The American Venus flytrap is an impressive and intriguing insectivorous plant that can be grown at home. Before choosing such a plant, it is worth getting acquainted with its requirements and finding out how to buy a Venus flytrap to keep it in good condition for a long time.
American Venus flytrap - silhouette
The American flycatcher (Dionaea muscipula) is a plant species increasingly imported to Poland due to its unusual appearance and way of functioning.In the past, flycatchers were scarcely available, and in nature they were found only in North America (North and South Carolina), in swamps and marshes. The flycatcherbelongs to the family of sundewsIt is a perennial, i.e. a perennial plant. It is very popular because it belongs to carnivorous plants.
The flycatcher has red trap leaves emitting sweet nectar attracting insects. Flycatcher traps bend in half, and at the end of each edge there aresensory hairs that respond to the touch of an insectIn addition to the leaves - traps, the American flycatcher also has elongated, heart-shaped leaves that do not fulfill this function. The flower of the flycatcher, on the other hand, is not particularly attractive visually. The plant blooms only under very favorable conditions, and the flowers are white.
The basic species hasmany artificially grown varieties , differing mainly in appearance. There are also mutations of the American flycatcher.Flycatcher varieties differ quite significantly in the shade, shape of sensory hairs or the size of the entire plant.
Stand for the flycatcher
American Venus flytrap it should grow in a sunny position. The more sun, the more red the leaves - traps - will turn red. It will not grow in any soil. You need to prepare aacidic substrate , which is a 2: 1 mixture of peat and sand. It can grow in a pot and does not need much space. It is worth remembering that in natural conditions, the Venus flytrap grows in swamps, so its substrate should be constantly slightly moist. It should not be allowed to dry out.
Venus flytrap - cultivation
Venus flytrap is not very difficult to cultivate, although it belongs to specific plants. How to care for a Venus flytrap? The first issue is care. The substrate should bewatered regularly, preferablydistilled water or filtered through a reverse osmosis process.Soft tap water (after standing) will also work. Do not fertilize flycatchers with any kind of fertilizer. The soils grown in nature are low in minerals and an excess of goodness kills the plant quickly.
The Venus flytrap is known to catch small animals, mainly insects. However, this is not her primary diet. The green parts of the plantphotosynthesizeThe breakdown of insects is the main supplementation of nitrogen necessary for life, which is lacking in swampy soils.
It is not easy to breed the flycatcher at home. Flowering when the plant is weakened can lead to its death. The reproduction of the plant is carried out by leaf cuttings and seeds, as well as the division of entire plants. Repotting is a slightly simpler process - it should be done after purchasing the plant, providing it with a larger pot. During wintering, it is worth moving the flycatcher to a cooler, shaded place for about 6 weeks.If there is no resting period, the flycatcher needs additional lighting in winter.
How to feed the flycatcher?
The flycatcher has leaves - traps equipped with sensory hairs. If the insect touches two hairs at the same time or one twice (with an interval of no more than 30 seconds), the trap will close quickly. The trapped insect will be digested by special enzymes in about a few days. In home conditionsyou can feed the flycatcherby feeding small insects to the leaves - traps or diluted food for fighters. In most cases, feeding the plant is not necessary. You definitely shouldn&39;t do it too often - just feed 2 or 3 traps once a month.
Don&39;t play around touching the sensory leaves of the flycatcher. Each trap can close a limited number of times, usually from 1 to 4, and locking it places a heavy burden on the plant and consumes a lot of resources. The ineffective trap dries up and a new one takes its place."
