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Using pure water is essential to the health of a Venus Fly Trap. In general, tap water is not a good idea. The dissolved solids that are in tap water - namely sodium, calcium, alkaline salts, sulfur, chlorine and magnesium - are detrimental to the health of your Dionaea. Although it may not be immediately apparent with a few waterings, over time, the dissolved solids will begin to build up in the soil and can lead to a sickly looking plant and eventually death of the plant.
Venus Fly Traps and all other carnivorous plants should only be watered with distilled water, rain water, reverse osmosis water (from an RO system) or water that has been measured with a TDS (total dissolved solids) meter and shows a TDS measurement of less than 50 ppm (parts per million). It is generally well established that water with a TDS measurement of 50 ppm or less is suitable for using on Dionaea muscipula. I have also read that anything less than 100 ppm will work, but if you do use water with this high of a TDS measurement, I would recommend repotting your plants a minimum of every year.
During their active growing season, Venus Fly Traps should be in standing water. It is acceptable to allow the soil to get just moist or damp, but it should never be let to dry out completely. During their dormancy it is better to keep the soil just damp and not let the plant sit in water as it did during the growing season
Perhaps the best method to keep your Venus Fly Trap moist is the tray method. Below you will see a photos of the tray method which involves setting a pot with drainage holes in the bottom of it in a tray of distilled or other pure water.
Most media (soil) that Venus Fly Traps are potted in is very good at retaining water. It is best to always bottom water your Venus Fly Trap. The media will soak up the water, almost like a sponge, and keep the roots of the plant moist.
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