What is a Venus flytrap? Location, lighting and optimal temperature. Mechanism of action of the flycatcher trap.

Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant, a perennial herbaceous plant with trap leaves that catch and digest insects and arachnids. In nature, it grows in certain wetlands of North and South Carolina and Florida. Like other carnivores, the flycatcher collects nutrients from gases in the air and nutrients in the soil. But since they live in poor soils, they also survive on nutrients from insects. The fragrant leaves attract insects, and when an insect lands on the trap with sensitive hairs, it slams shut in less than a second. If the insect is too large and sticks out of the trap, this will allow bacteria and mold to form on the insects, causing the trap to rot. When the trap is closed for feeding, its cilia tightly hold the insect inside, then the process of dissolution with acids and absorption of nutrients begins.

At the end of the digestive process, which takes 5 to 12 days, the traps open again. Only the insect's exoskeleton remains inside. The time it takes for this process to resume depends on the size of the insect, the temperature, the age of the trap, and how many times it has gone through this process.

Venus flytrap It is very popular as a cultivated plant and does well indoors, but has a reputation for being difficult to grow. Successful cultivation requires recreating conditions close to the natural habitat. Among carnivores, it is the most unpretentious, and if you strictly adhere to certain rules, you will be pleased with this amazing plant for a long time. The main requirements are high humidity, wet roots, direct sunlight and poor, acidic soil. And now in more detail.

Venus flytrap - care features in room conditions.

What kind of lighting? An important factor is exposure to direct sunlight for at least 4-5 hours a day. To do this, you need to select a window sill on south side, ideal place there will be a balcony where the plant will be well lit. It is not recommended to turn the pot with the plant first one side or the other towards the light; it does not like rotation. If the plant receives direct rays for less than 4 hours, additional lighting with lamps is required.

How to water? The roots of the flytrap do not process mineral salts from the soil, so you cannot water it with plain tap water, as well as boiled water, purified with a household filter, or purchased in bottles. Water that is suitable is deionized, distilled or purified by reverse osmosis. Water only into the pan, because watering from above reduces the acidity of the soil and compacts upper layer, which reduces the supply of oxygen. The soil should not dry out, but water should not be allowed to constantly stand in the pan. It is good to grow a flycatcher in a terrarium.

What soil is suitable? A soil mixture is recommended that contains perlite in half with high-moor peat, or quartz sand in half with high-moor peat. Perlite is a very good planting material for carnivorous plants, as it is hygroscopic and prevents rot; before use, it must be soaked in distilled water for a week. Boil quartz sand in distilled water. Every 2-3 years, the flycatcher must be replanted; do this carefully, without touching the traps or damaging them. The transplant period is from spring to early summer.

What nutrition is needed? Under no circumstances should fertilizers or lime be added. The Venus flytrap can be fed with insects (flies, spiders, bees), always live ones. After all, it is when the insect moves in the trap that the necessary digestive enzymes are produced. An adult plant needs 2-3 insects over the summer, and it is very important that they are half the size of a flytrap.

How does it winter? In winter, the flycatcher enters a dormant period. And therefore it is very important to provide it with a temperature regime of 0 - 10°C for 3-4 months. At the end of September, you need to stop feeding the plant with insects, because from mid-October the plant itself will begin to prepare for winter dormancy. This will manifest itself in reduced leaf and trap growth. To ensure the required temperature, you can put the flytrap in the refrigerator for this period. Keep the soil moist during this period.

How does it reproduce? The Venus flytrap reproduces by seeds and by dividing bulbs. Over the years, the plant produces many daughter bulbs with roots, which can be separated and planted in a new location. But do not do this more often than once every three years. In the spring, the plant expels the peduncle and begins to bloom; a couple of days after the flower has fully opened, it must be pollinated by passing a brush over the stamens and pistils. The pollinated flower will begin to ripen. When the seed box becomes dry and begins to crack, then the seeds are ripe and should be planted within two days. Flytrap seeds are not stored for a long time and tend to lose their viability. Otherwise, the seeds need to be stratified. If you do not need the seeds, it is better to remove the peduncle from the plant so that all the nutrition goes to the development of the plant itself.

Now you know the plant Venus flytrap and care features for her. By fulfilling all the necessary conditions, you will be able to enjoy these amazing plants and watch their life full of adventures.

The Venus flytrap, or Dionaea flytrap, is a medium-sized perennial herbaceous plant from the sundew family, originating from Atlantic coast North America. Dionaea is notable because it belongs to the group carnivorous plants. The marshy soils on which this flower can be found are not characterized by an abundance of nutrients, and therefore Dionaea replenishes their supply by catching small flies and mosquitoes.

You will need

1. - fungicide "Topaz";
2. - perlite;
3. - high-moor peat;
4. - formic acid;
5. - “Epin-extra”;
6. - charcoal.

