Venus flytraps can be an exotic addition to your houseplant collection. It is a carnivorous plant that can grow up to the height of one foot with trap sizes of one or two inches. It takes about four years for the plant to grow to its full size. While some flytraps grow vertically, others tend to stick to the ground and grow horizontally. However, ensuring that your plant grows to its full height requires proper care and growing conditions.
Factors affecting the size of a Venus fly trap plant
So, these are some of the factors on which the size of your Venus flytrap grows-
- Nutrition
- Watering
- Pruning
- Potting
1. Nutrition
Proper nutrition plays an important role in boosting the growth of the plant. It is due to a lack of nutrition in the soil that the plant evolves into such a successful predator.
So, if you have placed your plant outdoors, it is likely that your plant will capture its prey, and you don’t need to provide it with extra nutrition.
However, if you keep the plant indoors, provide it with proper food during given intervals to ensure good growth.
Feed one trap at a time with bugs or arachnids that are not larger than 1/3rd the size of the trap. Feed the plant once every 4-6 weeks and avoid feeding during the dormancy period.
2. Watering
Watering the plant from the bottom can help incentivize root growth. It helps as the roots are forced to expand to obtain water from the very bottom. It also reduce the chances of overwatering.
However, also water it from the top once in a while as it helps cleanse the soil and avoid mineral deposits. Always be careful not to overwater the plant and provide enough water to just keep the soil moist. Only water the plant when the soil is dry.
3. Pruning
During spring, your Venus flytrap will undergo a flowering season. While flowering wouldn’t affect your plant, it will weaken it and hinder the growth of the plant. Thus, it is recommended to cut off the flowering stalks if you don’t plan on harvesting their seeds. The flowering stalks are thick, cylindrical structures that make them easy to spot. The sooner they are pruned, the better.
Similarly, you need to prune the black, withering leaves of the plant to ensure that the plant is not overcrowded. Monthly trimming of these leaves can help reduce overcrowding and the extra weight of your plant. It will help your plant grow better.
4. Potting
Choosing the right pot is essential for the growth of your Venus flytrap. If the pot is not large enough, it will restrict the size of your plant. A mature Venus flytrap requires a pot that has a diameter of four to five inches and a depth of more than six inches since the plant has wide roots that expand vertically, and the shoots tend to grow horizontally.
Thus, these are the factors that decide the size of your Venus flytrap.
