soils that are low in fertility and have little organic matter. Usually, this soil is slightly acidic.
- You can buy special soil for the Venus flytrap. Typically, this soil contains a mixture of sphagnum moss, silica sand and perlite.
Step 2. Keep Venus insectivores in a sunny place
This plant does not grow well in the shade.
- During the spring and summer, Venusian insectivores are best kept outdoors in direct sunlight, except during the hottest period of summer.
- On the hottest day of the dry season, you will need to move the plant to a shady area so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight.
- You can also keep Venus insectivores indoors, but they won't be very bright. Illuminate plants with LED or incandescent bulbs.
Step 3. Water the plant with pure water
Never flush Venus insectivores with plain tap water.
- Tap water and bottled water contain too many minerals that will kill the Venusian insectivores.
- Give distilled water, deionized water, or reverse osmosis water. You can buy these waters at the store and they are quite cheap.
- You can also collect rainwater to water your plants.
Step 4. Don't give the plant too much water
Venus insectivores will become too humid and trigger the growth of bacteria and fungi that are harmful to plants.
- There are several factors that determine the amount of water given to plants. If the plant is kept in a place with lots of sun and moisture, the water will dry faster. If the Venus flytrap is kept in a cool area, the plant's moisture will last longer.
- Usually Venusian insectivores need to be watered once every 2-5 days if the plant is kept in a hot, sunny area.
- If the plant is kept in a cool, shady area, it is recommended that the plant be watered once every 8-10 days or even up to 14 days.
- Try feeling the soil of the plant to test for soil moisture. If the soil feels dry and cracked, the Venus flytrap will need watering.
- It is recommended to use turkey baster to water Venus insectivores.
Step 5. Take care of the plant regularly
You must cut off dead leaves and flowers to keep the plant healthy.
- Dead leaves not only make the plant look sick, but also cover the new leaves from the sun.
- Dead leaves are brown and dry.
- Dead leaves can usually be removed from the stem slowly before being removed.
- If dead leaves cannot be removed, cut them carefully with plant shears.
Step 6. Feed Venus insectivores
Usually, the plants are fed with fertilizers. However, because the insectivores of Venus are meat eaters, their diet is insects.
- Catch insects and put them in the Venus insectivorous trap while they are still alive. The movement of the insect will close the trap and lock it inside. Insects will be digested slowly with Venus digestive enzymes. This process can take up to weeks.
- If you're having trouble getting insects into the trap, put them in a jar and put them in the fridge. Cold temperatures will make the insects sluggish and easier to put into the trap.
- If you can't find the fly, you can replace it with a small earthworm. You can also use small insects like crickets, which are commonly purchased at the pet store, to feed the reptiles.
- You should only feed one or two meals per trap. Do not fill all plant traps at the same time. The energy required to digest all the food would be too great and could cause the plant to wilt.
Step 7. Pay attention to the plant's dormant time
Venus insectivores will enter dormancy during the winter.
- Cold weather will trigger a dormant period of Venus insectivores. During this period, plant growth and trap movement will slow down.
- During this time, you can still keep your Venus plant outdoors but bring it inside if it gets too cold (nearly 0 degrees Celsius).
- You will still need to water and feed the Venusian insectivores during their dormancy, but there will be less. Check the plant's soil for dryness before watering and reduce the frequency of feeding the plant.
Tips
- Venus flytrap requires a lot of special and regular care.
- Make sure you don't give your plants too much water as this will promote the growth of mold and bacteria.
- Avoid direct sunlight in summer. The Venusian insectivores can't stand the heat.
- Venus insectivores are best kept outdoors.
- Feed the plant with live insects, one or two insects per meal.