Instructions

• Place the container with dionaea in a place where the air temperature can be maintained within 25 degrees. Using a fluorescent lamp, arrange a sixteen-hour daylight hours in the greenhouse. Dionaea seeds germinate within 2-4 weeks. After the flytrap has 2-3 leaves, start ventilating the container.
• In spring and summer, Dionaea can be kept on outdoors. Do not change the position of the plant relative to the light source. To avoid compacting the soil and depriving the roots of oxygen, water the flower through a tray. To do this, dilute a drop of 99% formic acid in 10 liters of distilled water. Pour the acidified liquid into a bowl standing under the pot of dionaea so that the layer of water is no thinner than half a centimeter. During the spring and summer season, maintain this level of fluid in the pan.
• For normal development, Dionaea needs a period of rest, which lasts 3-4 months. To provide the plant with the necessary conditions, gradually lower the temperature in the room where the flower is located to 5 degrees over 30 days. As daylight hours decrease, the plant goes dormant. You can pack the container with dionaea in a plastic bag with holes for ventilation and put it in the refrigerator. Once a month, moisten the soil in the pot with distilled water.
• At the beginning of spring, spray the overwintered flycatcher with an Epin-Extra solution prepared from a glass of distilled water and a couple of drops of the product. A day later, transplant the plant into fresh substrate, being careful not to touch the traps.
• As Dionaea grows, it forms daughter bulbs from which new flycatchers can be obtained. To propagate a flower in this way, separate the bulbs with a pair of developed roots from the mother plant, sprinkle the cut with crushed coal and place the planting material in fresh soil. This operation should not be performed more than once every 3 years.

KakProsto.ru

Venus flytrap care and reproduction

Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

Venus flytrap(Dionaea muscipula) or Dionaea, the Venus flytrap is native to the North American continent. This plant lives in marshy areas American state North Carolina. It is interesting for its unusual modified leaves - traps framed by sharp teeth. They secrete nectar, which attracts insects. The fly, attracted by the smell of the bait, lands on the inside of the leaf and the trap slams shut. After which the happy plant digests its prey and leaves only a chitinous covering. But the Venus flytrap is not a lightning trap.

The doors close slowly, as this is a large energy consumption for the plant. In addition, the trap will not close unless the victim touches the sensitive triggers on the inner surface less than three times. Frequent and false alarms of the flytrap can destroy the plant. Probably, nature created the Venus flytrap just to reduce the number of these bloodsucking creatures.

The scientific species name "muscipula" is translated from Latin as "mousetrap". When the victim sits on the leaf, she is already trapped. An electrical impulse causes the leaves to slam shut instantly. The Venus flytrap secretes digestive enzymes that dissolve the prey.

Today, thanks to the work of breeders, this unusual plant can now be purchased at a flower shop. However, caring for it is quite complicated: it includes important rules that must be strictly followed.

Light burner for Venus flytrap

In order for Dionaea to feel good, it requires direct sunlight for at least four hours a day. The rest of the time she should not be in the shadows. So a south window is suitable for the plant. In summer, it is advisable to take it out into the open air (garden or balcony) to receive the maximum amount of sunlight. At the same time, you should not turn the pot: the Venus flytrap prefers constancy.

Air humidity, watering Venus flytrap

For irrigation, only distilled water is used, which can be purchased at a car store or pharmacy. Rain water is also suitable, but only if you are sure of its cleanliness.

Watering is done only from the tray. You cannot “water” it from above, otherwise the soil will become compacted, its acidity will decrease, and the roots will be deprived of oxygen. The earth should not dry out, but excess moisture is not welcome either.

Temperature

Venus flytraps are kept in cool, damp conditions. If the air temperature exceeds +30 degrees, the plant may stop growing.

By winter, the Venus flytrap stops growing, preparing for a state of rest. Move the plant to a dark, cool (+2-10 degrees) place. A refrigerator - its lower compartment - is also suitable for this. Place the predator there, having previously wrapped it in a plastic bag. You can also leave the plant on the windowsill for the winter, moving the pot as close to the glass as possible and shielding it from the warm room air with a screen.

Soil composition for Venus flytrap

The Venus flytrap needs high peat, which is acidic in composition. Therefore, the soil mixture is made independently from high-moor peat and perlite (2:1). Before use, perlite is soaked in water for seven to ten days to leach out any remaining mineral salts.

Transplantation, propagation of Venus flytrap

Dionaea is replanted once every one to two years in spring or early summer. During transplantation, do not touch the traps, otherwise they will slam shut. Take the plant just above its bulb and deepen it so that the white part is in the ground.

Newly acquired specimens also need replanting. The Venus flytrap reproduces by seeds, leaf cuttings, and dividing the bush.

Venus flytrap propagation by seeds

To grow a Venus flytrap from seeds we need: seeds, gauze cloth, fungicide solution, distilled water, bag, high peat, perlite, pot.

cvetutcvety.ru

How to grow a Venus flytrap from seeds and other propagation methods. Transfer.

The Venus flytrap can be propagated at home either by seed or vegetatively: by dividing the bush and cuttings from leaves. Let's look at all the possible ways to grow a Venus flytrap in order.

How to grow your own Venus flytrap from seeds

Getting Venus flytrap seeds

Dionaea blooms in spring. White beautiful flowers appear on its long peduncles (up to 20 centimeters).

Since in room conditions natural pollination is almost impossible, then in order for the seeds to start, you need to do it artificially. To do this, you need to take a soft brush or cotton swab, collect pollen and transfer it to the pistil. This is done with all flowers after they bloom and contain pollen. This usually happens two days after the bud opens.

Dionaea seeds will ripen a month after the ovary appears. Each seed pod can produce about thirty seeds. Fully ripened Dionaea seeds should look like the photo: black, glossy and hard. Subsequently, they can be used for sowing or packed for future use. They will retain good germination for up to a year if stored in the refrigerator. It is best to sow four months from the start of pollination.

The Venus flytrap is not suitable for frequent seed production. If the plant from which planting material is obtained begins to look bad, it means that all reserves for this have been exhausted. Therefore, you need to give him a rest.

