FlyTrapCare Forums

I purchased one of the last seed packs from James Toska last year just before his unfortunate passing. Germinated Sept. 2015. I decided to give them a long summer, + pushed them with lights until this Spring. (100 watt CFL's.) First off, they were the best seeds I've ever had. They burst out of the ground. But there's about 8 or 9 that have what seems to me to be exceptional vigor. Or do they? I've only been in the game for about 2 yrs now, but I would have thought normal growth for an 11 month old VFT to be like an inch or less across. This one is better than 3" with inch+1/8 traps. I'd be real curious as to what everybody thinks. I presume the growth rate isn't 'heirloom' normal, but would you say it's rare? If so, maybe I'll name it: TOSKA G1. (If he didn't have a G1.)

Growth rate on seed grown vfts is always extremely variable. Of course, good conditions and access to nutrients helps too. I wouldn't doubt that media plays a part as well.

Benurmanii wrote:Growth rate on seed grown vfts is always extremely variable. Of course, good conditions and access to nutrients helps too. I wouldn't doubt that media plays a part as well.

Yes, ok, but on the largest, do you have anything in your (or anybody else's) experience similar? Is it normal? Exceptional? 3 inches plus across with 1+1/8" traps in eleven months?

You've grown VFTs from see before so you know it's not "normal". If your seeds have good genetics, with ideal conditions and regular feedings it can be done.

Here is a link on how to grow VFTs to flowering size in 8 months.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/feed-a-venus-fly-trap

Smooter80 wrote:You've grown VFTs from see before so you know it's not "normal". If your seeds have good genetics, with ideal conditions and regular feedings it can be done.

Here is a link on how to grow VFTs to flowering size in 8 months.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/feed-a-venus-fly-trap

Thanks for the info! That's interesting about the bloodworms. Yeah, I didn't do anything to these but give it light + water. In Spring I set them out where they could get all food they could catch. There HAS been an inordinate amount of flying insects here, (Northeast Missouri,) this year. More than I recall in previous years. I wish the fricken' mosquito's were attracted to them. you can't walk outside without dousing yourself. It was a mixed bag of seeds. He said, Dingley giant, Big vigorous, Big mouth, etc. I assumed I got lucky on the genetics, but the growth rate on that big one freaked me out. I just re potted it.

If that seedling was not fed, you are correct, that is exceptional for an 11 month old. My non-fed year olds (w/ dormancy) barely approach 2 inches across, with traps about .5 in. Of course, they get the passing insect, but nothing so nutrient-dense as bloodworms.