How to Grow a Venus Fly Trap From a Seed

Overview

The Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant that catches insects, usually flies and spiders, as its food. It has two large leaves with lobes and prominent hairs growing around the edges. When the hairs are stimulated or touched by insects, the leaf lobes close in less than one second, trapping the insect. You can grow a Venus Flytrap from fresh seeds that are usually harvested and available from growers in late spring or early summer. Venus Flytrap seeds are simple to germinate, because they require no special pretreatment.

Step 1

Fill a 4- to 6-inch diameter planter pot or seed tray that has drainage holes in the bottom with a soilless potting mix. Add at least a 3- to 4-inch layer or more of the soilless potting mix to the container.

Step 2

Spread the Venus Flytrap seeds on the surface of the soilless potting mix, spaced about 1 inch apart. Crush a pinch of peat moss in between your fingers and sprinkle the peat dust onto each seed.

Step 3

Fill a spray bottle with rain water or distilled water. Spray the potting mix gently to moisten the surface. Spray the potting mix daily until the seeds germinate to prevent the surface from drying out.

Step 4

Place the bottom of the seed tray or pot into a bowl filled with 2 inches of distilled water or rain water. Add more water as needed to prevent the bowl from drying out or the water level from dropping down to less than 1 inch.

Step 5

Keep the seed tray or pot between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit to encourage germination. You can place a plant-heating element beneath the container if needed.

Step 6

Place the seeds in bright, indirect light. Don't position the seeds in direct sunlight, because this can dry out the potting medium and overheat the seeds.

Step 7

Transplant the seedlings after they germinate, usually in about two or three weeks. Separate the strongest seedlings and transplant them into 6-inch planter pots filled with a mixture of potting soil and peat moss.