For those who want to buy Venus flytrap seeds

If it is not possible to obtain planting material yourself, then you can try to purchase them in specialized stores, place an order by mail or on the Internet.

Of course, in this case their origin and storage conditions are unknown, and quality is not guaranteed. The only thing I can recommend is to take dionaea seeds, less than a year has passed since the release date.

Stratification

Before planting Venus flytrap from seeds, it is recommended to stratify them. To do this, they are wrapped in a thin cloth and moistened with a fungicide solution (for example, Topaz).

Planting material is packaged in a plastic container and placed in the refrigerator. Periodically you need to open the container and moisten the seeds. Stratification lasts from 4 to 8 months depending on the age of the seeds.

How to plant a Venus flytrap correctly

The optimal time to start growing Dionaea from seeds is September October. To do this, you need to select high-quality clean peat. If it is caked, you need to mix it with sand or crushed sphagnum moss. The most effective way to combat spider mites on indoor plants is written here. And from this article you will learn how to get rid of scale insects if they have taken a fancy to your plants. How to find out that mealybugs have settled on your plants and how to deal with them, you will learn from the material at this address: http://cvetolubam.ru/index.html?razd=vrediteli&st=muchnistiy-chervets For seed propagation, it is best to use dionaea heated greenhouse. The seeds must be carefully distributed over the surface of the prepared soil and lightly covered with sifted peat. The greenhouse should be in a well-lit place, the ventilation holes should be closed. It is better if watering is done from below. The soil should always be moist and should not be allowed to dry out.

Daylight hours should be at least sixteen hours, and the air temperature should be at least twenty-five degrees. If all conditions are met, seedlings should be expected after a month. First, cotyledon leaves will appear, and then real ones with traps of several millimeters, which will double in size every year.

Instead of a greenhouse, you can use ordinary boxes for seedlings. After sowing, they need to be covered with glass or plastic film to ensure constant humidity.

Transplanting sprouts

If sowing is carried out in the fall, then in the spring you need to pick the sprouts. The fact is that after about five months of growth, they stop growing and prepare for a period of rest. Replanting will help force them to start growing again.

This must be done quite carefully and it is better to do it immediately in separate containers, since the roots of the Venus flytrap are too fragile. Transplantation is carried out in soil mixture for adult plants.

Full development and flowering of a Venus flytrap grown from seeds usually occurs after five years.

Dionaea propagation by dividing the bush

If Dionaea has formed many growth points, it means that it is already old and the bush needs to be divided. This should be done in the spring, when the plants are experiencing a period of active growth and are taking root well. To do this, the plant is removed from the pot, the soil from the roots is shaken off well. After this, the bush is disassembled into pieces.

Usually the process is easy, but if the bulbs have grown together, you need to separate them using a clean, sharp knife. The resulting planting material is planted in separate pots and then cared for in the same way as for adult plants.

The separation of Dionaea parts must be done very carefully, without touching the traps, which can cause them to close. Dividing the dionaea bush should not be done too often, since the plant feels much better when there are several daughter bulbs around the mother bulb.

How to propagate a Venus flytrap by leaf cuttings

It is best to carry out cuttings in the spring. To do this, you need to cut off the required number of sheets with the white part with a disinfected knife and cut off the traps. Next they need to be placed for twenty minutes in any growth stimulant.

Mix high-moor peat with quartz sand in equal quantities, pour it into seedling boxes in a layer of up to two centimeters and place leaves in it for rooting.

Dilute the soil well with a solution of fungicide in distilled water. Cover the planting with plastic wrap to retain moisture well, and place it in a well-lit room.

The cover is periodically removed to avoid rotting and mold, which often happens with this method of reproduction.

The rooting process follows the same pattern as growing violets: the parent leaf will gradually die off, and a new small rosette will appear in its place. As soon as the young shoots are well established, they can be planted in individual pots with soil for adult plants. This is usually done three months after planting, when the rosette has formed several well-developed roots.

You can use ordinary transparent plastic containers with a lid to root cuttings; they retain moisture very well.

How is dionaea transplanted?

Preparing soil for the Venus flytrap

Since the Venus flytrap is a swamp plant, it needs special soil. The soil should be poor and acidic. It is advisable to prepare it yourself by choosing one of the following options:

• Sphagnum moss – 3 parts, mixture for rooting cuttings – 1 part;
• Peat – 2 parts, perlite – 1 part;
• Peat or sphagnum moss - 3 parts, sand - 2 parts, perlite - 1 part.

Perlite should be boiled in distilled water, and quartz sand should be used. This will help avoid soil salinity. If it is not possible to prepare the soil yourself, as a last resort, you can take a ready-made soil mixture for azaleas.

Selection of capacity

Dionaea has a deep root system, so you need to choose a high pot for it. You can roughly calculate the depth of the pot by multiplying the diameter of the plant by two.

How to replant a Venus flytrap

Dionaea needs to be transplanted once every two years in the spring, after the end of the dormant period. The prepared container needs to be filled with soil and moistened well; you can use Topaz or Maxim for disinfection.

