Venus flytrap "Funnel Trap"(Dionaea muscipula)

Venus flytrap "Funnel Trap" / 10 seeds

(Dionaea muscipula)

STRANGE? - but that's what it really looks like!

Interesting facts: This is a very unusual 'mutant' in which a Venus flytrap was crossed with some other plant. The result is snap traps that look as if they are glued together at the end of the stem at their growth point. They are bent inwards and form a kind of funnel in addition to the snap mechanism, which indicates that trapped insects can no longer escape. The snap traps are on upright, long and thin stems. The leaves themselves are green and only in a lot of sun do the insides turn slightly reddish.

The Venus flytrap is probably the best known of all carnivorous plants! The two halves of the leaf close quickly as soon as an insect gets into the trap. Soft insects are even crushed by the force of the traps. The Venus flytrap's prey is broken down by digestive enzymes and after a few days the trap opens again.

The Venus flytrap is native to the raised bogs of the American Atlantic coast of North Carolina.

The Venus flytrap loves a bright to full sun spot.

Only plant the plants in unfertilized peat and never water from above. The pot should be placed in a saucer that is always filled 1 to 3 cm high with low-lime water.

Never fertilize or only fertilize very rarely! The plant only needs fertilizer if it catches insects - these nutrients can be stored for up to a year.

After 4 to 5 "digestions" per trap, these turn black and can be removed by cutting them out. New traps grow back. In the long term, it is harmful to the traps to force them to close artificially (e.g. by touching them with your fingers).

Water a little less in winter, but do not let the soil dry out. It is best to place the pot in a light and cool place (4° to 12° C). It can happen that many of the traps turn brown and die. The plant does not die in this case, but goes into a kind of winter dormancy and sprouts again in April. Please continue watering even if no traps are visible.

The seeds can be grown indoors all year round. Scatter the fine seeds on well-moistened sowing substrate. The best germination is achieved at 23° to 28° C and takes place after 4 to 6 weeks.