Monday, April 9, 2012

Sure fire, easy instructions on growing Venus flytraps...

Bad news for you. There are no easy answers.

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Double trap
Here is the deal. Venus flytraps are plants that live in humid, wet, sunny, warm bog habitats. In order to grow them well (and that means still having it alive after twelve months), you have to duplicate those conditions.

So what should you do with your newly purchased little fangster? Pour yourself a cup of coffee and read this FAQ. You will learn how Venus flytraps come from acid wetlands in North and South Carolina. You will learn about how Venus flytraps do not acclimate well to other habitats.

The key, therefore, to growing Venus flytraps is to replicate their native habitat with enough success to make them happy. This seemingly trivial statement is so important I will say loud, in a Strunk & White sort of way:

The key to growing Venus flytraps is to replicate their native habitat with enough success to make them happy.

Can you grow your plant in a terrarium? Sure, if you can replicate the humid and extremely sunny conditions--just like they would expect in the Carolinas. Can you grow it on a windowsill? Sure, if your windowsill is extremely sunny and humid--just like in the Carolinas. Can you put your plant outside? Sure, if it is warm and humid--just like in the Carolinas. Can you keep it outside during the winter? Sure, if it gets chilly but not killing frosts--just like in the Carolinas.

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trap
Read about the plant's requirements, then write your own prescription on what you must do to grow this plant. "Hey, this is hard!" you may say. That's right! Animals like dogs and cats are easy to keep, but others like pandas and hairy-nosed wombats are trickier. The same applies to plants. Tulips are like dogs. Venus flytraps are like wombats. (I live for the moments I can say things like that!)

And good luck to you!


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