The plant is removed from the pot, the substrate is removed from the roots, as unwanted salts that have entered with irrigation water can accumulate in it. The plant is placed in a new container so that all its white parts are in the soil. After planting, the soil should be sprinkled with colloidal sulfur. A few days before transplantation, you can spray Dionaea with an anti-stress drug (for example, Epin).

cvetolubam.ru

How to plant Venus flytrap seeds? ? they are millimeter

Natalya

Sowing and growing seeds For good seed germination and increasing the percentage of their germination (it should be remembered that the germination rate of predator plants is 50-60%, which is relatively low among plants), cold stratification of the seeds must be carried out before sowing. To do this, Venus flytrap seeds must be placed in a container with a napkin or gauze soaked in a fungicide solution, or simply on the ground. Then the container with the napkin/soil with the seeds must be placed in the refrigerator (not the freezer!) for 4-8 weeks. During this time, you must ensure that the napkin or soil does not dry out. After stratification is completed, the seeds can be sown in small containers filled with a clean soil mixture for predator plants (safgnum moss, perlite and coconut substrate). It is important that the soil is not compacted. It is necessary to carefully spread the seeds on the surface of the soil and sprinkle them with a thin layer. Don't bury it! Then the container should be covered and placed in a warm, well-lit place. The temperature should be maintained between 25-27 °C, and the lighting duration should be 14-16 hours. Germination lasts 2-4 weeks. It should be remembered that some seeds can begin to sprout after 2-3 months, and sometimes up to a year (but this is an exception)! After more than one leaf appears, you should begin to gradually “ventilate” the plants. Then you can carefully transplant them into individual pots. When replanting, you must be careful not to damage the fragile roots. The substrate with growing seeds must be constantly moist. Humidification should be carried out with distilled water from below. See “Watering” for more details. Soil It is best to use sphagnum moss, perlite and coconut substrate as soil for these plants in a ratio of 1 to 3. Before using perlite, it is advisable to soak it in distilled water for a week. You can also use a mixture of high-moor peat and pure quartz sand, in a ratio of 2 to 1, as a primer. Before using quartz sand, it is advisable to rinse it in running water. Only quartz sand should be used. The use of any sand other than quartz can lead to the death of the plant.

The pot for planting should be at least 10-12 cm deep and should not be too narrow, but not too wide. A pot with a diameter of 75 mm can accommodate 4-5 young seedlings.

These plants should be replanted annually if the irrigation water contains a large amount of dissolved salts (up to 50 mg/l) or once every two years if their amount is low (5 mg/l). When transplanting, you need to be very careful not to trigger the traps. Watering The soil for the Venus flytrap should be constantly moist. Humidification should always occur from below. If you water the soil from above, this can lead to compaction of the soil and a lack of oxygen to the roots. It is necessary to place the pot with the plant on a tray of water so that the drainage holes of the pot are completely covered. For watering, use only distilled water. The soil should not be allowed to dry out or become excessively waterlogged. If necessary, you can spray the plants with a sprayer a couple of times a week.

Igor Gorshkov

buy tweezers

Venus flytrap Dionaea growing at home experiment part 2

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can anyone tell me how to grow a Venus flytrap from seeds?

Masha

I wonder if the girl with the strange name Tail has any idea about raising flycatchers and predators in general?
I will say right away that I personally did not sow the seeds due to their absence. In addition, if desired, I can propagate my flycatcher vegetatively. It is recommended to germinate seeds in a greenhouse, in sphagnum moss (or whatever substrate you prefer for flytraps), the most dangerous thing for kids is drying the substrate. Watering, naturally, with distilled water

Julia

plant the seeds in the top layer of the soil, watering by spraying

How to plant a flycatcher at home?

Rayana Amaeva

One word YouTube

Arina Artamonova

You will need
- fungicide "Topaz";
- distilled water corresponding to GOST 6709-72;
- perlite;
- high-moor peat;
- formic acid;
- “Epin-extra”;
- charcoal.

Instructions
1.
At home, Dionaea can be grown from seeds. For pre-treatment, soak a napkin in a solution of Topaz fungicide, prepared from a couple of drops of the product and a glass of distilled water. Wrap the seeds in a damp cloth, pack them in a plastic bag and keep them for two months at a temperature of 5-7 degrees.
2.
To prepare the substrate, soak perlite for a week in distilled water. Mix the soil component treated in this way in equal proportions with high-moor peat. Water the substrate with a fungicide solution, place the prepared seeds on the surface of the soil and cover the container with a glass lid or transparent film.

3. Place the container with dionaea in a place where the air temperature can be maintained within 25 degrees. Using a fluorescent lamp, arrange a sixteen-hour daylight hours in the greenhouse. Dionaea seeds germinate within 2-4 weeks. After the flytrap has 2-3 leaves, start ventilating the container.

4.In spring and summer, Dionaea can be kept outdoors. Do not change the position of the plant relative to the light source. To avoid compacting the soil and depriving the roots of oxygen, water the flower through a tray. To do this, dilute a drop of 99% formic acid in 10 liters of distilled water. Pour the acidified liquid into a bowl standing under the pot of dionaea so that the layer of water is no thinner than half a centimeter. During the spring and summer season, maintain this level of fluid in the pan.

5.For normal development, Dionaea needs a period of rest, which lasts 3-4 months. To provide the plant with the necessary conditions, gradually lower the temperature in the room where the flower is located to 5 degrees over 30 days. As daylight hours decrease, the plant goes dormant. You can pack the container with dionaea in a plastic bag with holes for ventilation and put it in the refrigerator. Once a month, moisten the soil in the pot with distilled water.

6. At the beginning of spring, spray the overwintered flycatcher with an Epin-Extra solution prepared from a glass of distilled water and a couple of drops of the product. A day later, transplant the plant into fresh substrate, being careful not to touch the traps.

