Venus Flytrap with eating issues
Hello! My #VenusFlytrap has problems eating, often causing him to be unable to eat properly.
Sometimes, when I feed him, his traps open prematurely (before his food is fully digested), they don't close all the way, or sometimes they don't close at all! Sometimes, I try to feed him live ants or fungus gnats, but the insects are always uninterested, or the trap doesn't close on them.
What could possibly be going on? Part of me thinks I'm overfeeding, but I hardly feed him at all (like once a week).
For the most part, I feed him dead bloodworms, but I always make sure to trigger his traps when I do that.
#carnivorousplants #carnivorousclub #happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #planttherapy #plantcorner #plantlove #iloveplants #newgrowth #planttlc #greggang #adhdplantlovers
Sometimes, when I feed him, his traps open prematurely (before his food is fully digested), they don't close all the way, or sometimes they don't close at all! Sometimes, I try to feed him live ants or fungus gnats, but the insects are always uninterested, or the trap doesn't close on them.
What could possibly be going on? Part of me thinks I'm overfeeding, but I hardly feed him at all (like once a week).
For the most part, I feed him dead bloodworms, but I always make sure to trigger his traps when I do that.
#carnivorousplants #carnivorousclub #happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #planttherapy #plantcorner #plantlove #iloveplants #newgrowth #planttlc #greggang #adhdplantlovers
2ft to light, direct
3” pot with drainage
Last watered 2 weeks ago
5
They should only be fed once every 2ish weeks to once a month. Insects are like a fertilizer— most of their energy needs come from light and water like other plants. Live things are more inticing as they will continue to wiggle and their live chemicals will encourage the VFT to digest… but also, the insect won’t be “fully digested” since they can’t digest things like an exoskeleton, so parts of it will still remain.
Some of those traps also look pretty stretched out, perhaps more light is needed?
Some of those traps also look pretty stretched out, perhaps more light is needed?
@itsjordan Those traps were like that back when it was mailed to me via the #GregPlantShop, so my guess is that the lack of light caused them to grow long. But so far, no new traps have grown after that (other than the one sticking straight up).
Also, I do kinda agree: mine is put in a smallish window two feet away, plus it rains 70% or more of the time (clouds = no direct light = unhappy carnivore). There is a grow light over him (like a foot away, but the light shines on him), so it allows some decent light.
Also, I do kinda agree: mine is put in a smallish window two feet away, plus it rains 70% or more of the time (clouds = no direct light = unhappy carnivore). There is a grow light over him (like a foot away, but the light shines on him), so it allows some decent light.
Hi! While im not entirely sure, I do have an idea of maybe why they're opening early. If you're feeding it dead bloodworms, even if you are triggering the traps, sometimes you have to gently massage the trap afterwards. The reason for that is because sometimes if the plant doesn't sense any movement even after it's closed it'll reopen, thinking that it was a false alarm. If you're already doing this, apologies for repeating information -- just wanted to throw it out there. 😁
@Catplantaddict Kinda just gently squeeze the trap for a few seconds after its closed and that should work :)