Help with my venus fly trap!?

Question

I have had my venus fly trap for about 6 months now, but since I have had it the shoots are constantly dying once they have grown long. New shoots are constantly growing but I don't understand why they keep dying? I am following the care instructions when looking after it. At first I thought it was just the really hot weather causing the shoots to die but now winter is here it is still the same.

Further more, I have noticed tiny little bugs - about the size of a pin head - crawling all over the soil. What are these bugs? Are they meant to live amongst the soil of the venus fly trap or would it be possible that these bugs are there to destroy the plant? I notice that they crawl all over the dead shoots so I am thinking that they may be helping with the decomposing of the dead shoots.

I don't think the bugs are aphids. They are way to small I think!

Furthermore the bugs do not appear to crawl on the healthy shoots they only appear to crawl on the dead ones. Most of the bugs though are just crawling on the soil. When i said the bugs are tiny I am talking almost micoscopic. I can only notice them when they are moving around

Answer 1

Well i do work at a botanical garden in south Carolina currently so i may help you. A Venus flytrap dies after 2-4 phases of eating so each time u make it close falsely it will bring it closer to death. I suggest keeping it at an 80-85 temperature without sunlight for a while. Most bugs are attracted to the scent but are more attracted to a light source if it is outside, BRING IT IN and at night cover it up.
If the shoots get long they are only trying to produce blossoms if u cut off the longer shoots before they finish the blossoms they will grow rapidly therefore, You may want to consider getting a plant easier to care for, if you like carnivorous plants, get a cobra lily they are much easier to care for and if you take care of it properly they can grow to a foot long and live for 30-40 years if u harvest them.
If you want to learn more about them search google for "Carnivorous Plants" There you will find allot more tips.






PS: The bugs are unnatural and they are attracted by the soil they make it richer but the Venus flytrap only uses marshy acidic soil so i suggest ordering some from North or south Carolina
It will be easy and understandable if they grow better and the bugs are gone

Also i suggest getting fecal matter to attract flies and repel other insects i know it sounds gross but it will lower your efforts of care i understand that you are having trouble.

I hope this has helped you.

Have a nice day

*Back To the Hidden Leaf*

Answer 2

Venus fly traps are a fascinating plant
same as Mimosa pudica
however they do like water but not too much
the aphids that yous describe sounds to me that these are mealy bugs , you can get a spray from all good horticulture stockists to treat them , one small warning if you have children or a pet place the plant for a few days out of reach as the spray on the plant and soil will get them some reaction to skin , so be particulary careful with that
secondly it won't hurt if you get fresh soil for the plant itself and throw the old soil away so you can more or less cut down on the numbers of mealy bugs
mealy bugs usually feed on new shoots as these are usually tender
good luck

Answer 3

are you sure you put the fly far enough down? there are tiny hairs that are triggered when touched and cause the trap to close. normally I've seen the for about $5-7. That is weird that they sold it for only a dollar. I am not too sure. I would just leave it there for a little while make sure the fly is not too big and don't close the trap with your fingers, that causes the plant to lose energy or something

Answer 4

The bugs are called "mealy bugs" and they are the cause of your plants shoots dying. Throw the plant out and buy a new one is the easiest way.

Answer 5

This originally plant came/belongs in the swamp. These bugs are your new friends came from the soil and do you know what kind of soil it is ?

Answer 6

I had the same problem :-(

Unless there is something you can feed the plant or spray on it to stop them eating the shoots you might have to buy another one.

sorry

Answer 7

I wish I could help, i havent had much luck at all with those darn things.. they are very interesting plants.. kids like to watch them.. but i cant keep them around long.. sorry

Answer 8

Shirl has the best anwser wow execllent web page for this fab plant

Answer 9

They are probably aphids, and I bet that's what is killing the plant. You can buy a spray at the store that will get rid of them.

Answer 10

I couldn't answer your question but you are in need of some help so thought it best to give you a website I found.

Hope this helps