7. During the growth process, Dionaea forms daughter bulbs, from which new flycatchers can be obtained. To propagate a flower in this way, separate the bulbs with a pair of developed roots from the mother plant, sprinkle the cut with crushed coal and place the planting material in fresh soil. This operation should not be performed more than once every 3 years.

Kitty

Seeds... from Aliexpress, or something...
No way, these are weeds, for sure. We have already come across this trick - the Chinese selling something and guess what!

How to grow a Venus flytrap?

Anna

From China? Why do you think these are flytrap seeds? We must first make sure, and only then plant. Otherwise, now stock up on special peat, zircon, distillate - and this is some kind of weed. Photos would be shown.

Ksenia Bogatyreva

The Venus flytrap essentially grows in a swamp. Humidity is needed. It’s unlikely you’ll raise her.

Sergey Pavlov

With the flytrap and with deep-rooted problems around the eyes, ..and from seeds...
Try it... if you have enough patience and skill...

Fenya

Don't bother. No one has yet received the seeds of the ordered plants from China. Weeds come, and as you plant, they will grow.

The Venus flytrap flower slams its brightly colored trap leaves, studded along the edges with sharp and long thorns, at an unusual speed for a plant. An instant reaction occurs as a reflex, as soon as the victim touches the sensitive hairs on the surface. The slammed dense bivalve leaf immediately turns from a trap into the stomach of the flycatcher, where the digestion of the next portion of food begins.

The Venus flytrap is a plant that, even with a big stretch, cannot be called a fast food lover: the process of savoring and digesting food will take place for 10 whole days. And after this period, the valves will open again carnivorously, attracting a new victim. On them you can see an empty chitinous shell - all that remains of the insect. In this way, the Venus flytrap compensates for the lack of nitrogen in the swampy soil, which it needs for the formation of protein and its further growth.

There was an incident with the name of this plant. It looks very much like it was given by some dreamy agrobotanist. After all muscipula translated from Latin does not mean “flytrap” at all, but “mousetrap”.

The Venus flytrap is a fairly hardened flower and well adapted to seasonal temperature changes. In its American homeland, it does not die when snow falls, but does not withstand frosts that occur quite rarely. In winter, only the lower rosette of leaves remains, close to the ground. Like a flag reporting a life barely simmering in the depths. A period of rest begins. And with the first rays of spring, the next stage of Venus’s life begins in the guise of a flytrap-mousetrap. A short underground stem in the form of an onion will fill with juice. A rosette of leaves will appear, which will grow up to 10 cm in diameter. Such leaves (up to 7 pieces) will begin to appear sequentially one above the other, like floors. At the same time as the first leaves, stems with white flowers will appear. When they fade, the leaves turn into a kind of trap. Each is capable of digesting several insects, increasing after each serving by ¼ of its maximum size.

Well enough about botany. The most interesting thing is that Venus flytrap can be bred at home. It is not for nothing that this plant is popular among flower growers - lovers of exoticism and thrills. It can be grown both on the windowsill of an apartment and in the garden, and caring for it, although it has its own characteristics, is quite simple.

How to properly care for unusual flower so that he can live comfortably at home? The main thing is imitation natural conditions accommodation: sufficient humidity, sandy-peaty soil and good lighting. It is important to remember that the Venus flytrap does not tolerate stagnant air and needs regular ventilation under the rays of the sun.

It is better to place the pot with the plant on an eastern or western windowsill, where the light is softer. It is necessary to have a tray with a supply of rain or purified water. The soil should not dry out. For this purpose, moss can be spread on top of it. You should not “tease” traps and overfeed the plant, otherwise it may die.

How to feed a Venus flytrap? It is better to give it fresh, soft, small larvae as food, because if the food is not completely digested by the flytrap, the trap may begin to rot. Well, under no circumstances should you feed meat in any form.

In the fall, the Venus flytrap begins to prepare for hibernation. A sign of this will be the cessation of new leaf growth. During this period, the plant needs less water, so the water can be poured out of the pan. But the soil in the pot should still not dry out. And during winter dormancy, it is better to move the flytrap from the windowsill to a cooler dark place with a temperature of 2 to 10 degrees Celsius. During this period, the flytrap does not need light and can be stored in the lower compartment of the refrigerator in a plastic bag or on a glassed-in loggia. We continue to monitor the soil: it should be moderately moist enough to avoid rotting. In the spring, the Venus flytrap can be returned to its original place and replanted, using not garden soil that is unsuitable for acidity, but sandy-peaty or simply peat.

If you grow a flycatcher in the garden, where it will provide itself with food and will look better in the fresh air, then, in addition to the above, it is worth considering such points. The dimensions of the box must be at least 20 cm deep and 30 cm wide, and the soil in it must be covered with moss. The location of the flower box with the Venus flytrap should be such that the sun's rays are not scorching. And on winter period It is better to bring the plant into the basement to avoid freezing.

Until recently, the indoor plant market was not pleased with its diversity. Now you can find anything you want. It is not always possible to properly care for a plant, especially if it is very unusual. For example, such as the Venus flytrap, a plant that feeds on insects.

Predator at home

Recently, the demand for exotic indoor plants has been growing. Many gardeners are no longer interested in growing ordinary violets and ficuses, so it is not surprising that “predators” are increasingly appearing in homes. Insectivorous plants look very unusual, and some of them are also quite unpretentious. Besides predatory flower- this is very strange even for those who are indifferent to the exotic. So a hobby such as growing insectivorous plants clearly characterizes a person as a person with extraordinary interests.

