Can You Feed a Venus Flytrap a Dead Fly?
Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants that can be found at most grocery stores and plant nurseries. Their unique and striking appearance has enthralled people and inspired countless writers and film directors in popular culture. Unfortunately, many people buy a Venus flytrap without understanding how to care for it properly and they often find their plants dying a quick death. The answer to can you feed a venus flytrap a dead fly is yes, but it is not recommended. It is always better to feed a Venus flytrap live food.
Venus Flytraps need nutrient rich food to thrive. They are capable of catching their own prey in the wild, but this is not practical for the average home gardener. Feeding a Venus flytrap two insects or small slugs a month is enough to keep it healthy and happy. Avoid feeding your Venus flytrap any meat-based food, such as hamburgers or cheese, because it will not digest these items and they will cause the trap to rot.
The Venus flytrap is an incredible and unique plant that is well-suited for the home garden. They are hardy in zones 8-10 and grow best in a container with loose, slightly acidic soil that receives full sunlight. Unlike many other houseplants, they do not need to be watered frequently. However, it is important to avoid overwatering because Venus flytraps are susceptible to root rot and fungal diseases. They can be watered with distilled, rain, or mineral water, but never use tap water.
In the wild, a Venus flytrap primarily eats ants. The Venus flytrap’s jaws snap shut when it detects an insect’s movement, injecting the creature with venom that begins digesting the insect. Within ten days, the bug’s exoskeleton is visible in the trap and any parts of the insect that could not be digested will fall out.
If you want to hand-feed your Venus flytrap, it is best to use meal worms or other small, live insects that will fit inside the trap when it is closed. To feed a Venus flytrap, first place the insect inside one of its traps and gently touch the trigger hairs to initiate partial closing. Then, slowly squeeze the two lobes of the trap together to flex the trigger hairs and simulate how they would respond to a living prey. If you do this gently, the trap will eventually close and start digesting its meal.
Once the Venus flytrap is done digesting its meal, it will reopen and spit out the insect’s outer shell. It will also reopen the traps on its left and right sides, allowing the trapped air to escape. Eventually, the entire trap will reopen and the Venus flytrap will be ready for its next meal.
It is important to note that Venus flytraps need insects for nutrients, but they need water and gas just as much as any other plant does. If you overfeed your Venus flytrap, the traps will not be able to close as they are designed to do. This can lead to the Venus flytrap becoming ill.
