How to plant Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap)
The Venus flytrap is sensitive to proper planting, and incorrect planting can lead to numerous issues. Therefore, it’s essential to know how to plant Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap) correctly.
In the first image, you can see a plant ready for planting. The plant has been cleared of old, black leaves. It’s advisable to clean the roots of remnants of old substrate. Be careful not to damage the roots. If the substrate cannot be completely removed, leave it as is.
I pour a suitable substrate for the plant into the pot. The substrate is lightly compressed in the pot to prevent excessive settling over time. There should be enough to create a small mound, which will even out after watering. Next, I use an appropriate tool, such as tweezers, to create a small hole in the substrate.
Next, insert the plant into the created hole and gently push the substrate closer to the plant. The „bulb“ and roots must be positioned perpendicular to the substrate’s surface. Leaves may sometimes twist after being removed from the substrate, but this twisting should be ignored. The key is to plant according to the root section. New leaves will grow correctly over time.
Then, take a watering can or another container for watering and regulate the flow with your finger, gently watering the entire area. Be cautious of too strong a stream, as it could wash away the substrate from the plant or partially bury the plant. This helps the substrate settle and wrap around the plant. If necessary, adjust the substrate around the plant further using tweezers.
You can see a properly planted Venus flytrap in the image below. The plant should only be submerged in the substrate up to the lower leaves; the entire „bulb“ must be buried, but the leaves should remain exposed. Attention must be paid to the center of the plant, which should not be covered, and the newly emerging leaves should remain visible.