Venus flytrap

One of the most popular predator plants for home keeping is Dionaea. Its second and more popular name is Venus flytrap, and its Latin name is Dionaea Muscipula. Moreover, an annoying and extremely funny mistake crept into it. The fact is that the plant “flytrap” in Latin should be called muscicipula, but it is believed that the botanist who gave the name to the flower did not add one syllable, resulting in a “moustrap”. And this caused confusion.

The homeland of Dionaea is the peat bogs of North America, but in last years Its habitat is steadily shrinking. This plant was first described in 1759, and, of course, it amazed everyone. A carnivorous representative of the flora - for that time it was a real fantasy. Leaves of an unusual shape, reminiscent of a trap and slamming shut when touched - what could be more surprising? The seemingly absurd hypothesis that insects caught in a trap serve as food for the plant has been confirmed. Subsequently, marsh flowers already familiar to botanists were caught on a meat “diet”. But it was Dionaea that opened the eyes of scientists and allowed them to take a new look at the seemingly harmless world of greenery.

By the way, this is a flytrap - a plant, the photo and description of which inspired science fiction writers, animators and screenwriters to create giant carnivorous flowers that even devour people. Dionaea looks very predatory and dangerous even for humans. In fact, according to scientists, predator plants acquired this feature as a result of growing in very nutrient-poor soils. To get what they needed, they were forced to develop an unusual survival mechanism.

Varieties

Despite the diversity on the market, the species Dionaea muscipula is the only one that has no close relatives. But breeders have developed a large number of different varieties, so the flytrap houseplant is a choice of several colors and sizes. And yet, it is usually a small flower, its leaves are collected in a rosette and can be positioned both horizontally and vertically. With a sufficient variety of varieties, they have one thing in common - predatory tendencies. Despite the fact that the flytrap plant has been grown at home for quite a long time, it has not lost this trait, valuable for gardeners.

Hunting

Seeing Dionaea for the first time and not knowing about its features, you might think that it is an ordinary flower with amazing leaves. But observing his feeding procedure makes it clear that everything is not so simple. This can be compared to the process of hunting among predators in the animal world. At first, she seems to be waiting for an opportune moment when the victim can no longer escape. The trap quickly slams shut, and it is no longer possible to get out of it, because the leaves are compressed more and more, forming a dense “bag”. Within a few days, digestive enzymes dissolve the victim’s body, leaving only a chitinous shell. After the meal is finished, the trap will open again, allowing the wind to carry away the remains.

All this looks so exciting that it seems as if Dionea has intelligence. In fact, all processes are caused by chemical reactions. In response to irritation of special villi, the cells react by releasing certain substances, under the influence of which the geometry of the leaf changes and the trap slams shut. This interesting process has been studied in detail with the help of modern technologies, so the fact that Dionaea does not have the cunning of a predator is for sure. But still, when watching the hunt, it is sometimes difficult not to forget that the flycatcher is a plant.

How to care?

Many gardeners are hesitant to take on the care of Dionaea, because it seems that it is extremely capricious. In fact, the flytrap plant grows well at home if you know what conditions are important for it. And there are only two of them - light and water, which will be discussed a little later. Otherwise, Dionaea is extremely unpretentious: air humidity can fluctuate over a very wide range, and temperature is also not very important. The Venus flytrap may turn out to be much less capricious than many common plants.

Another difficulty is that it cannot always be found on sale. Of course, you can plant flytrap seeds, which are easy to purchase, but it can take quite a long time for them to develop into a full-fledged plant; it is easier to buy a seedling. And you still need to know when to do it and what to do next.

This is an unusual Venus flytrap plant. How can you care for her if she doesn’t look like a peace-loving flower at all?

Purchase and transplant

It is better to purchase a flower in spring or early summer. Of course, this can be done late autumn, but then the plant’s chances of survival are minimal. The fact is that Dionaea falls into a kind of hibernation in winter, when its above-ground part dies off, and it requires certain conditions. If you skip this period, then death from exhaustion is almost inevitable. This is the reason for the recommendation for the time of its acquisition during the period when the flower enters the active growth phase.

As a rule, Dionaea is sold immediately in the required substrate, so there is no need for its urgent transplantation. If you still need it, you need to opt for peat, even pure peat - it will do just fine.

Light and water

Dionaea has special requirements for the amount of sun and quality of watering. There should be a lot of light - ideally it should be in direct rays. This may seem like it will cause burns on the leaves, but it won't. The scorching sun, destructive for most plants, is only beneficial for the flytrap.

The second condition is water. It should be not just pure, but distilled. Unfortunately, the liquid that flows from the tap contains too many impurities, and dionea requires gentle watering through a tray. This should be done often, but not too much - the substrate should always be moist, do not forget that the flytrap is a marsh plant.

Flowering and reproduction

Although the growing season is often of little concern to those who keep a flytrap at home, it can be interesting. Flowering occurs in the spring - buds bloom on long vertical stems in anticipation of pollinators. Later the fruits and seeds ripen. After collecting them, you can try to germinate them, but seedlings can only be expected in about a month.

The most popular method is dividing the bush. The fact is that as the flytrap plant grows, it grows daughter bulbs, which can be separated from the main one when they have developed sufficiently. This should be done immediately after leaving the winter dormancy period. Another method is cuttings, but it requires huge amount light and 100% humidity.

