FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

After realizing the gnats in my plant were fungus gnats I changed the moss to get rid of the pesky things. Once I changed it my vft seemed to be doing fine but a few days later all her traps are hanging over the side. I used pure sphagnum moss and I usually water with distilled water but because I'm new to this I forgot and accidentally watered with tap water, is that the issue or is something else going on?

Fungus knats are harmless, you caused more stress to the plant by repotting it than the knats ever would, to make matters worse you will end up with fungus knats again anyways.

One of two things could be happening, you repotted it and are growing it in a window stressed it out OR its going dormant.

These plants need to be outside.

Fieldofscreams wrote:Fungus knats are harmless, you caused more stress to the plant by repotting it than the knats ever would, to make matters worse you will end up with fungus knats again anyways.

One of two things could be happening, you repotted it and are growing it in a window stressed it out OR its going dormant.

These plants need to be outside.

will it eventually destress over time? If so how long will it take? I only repotted it because I read that the larvae feed on the roots but after reading more on it most people believe they don't. If it is going dormant do you know how long the dormancy lasts and is caring for it during dormancy different then how you would normally take care of it?

You asked a ton of questions.

Start your research here: https://www.flytrapcare.com/

At the top of that page you will see the links, read every one of them.

It might have not been watered enough. They don't need to be soaking, but when you repotted and watered the soil near the plants roots might not have gotten enough water. Usually when they start to wilt it's a sign of dehydration.

I agree with that plant being outside.

_-SphagnumFromHell-_ wrote:It might have not been watered enough. They don't need to be soaking, but when you repotted and watered the soil near the plants roots might not have gotten enough water. Usually when they start to wilt it's a sign of dehydration.

I agree with that plant being outside.

I think you were right about not giving it enough water, once I poured just a little more she started perking up. I know that growing it outside is ideal but because of where I live indoors is the best option.

Why is growing it inside the best option?

Fieldofscreams wrote:Why is growing it inside the best option?

Because I live with my parents and they won't let me grow it outside.

I find that hard to believe.

What are their reasons? Why would they have a problem with a tiny little pot being outside?

Fieldofscreams wrote:I find that hard to believe.

What are their reasons? Why would they have a problem with a tiny little pot being outside?

Because they don't want the dogs to mess with it and I don't really want that either.

What you don't understand is that trying to help someone grow these inside is ultimately a futile exercise.

Dogs getting to them is a copout, its an excuse to grow them the way you want instead of the way millions of years of evolution decided was best. What dog is ever going to care about a plant that is up on a table or bench......seriously.

And at least I'm trying to help him with the facts, what have you done to help him be successful?

1.That plant needs lots more water.
2. How many times did you water with tap water?
3. How long have you had this plant?
4. Sunlight through a window is not going to be enough light for that plant. You will either need to get a light to put over the plant or find a way to grow it outside. Contrary to what some people say, flytraps can be successfully grown indoors under lights. I grow them inside. And everyone that sees them tells me they look amazing.
5. Now is the time that flytraps start to go dormant if you live in the northern hemisphere. The long, tall leaves will start to die back and the plant will grow short, flat leaves. It is difficult to achieve a successful dormancy inside at normal household temperatures. They need lower temps along with a shorter photo period to go into full dormancy. You need to figure out how you will achieve that. Some people put them in the fridge for winter. Search ‘fridge dormancy’ on this site and you will find how to do that.
6. Fungus gnats can and will damage plants roots. It has happened to me on more than one occasion. You can use mosquito bits/dunks and it will kill the fungus gnats. It is sold at places like Home Depot and Lowe’s. Crush up a little into your water and water the plant with it. It is a bacteria that will kill all the larva in the soil. It will take a week or two for the adults to die but you won’t have anymore hatch from them on.

@Fieldofscreams: You need to chill out. Like Chef said, if you don’t have something constructive or helpful to say you should keep your opinions to yourself. You have given quite a lot of incorrect information in this thread alone. And I see you giving incorrect info all the time in other posts. Frankly my feelings wouldn’t be hurt in the least if you left this forum and never visited again. In fact that’s what I think you need to do. If I was a moderator you would have been banned a long time ago. So if you insist on being a member of this forum I suggest you tone down the BS and be helpful and not be such an Ahole to everyone. This is a great community of many very helpful and very knowledgeable members and a few jacka$$es like yourself. I sure wish I could boot the ones like you out of here. We don’t need or want your kind here.

KategoricalKarnivore wrote:1.That plant needs lots more water.
2. How many times did you water with tap water?
3. How long have you had this plant?
4. Sunlight through a window is not going to be enough light for that plant. You will either need to get a light to put over the plant or find a way to grow it outside. Contrary to what some people say, flytraps can be successfully grown indoors under lights. I grow them inside. And everyone that sees them tells me they look amazing.
5. Now is the time that flytraps start to go dormant if you live in the northern hemisphere. The long, tall leaves will start to die back and the plant will grow short, flat leaves. It is difficult to achieve a successful dormancy inside at normal household temperatures. They need lower temps along with a shorter photo period to go into full dormancy. You need to figure out how you will achieve that. Some people put them in the fridge for winter. Search ‘fridge dormancy’ on this site and you will find how to do that.
6. Fungus gnats can and will damage plants roots. It has happened to me on more than one occasion. You can use mosquito bits/dunks and it will kill the fungus gnats. It is sold at places like Home Depot and Lowe’s. Crush up a little into your water and water the plant with it. It is a bacteria that will kill all the larva in the soil. It will take a week or two for the adults to die but you won’t have anymore hatch from them on.

@Fieldofscreams: You need to chill out. Like Chef said, if you don’t have something constructive or helpful to say you should keep your opinions to yourself. You have given quite a lot of incorrect information in this thread alone. And I see you giving incorrect info all the time in other posts. Frankly my feelings wouldn’t be hurt in the least if you left this forum and never visited again. In fact that’s what I think you need to do. If I was a moderator you would have been banned a long time ago. So if you insist on being a member of this forum I suggest you tone down the BS and be helpful and not be such an Ahole to everyone. This is a great community of many very helpful and very knowledgeable members and a few jacka$$es like yourself. I sure wish I could boot the ones like you out of here. We don’t need or want your kind here.

2. I've had my plant for about three and a half months
3. I only watered it with tap water once while I was repotting.
4. What kind of light would be best for indoor growing?
5. Fridge dormancy is probably the best option, my house is only cold in the morning so I will definitely look into that.
6. Thank you so much for clarifying about the fungus gnats I didn't know if there was anything safe to use that would kill the pests next time I see them I'll head to home depot.