The Venus flytrap is quite an interesting plant. It is one of the very few carnivorous plants in the world that is easily recognizable. The plant mainly gathers nutrients from the soil and gases in the air. Native to South and North Carolina, the plant’s mouth is always open, making its short hairs, commonly referred to as trigger hairs, visible. If anything touches these hairs, the lobes close, trapping whatever landed on the plant. One good thing about this plant is that it is relatively easy to propagate, and you don’t need special tools or knowledge to multiply your venus flytrap collection.
So, how can you propagate the venus flytrap plant? The plant is relatively easy to grow and can be propagated by leaf cuttings, seed germination, or division. For division, it should be divided in late winter or early summer. Carefully cut off the offshoots from the mother plant but ensure the part you want to cut off has its own root system. The best time to propagate leaf cuttings is early summer. Seed germination can be done any time of the year because seeds aren’t too sensitive to climatic conditions like leaf cuttings and offshoots.
This blog post discusses the different ways of propagating the Venus flytrap plant and how you can take care of your newly propagated plant. Read on to find out everything you need to know.
Propagation through Stem/Stalk Cuttings
Propagating venus flytrap through leaf or stalk cuttings is relatively easy. First, you need to identify a healthy part of the stem and carefully cut the flower stalks when they reach 2-4 inches long.
Once you have the stalks or stem cuttings, plant them in carnivorous soil. Water lightly and provide sufficient light for the cuttings to start growing.
What Materials Do You Need to Propagate Venus Flytrap through Cuttings?
Typically, you will need the following materials for your cuttings propagation:
- Pure water: Ensure you are not using tap water or bottled water. Instead, you need distilled water, rainwater, or reverse osmosis water.
- Carnivorous plant soil: It is crucial to use the right soil type. If you cannot make your own carnivorous soil, be sure to purchase it from your local plant nursery.
- Pot with plenty of drainage holes: You need to ensure the pot you will use to grow your venus flytrap has plenty of drainage holes because this plant hates sitting in water for prolonged hours.
- Mature Venus flytrap: Ideally, you should have a venus flytrap plant that is already flowering. Most of these plants start flowering in spring, a few weeks after the winter dormancy.
- You will also need a pair of sharp scissors and a water tray.
The Process
To successfully propagate your venus flytrap plant through stem/stalk cutting, make sure you follow the steps outlined below. If you do everything right, you will have another set of plants in no time.
1. Fill the Pot with Appropriate Soil
The first thing you need to do is prepare the growing pot for stem or stalk cutting. Add the soil to the container and moisten it with distilled water until it is completely saturated.
Use your fingers to press the soil slightly while moistening it. Continue adding soil to the pot until it is almost full. Just leave one or two inches of space from the top of the pot.
2. Cut the Stems or Flower Stalks within the Right Time
Venus flytrap plants usually produce flower stalks in spring. The stalks can take a few weeks or one month to grow and flower.
To increase your chances of success with stalk propagation, consider obtaining the stalks before they start flowering. Typically, you should obtain the stalks when the flower stalks are approximately three or four inches long.
To separate the flower stalk from the mother plant, use a sharp pair of scissors and make a clean cut as close to the base of the plant as possible. Be careful not to harm any bulb or leaf.
3. Divide the Stalks into Smaller Pieces
Once you have obtained your three or four inch-long stalks, consider subdividing them into relatively smaller pieces that are approximately two inches long. The number of pieces you obtain from each stalk will depend on the original length of the stalk.
Use the same pair of sharp scissors you used to obtain the initial cutting from the mother plant for subdivision. When cutting the stalk into smaller pieces, cut at an angle instead of making a straight cut.
This will increase your chances of successfully propagating the venus flytrap. Cutting at an angle produces a relatively larger surface area for root growth and water intake.
4. Plant the Flower Stalks
Now it is time to set your flower stalks into the potting mix and watch them turn into new plants. Carefully stick the stalk into the potting mix vertically. The flower cuttings should remain out of the soil.
Generally, only half an inch of the stalk cutting should go into the soil. If you made your cut at an angle, ensure the side cut at an angle goes into the soil.
Once you have planted all the flower stalks you managed to obtain; everything is set. The only thing you need to do is provide the cuttings with proper care and observe them carefully. Venus flytrap cuttings usually start turning into new growth within two to five weeks.
Propagation through Division
If your venus flytrap plant is healthy and has enough space in the pot, it will automatically start to multiply by itself every year. You can still leave the plant in the same pot until it gets too tight before you get it out and separate the rhizomes from the mother plant.