Other features and difficulties

Some people perceive Dionaea as fun - they touch the leaves, causing them to slam, catch and try to feed flies to it - after all, the hunt is spectacular, everyone wants to see with their own eyes how the plant eats an insect. But for the flower this is unnecessary stress, and active interference in its life and attempts to feed it can only lead to its premature death.

Contrary to rumors, the flytrap plant does not need protein food so much that it needs help. There is no need to put pieces of meat or other protein products in the leaves. If necessary, Dionea will cope with this task herself. If no insects are observed at all, then it is better to simply feed the flower with well-diluted organic fertilizers.

Blackening leaves are not always a bad sign. Of course, this may indicate the need to reduce watering, but more often this is simply the death of old shoots.

Wintering and leaving it

One of the most difficult stages of caring for a flycatcher is sending it into hibernation and awakening in the spring. It is during this period that domestic specimens die most often. The fact is that during wintering the flytrap plant needs a certain stable temperature conditions, humidity and a small amount of light. Those who have dealt with bulbous plants will cope with this task easily, but it will not be easy for inexperienced gardeners.

The fact is that during this period the flytrap plant requires a minimum but stable positive temperature, fairly high humidity and a small amount of light. At the same time, the transition to new conditions should not occur too abruptly. Often gardeners during this period place it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. It is worth remembering that in this case it is necessary to ensure air circulation and prevent the soil from completely drying out, as well as rotting. Feeding is not necessary during this period, and it simply won’t work, because during hibernation the above-ground part will die off so as not to waste extra energy on maintaining it.

With the coming sunny days it is necessary to begin to emerge from wintering by returning the dionaea to a bright windowsill and gradually increasing watering. If necessary, a transplant can be made. If everything is done correctly, then very soon the active growth of new leaves and traps will begin.

Of course, caring for dionaea has its difficulties, and one of them is the correct entry and exit from the dormant period. But if this was successful, then other problems with the flycatcher will not be terrible.

Venus flytrap ( dionaea muscipula) is a predatory herbaceous plant of the sundew family. It feeds mainly on small insects and mollusks. Grows in wet coastal peat bogs Atlantic Ocean(in Florida, North and South Carolina, New Jersey). Widely distributed throughout the world as an ornamental plant. But how to grow a Venus flytrap from seeds, is it possible to do this at home?

The Venus flytrap is a flower that represents fertility and prosperity. Symbolizes love and sympathy, and can also symbolize the feminine principle.

On the short underground stem of the plant there are no more than 7 leaves, collected in a rosette, 3-7 cm in size. It prefers to grow in swamps with a low nitrogen content in the soil. This deficiency is compensated by eating nitrogen-containing insects - trap leaves are designed for this.

They appear after flowering, on short stems not exceeding 15 cm in length. The traps are green, with a reddish tint. A kind of trap is formed from two sheets, with hairs placed on the edges for better adhesion to each other when triggered.

The glands of the trap produce a special juice that attracts insects. To feast on it, the victim sits on the inner petals and collects nectar. At the same time, special hairs on the trap are irritated, and it instantly slams shut. After the blades are completely closed, a kind of stomach is formed in which the extracted food is digested. After a week of baiting, the trap opens and the cycle is repeated several more times until it dies.

How to grow a Venus flytrap from seeds

Venus flytrap flower

In spring or early summer, the Venus flytrap begins to bloom. Small graceful white flowers appear on long peduncles. This process takes a lot of the flycatcher's strength. Therefore, you should leave the buds only if you need seeds.

The Venus flytrap is not capable of pollinating on its own at home; this will need to be done manually:

• after opening the buds, you need to take a thin brush;
• with its help, collect pollen from one flower;
• With gentle movements, transfer it to the other pestle, trying not to damage it;
• continue to cross-pollinate with each flower.

After the ovary appears, the seeds will ripen in about a month. They need to be planted no later than 3-4 months after pollination. Growing from seeds is a rather labor-intensive process.

Stratification process and soil preparation

Venus flytrap seeds

This method is carried out before sowing to increase the chances of seeds germinating. The seeds, wrapped in a cloth moistened with fungicide or potassium permanganate, are placed in the refrigerator. You need to regularly ensure that the seeds do not dry out by moisturizing them. The whole process lasts no more than 8 weeks.

Dionea loves acidic soil. To prepare it, take two equal parts of perlite, peat, one part of moss and quartz sand. Perlite must first be soaked for a week in water, and the sand must be boiled. No drainage is added to the bottom of the pots.

How to Plant Venus Flytrap Seeds

Once the soil is prepared, you need to do the following:

1. Sow the seeds in small pots or seedling boxes, lightly sprinkle with moss, without burying them.
2. Cover the containers with glass or plastic wrap.
3. Maintain a constant temperature around 24-28 °C.
4. Make sure you have good bright lighting, at least 15 hours a day.
5. Regularly monitor the soil moisture and do not allow it to dry out.

If all the rules are followed, each seed should germinate in two to three weeks, some longer.

First shoots

After the first shoots, as soon as a couple of leaves appear on the sprouts, they need to be hardened off. To do this, the seedlings must be ventilated for a short time by opening the glass. After hardening, each small dionaea should be transplanted into an individual container. The transplant must be carried out very carefully, not forgetting the exceptional fragility of the small roots. The plant will grow into an adult only after five years.

