Can a VFT get overfed outside?

Can a VFT get overfed outside?#358025

By Zach Ledy -  Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:27 pm
Posts:  47
Joined:  Thu May 14, 2020 1:51 pm

- Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:27 pm #358025

Hello everyone! It seems that the flies around our house love the Venus fly trap.

Most of the traps are digesting insects and it seems to always be catching things. Is it possible that my fly trap could get overfed outside? Or should I stop worrying and let nature do it's thing.

My fly trap is outside on the back patio table. It gets 10-12 hours of full sun there.

Help! I'm addicted to carnivorous plants!

Re: Can a VFT get overfed outside?#358027

By sanguinearocks101 -  Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:50 pm
Location:  Zone 6b
Posts:  1665
Joined:  Mon Jan 06, 2020 1:56 am

- Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:50 pm #358027

I’d let nature do its thing. If it catches a lot of bugs it will probably grow new traps faster than the old traps die.

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Re: Can a VFT get overfed outside?#358028

By ChefDean -  Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:03 pm
Location:  Clarksville, TN
Posts:  9345
Joined:  Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:44 am

- Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:03 pm #358028

Let nature happen, it can't overfeed itself. A VFT will only have a max of seven leaves. If every trap is consistently catching bugs, it will prompt it to divide to keep up with supply.
My typicals are outside, side by side. One has every trap closed almost all the time, the other about half the time. I guess we know which way the bugs come in.
About 3 weeks ago I noticed many little traps growing along side the full plant. Upon closer inspection, it looks like it may have five or six divisions going up to catch more bugs.
Let it eat.

Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is that I make bad decisions.

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Re: Can a VFT get overfed outside?#358030

By Zach Ledy -  Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:47 pm
Posts:  47
Joined:  Thu May 14, 2020 1:51 pm

- Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:47 pm #358030

It's nice to see you again Sanguinearocks101 and ChefDean! I figured that the flytrap was fine, since it was catching it's own food. Though, sometimes I'm a little overprotective of my flytraps.

Help! I'm addicted to carnivorous plants!

Re: Can a VFT get overfed outside?#358037

By _-SphagnumFromHell-_ -  Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:03 pm
Location:  Central California
Posts:  702
Joined:  Mon May 28, 2018 5:02 pm

- Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:03 pm #358037

A venus flytrap can only be harmed by feeding if it is already unhealthy. Say it's not getting enough sunlight, it will attempt to put energy it barely has into digesting too many meals. A healthy flytrap can and probably will eat any amount of insects naturally with little to no harm.

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Re: Can a VFT get overfed outside?#358038

By ChefDean -  Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:04 pm
Location:  Clarksville, TN
Posts:  9345
Joined:  Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:44 am

- Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:04 pm #358038

Zach Ledy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:47 pm It's nice to see you again Sanguinearocks101 and ChefDean! I figured that the flytrap was fine, since it was catching it's own food. Though, sometimes I'm a little overprotective of my flytraps.

We all are little brother, we all are.

Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is that I make bad decisions.

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