The best way to know if your plant is already producing rhizomes is to count its leaves. If it has more than seven leaves, it means the plant is already producing rhizomes that can be separated and turned into new plants.
Carefully remove the plant from its growing pot and divide its root ball. If you are lucky enough, the parts will separate themselves once you pull the plant out.
If they don’t, use a sharp knife or pair of scissors to separate the root ball. Make sure each section of the root ball has its own rhizomes and leaves.
Take the divided sections and pot them in separate growing containers to continue cultivating them as new plants. In the first two or three weeks, ensure the pots are in a strategic spot that receives plenty of bright indirect light but don’t expose them to direct sunlight.
Propagation through Seed Germination
Lastly, you can also propagate venus flytrap through germination. To accomplish this, you need to pollinate flowers during the flowering season. You can pollinate the flowers using a brush and wait for the seeds to form after flowering.
If you cannot pollinate the flowers of your plant and harvest the seeds yourself, you have the option of buying the seeds from your local plant nursery.
Carefully harvest the seeds into a bag and keep them in a cool and protected area away from light until you are ready to sow them.
The best time to sow the seeds is at the beginning of spring. Carefully sprinkle the seeds on the carnivorous potting mix. Make sure you use the right potting mix to achieve the desired results.
Consider using 80% shredded sphagnum moss and 20% perlite or vermiculite if you are making your own potting mix. You can also use peat pellets that you can purchase online.
Sow your venus flytrap seeds so thinly on the soil so that once they germinate, they can go for an entire season without the need of transplanting them due to overcrowding.
Another reason why you should sow the seeds thinly is that you are looking for larger plants and not smaller plants that will sprout out due to overcrowding.
Taking Care of Newly Propagated Venus Flytrap Plants
After sowing your seeds, expose the pot or planting tray that contains your seeds to as much light as possible. In the case of germinating seeds, more light is always better than less light. Feel free to use either natural or artificial light.
Artificial light in the form of fluorescent bulbs has a slight advantage because it provides you with an incredible opportunity to expose your seeds to light for prolonged hours. Ideally, you should leave them turned on for 16 hours a day.
For watering, ensure the potting mix is moist to the touch but not soggy. The seedlings will also germinate better in a relatively humid environment. One of the easiest ways to increase humidity is by placing a saran wrap style plastic wrap over the planting tray or pot holding the seeds.
Maintain the temperature between 80-85oF to achieve better results. Typically, seeds and seedlings tend to do better in a relatively warm environment which is why many gardeners use heat pads and heat coils while germinating seeds.
Should I Fertilize Newly Propagated Venus Flytrap?
If you use a high-quality potting mix containing all the essential nutrients, you shouldn’t fertilize your newly propagated venus flytrap plants.
If you want to give them a little boost, consider using a very dilute solution of liquid fertilizer meant for carnivorous plants. Once every two weeks should be more than enough.
Use fertilizer high in nitrogen, such as 30-10-10 or 20-10-20, because these nutrients are essential for the growth of new leaves.
Avoid using chemical fertilizers because they can damage the delicate roots of your newly propagated plants. Organic fertilizer is always a better option.
How Do I Transplant My Venus Flytrap?
When it comes to transplanting, the best time to do it is in early spring or late fall. The plant is dormant during these times and will have an easier time adjusting to a new pot or location.
Start by preparing the new pot or location. If you are transplanting to a new pot, make sure it is big enough to accommodate the roots of your plant. The pot should also have drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to drain out.
Fill the pot with carnivorous plant potting mix and gently remove your plant from its current pot. Be very careful not to damage the roots in the process.
Carefully place the plant in the new pot and fill in any empty space around the roots with more potting mix. Water the plant well and ensure the potting mix is moist but not soggy.
Place the pot in a location that receives plenty of light. Ideally, you should use artificial light, such as fluorescent bulbs, for 14-16 hours daily.
When Is the Best Time to Transplant Newly Propagated Venus Flytrap Plants?
The best time to transplant newly propagated venus flytrap plants is in early spring or late fall. The plant is dormant during these times and will have an easier time adjusting to a new pot or location.
Start by preparing the new pot or location. If you are transplanting to a new pot, make sure it is big enough to accommodate the roots of your plant. The pot should also have drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to drain out.
The plant is highly susceptible to transplant shock, so it is important to take your time and be careful not to damage the roots.
Summary
That is it about propagating the venus flytrap plant, and we hope we have covered everything you need to know to start multiplying your plant collection. As long as you do everything right and be a little bit patient with the entire process, you will have a huge venus flytrap plant collection in no time.
Last update on 2023-07-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