Flycatcher cuttings

Growing flycatchers by cuttings is best done in the spring. To do this you need:

1. Cut a few leaves from the rosette. To improve the rooting of cuttings, you can use a biogrowth stimulator.
2. Before planting, you need to prepare a substrate consisting of quartz sand and peat.
3. Pour a small layer of prepared soil into containers and plant the cuttings.
4. Cover the plants with a jar or plastic bottle and place them in a lighted place.
5. The disadvantage of this method is the high possibility of rotting and fungal infection. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to ventilate the pots by removing the covers.
6. After three months, the sprouts will take root and the root system will become stronger. Then they can be transplanted into separate containers using soil for adult individuals.

Dividing a bush for planting

A very simple way to breed a flycatcher. When replanting, it is removed from the pot and removed from the soil. Using a knife, carefully separate the fused rosettes. Then, the resulting flowers are planted in separate containers and taken care of as usual at home.

How to care for a Venus flytrap at home

Despite the great difficulty of growing dionaea, it is much easier to care for than other exotic plants:

• indoor flower dionaea, can be planted in the garden or placed on a windowsill, preferably on east or west windows;
• every day you need at least 6 hours of sunlight in the morning or evening;
• When growing a flycatcher in a florarium, an artificial light source is needed. It is located at a height of 25 cm from the flower with daily lighting for 15 hours;
• it is necessary to monitor air humidity, its lack has a bad effect on the plant;
• Dionaea needs fresh air without drafts. In the summer, the flytrap can be taken out onto the balcony or street, hidden from direct sunlight on hot days;
• for the flower to feel normal, the temperature in summer should not go beyond 18-28 °C. In winter, this figure decreases significantly and can reach 8 °C.

Features of watering flycatchers

It is necessary to ensure that the soil always remains moist; drying out the soil is detrimental to your plant. Also, water should not flow through the top, which will impede the flow of oxygen to the roots. Enough water is poured into the trays so that the drainage holes are immersed in it. If necessary, the plant itself will replenish the lack of moisture.

Distilled or rain water is most suitable. Small plants in the growing stage need to be moistened 3 times a week.

Fertilizing and feeding Dionaea

Feeding Dionaea

The use of any fertilizers is prohibited. Dionaea is a predator, so it receives all the necessary fertilizers through food - insects. You also need to know a few simple rules:

• You only need to feed the flycatcher once a month. Over the entire growing season, 2-3 insects (flies, mosquitoes, spiders) will be enough for her;
• the insect should not be larger than the trap;
• Do not feed the flycatcher with worms and insects that have a hard shell, as well as leaf beetles that can damage Dionaea;
• It is prohibited to feed meat and general consumption products to the Venus flytrap as fertilizers;

DO NOT FEED THE FLOWER

in case of illness;
if care measures are not followed (insufficient lighting, waterlogged soil);
during transplantation.

In autumn and winter, feeding stops.

Caring for a Venus Flytrap in Winter

Like other plants, the Venus flytrap needs rest during cold periods of the year. To do this, when cold weather sets in, it is necessary to stop watering. Gradually reduce lighting and reduce temperature to 5 °C. During the entire rest period (3 months), the flytrap can be stored in the refrigerator. You need to monitor the condition of the soil all the time, not allowing it to dry out and not moisturizing it too much, otherwise the flower may wither. In the spring, by removing Dionaea from the refrigerator and gradually increasing the temperature, you can continue caring for it.

Transplanting a Venus flytrap

Spring is the best time to transplant dionaea. You can repeat it after 1-2 years. When transplanting, you need to follow some rules:

• due to the long roots, the container for the flower must be deep, but not too wide;
• when replanting the flytrap, be extremely careful not to damage the fragile roots;
• after removing the dionaea from the pot, remove the adhering soil by watering the roots with water;
• as previously written, the soil for planting a flower is prepared by mixing two parts perlite, two parts peat, and one part quartz sand.

Once Dionaea is transplanted, it will take a month for it to take root. During this period, watering must be increased, and the flytrap should not be exposed to bright sun.

Pests

Dionaea - the Venus flytrap, although very rare, is still susceptible to attacks by harmful insects. Most often, these are aphids that settle on the plant, especially traps. As a result, they become deformed and die. To combat aphids, special aerosols are used.

Also, in addition to aphids, the flycatcher can suffer from spider mites. This can happen if the air humidity is low. An acaricide solution can get rid of these uninvited guests.

Venus flytrap diseases

All flytrap diseases appear due to improper maintenance conditions:

• If the air is constantly over-humidified, black spots may appear on the flower. This could indicate a mold infection. Fungicides effectively cope with this problem.
• after the appearance of gray fluff, you urgently need to get rid of the infected parts and treat the flytrap with a fungicide;
• It happens that the insect cannot digest the flytrap, and the trap begins to rot - the most dangerous disease. If the affected area is not removed, the disease will spread to the entire Dionaea.

This is interesting - Rosyanka

The Venus flytrap grows naturally only in North America. But in temperate latitudes another insectivorous representative of this family grows.
Sundew is a predator, the most common carnivorous plant. Like Dionaea, it feeds on small insects. Grows on all continents except Antarctica: in the mountains, on sandstones, peat bogs of Europe, Northern and South America, Asia. Most of all it grows in Australia.

The root system is poorly developed and is needed so that the sundew can hold on to the ground. Any type of soil is favored by these silent killers. Instead of two predatory petals, the sundew has a leaf with large fibers that secrete a sticky paralyzing substance. After the victim falls into the trap, the sundew quickly rolls up its leaf, enveloping the insect. After several days of digestion, the leaf opens again.