FlyTrapCare Forums

My venus fly trap is eating alot of bugs. Whenever a trap opens up it catches anothe bug. The old, but not too old traps are tuning black. I dont want my fly trap spending the energy it is using to disolve the bugs the energy it could be using to grow new traps. It is growing new traps, but could it be growing faster without trying to disolve 6 bugs at a time. Any suggestions on stoping the bugs.

Good looking 'Dentate Traps' plant! I wouldn't mess with mother nature. If it's catching all of those insects on its own, just let it do its thing!

Matt wrote:I wouldn't mess with mother nature.

No, she is a force to be reckoned with.
When the traps start to die more, just cut them off and soon enough a replacement will come.

oooo I din't know it was a dente plant. I was wondering why it dint have long teeth. So they are replaced after you cut it off? or does that not matter

branpera wrote:So they are replaced after you cut it off? or does that not matter

They usually are unless the plant is entering dormancy.

I think that this time of year my plants always seem to be feasting on something.
Maybe it is a way for them to stock up on extra nutrients before the winter hits...
Anyway, I am noticing the same thing, but as Matt said will let Mother Nature take her course!
Peace!
E.S.

Keep in mind that the bugs provide nutrients for the plant, so by not allowing it to feed naturally you're essentially starving it (although it will survive without eating). As long as your plant is healthy enough to digest the bugs, let it. As Matt said- Mother Nature and all.... Let it eat everything it wants to catch, and when the older traps die off, it will have the nutrients to send up healthy new growth

And I'm not sure if they're eating so much to store up energy, or if it's because the bugs are out more this time of year as it's starting to cool off. But ya, my VFT is also eating up tons of bugs right now.

English Springer wrote:I think that this time of year my plants always seem to be feasting on something.

Redneck_Angel wrote:And I'm not sure if they're eating so much to store up energy, or if it's because the bugs are out more this time of year as it's starting to cool off. But ya, my VFT is also eating up tons of bugs right now.

Yeah, I think this is the peak time for insects. Nearly every insect that is going to be active during the summer is active now and has already reproduced or is currently doing so.

That's one thing I wish we had more of here in Ashland, insects! There are hardly any. My poor plants are starving. Good thing they're getting plenty of light though.

I'm glad I have a pot full of typicals with LOTS of traps. The cultivars would otherwise have all their traps shut!