
Insects and spiders are suitable food options for Venus flytraps. The best feed alternatives are small live bugs that contain high nutrients. Freeze-dried insects are also an alternative.
- Mealworms: These small freeze-dried worms are a nutritious food source for Venus flytraps which you can buy from many pet shops and reptile specialists. ...
- Bloodworms: Their name may be disgusting, but these tiny freeze-dried worms can be a great food source for Venus flytraps.
What is the best food for a Venus flytrap?
- Never give your flytraps anything that they do not trap naturally, so you should not give them human food, such as meat. ...
- Avoid stimulating the trigger hairs to close a trap unless you are feeding it. ...
- Never overfeed your plant. ...
- Remember that you shouldn’t be feeding a Venus flytrap during its dormant season.
How often should you feed a Venus flytrap?
Feeding a Venus flytrap is a bit of a science. You should check your plant once a week to see if the mouths are open, signifying that that particular trap could be hungry. Each Venus flytrap should not be fed more than once a month. Some can even go longer without food, only needing food around four times a year.
What food besides Bugs could you feed your Venus Fly Trap?
Food for Large Leaves. Feed larger Venus flytrap leaves adult crickets, ants, small beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, millipedes, sowbugs and suitably sized slugs. In their native habitat, Venus flytraps don't often capture flies , but instead many kinds of crawling insects, such as beetles and ants.
What to feed a Venus flytrap besides flies?
Besides flies, Venus flytraps also consume many other types of insects and spiders. Cricket, mealworms, and bloodworms are top food options for Venus flytraps and most carnivorous plants. They contain high protein content and a lot of soft tissue.

How do you take care of a Venus flytrap in the winter?
They prefer to grow in soil which is wet, but not completely waterlogged. During winter they require less water, and the soil should be kept just damp. The traditional compost mixture for Venus Flytraps is sphagnum peat moss mixed with either lime-free horticultural sand or perlite, to a ratio of about 2:1.
Can Venus flytraps survive winter?
Venus flytraps go dormant naturally in the fall when growing outdoors. They can withstand frost and light freezes. However, freezes that last an extended period of time can kill Venus flytraps. In order for Venus Flytraps to survive long-term, they must have a dormancy period every year that lasts three to five months.
What is the best thing to feed a Venus flytrap?
Live prey, such as flies, spiders, crickets and slugs are a Venus' fly trap's favorite food. Live meal worms or crickets purchased from the pet store are a great option. Ants may not have enough nutritional value and sometimes come into contact with toxic substances as they scour your home.
What do you feed a Venus flytrap without flies?
Feed larger Venus flytrap leaves adult crickets, ants, small beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, millipedes, sowbugs and suitably sized slugs. In their native habitat, Venus flytraps don't often capture flies, but instead many kinds of crawling insects, such as beetles and ants.
How often should you water a Venus flytrap in winter?
Most fly traps will only need to be watered every 10 to 14 days. The soil should become much drier (though never fully dry). The soil directly around the base and roots should be slightly damp, while the rest of the soil is dry. Water the plant like you would any other time, making sure to water thoroughly.
How cold is too cold for a Venus flytrap?
Humidity -- The Venus Fly Trap doesn't require extremely high humidity, but above 50%. Temperature -- Can range from 70° - 95° F (21° - 35° C) and down to 40° F (5° C) in the winter. Water -- Rain water or distilled water is preferred. Keep the plant damp, but not soaking.
Can you feed Venus flytrap dried mealworms?
Mealworms: These small freeze-dried worms are a nutritious food source for Venus flytraps which you can buy from many pet shops and reptile specialists.
Can a Venus flytrap survive without bugs?
Although flytraps are carnivorous, they can go long periods (a month or two) without eating insects. If you grow them outdoors, they'll get enough to eat naturally. If you're growing Venus flytrap indoors, you'll have to feed them bugs periodically.
Can I feed my Venus flytrap dead bugs?
To feed a dead bug to your plant, first drop it into the trap so the trap closes. Easily done. Next, ever so gently squeeze the two lobes of the traps between your thumb and forefinger, as if you were trying to pick up a delicate bit of... something delicate.
Can you feed Venus flytraps fish flakes?
Betta fish pellets are my personal preference for Venus fly trap food. It may seem like an unusual choice, but there is lengthy discussion on various forums about the benefits of betta fish food for nearly all carnivorous plants. They have provided fantastic results for me!
Can you feed a Venus flytrap hamburger?
If you feed a Venus flytrap a bit of hamburger meat, it will probably die. Venus flytraps expect bugs. Feed them anything else, and they will not like it. There is far too much non-bug energy and protein in cow-meat.
Can Venus flytraps eat fruit?
Yes, they will, though rarely. Venus flytraps are amongst the worst of the carnivore plants when dealing with fruit flies. Fruit flies are often too light or small to trigger their senses to close their trap, and even then, it can allow enough time for them to escape.
Can Venus Flytraps survive outside?
The flytrap grows best outdoors as a container or potted plant. It makes an excellent addition to any sunny deck or patio. You may also grow it in a pond or fountain, but keep the crown of the plant above water.
Can I leave my Venus flytrap outside?
2:302:55Keeping Venus Fly traps Outside - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYeah keep your venus flytraps. Outside guys highly recommend it put them to water make sure theyMoreYeah keep your venus flytraps. Outside guys highly recommend it put them to water make sure they never get dry hot Suns good for them they're not used to it a few hours a day you know to get them
How long do Venus Flytraps live indoors?
20 years indoorsVenus fly traps that are well cared for can live up to 20 years indoors. Read on to learn EVERYTHING you need to know about how to feed and care for these hungry carnivorous plants. Spoiler Alert: You probably don't want to put one in a terrarium.
Do Venus Flytraps grow back?
1:593:38Venus Fly Trap Resurrection - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis may seem just like another example of propagation which is very common you just pull off a leafMoreThis may seem just like another example of propagation which is very common you just pull off a leaf of a Venus flytrap. And plant it and it grows.
What do you need to feed a Venus flytrap?
To feed a baby Venus flytrap, you need a dead bug (preferably freeze-dried), distilled water, a toothpick, and a herb grinder or a mortar and pestle. After you gather all the components, follow the instructions below: Take the dried up bugs and grind them until they have a powder-like consistency.
What do Venus fly traps eat?
Venus flytraps can consume a variety of bugs like, for example, ants, flies, crickets, spiders, beetles, slugs, and caterpillar. They can consume any type of insect as long as they can fit inside the trap, and the plant can capture them.
Why is my Venus flytrap turning green?
When a Venus flytrap is not receiving enough light, the interior of the lobes loses the red coloring. The lobes turn to be almost only green. The reason is simple. The plant is not receiving enough light; therefore, it must focus solely on photosynthesis.
What happens when a bug is trapped in a Venus flytrap?
Once a bug is trapped inside the leaf of a Venus flytrap. The plant will start producing enzymes inside the enclosure. The bugs will then stop fighting and drown in the digestive fluid. Then , the enzymes will continue to dissolve the body while the plant absorbs the nutrients.
How much sunlight does Venus flytrap need?
But what is more important? The lighting requirement is the most critical for Venus flytrap. These plants need at least 6 hours of sunlight to stay healthy.
What is the feeding process of Venus flytraps?
In the wild, Venus flytraps live in inferior growing conditions. The soil in the area is very poor. As a result, they are unable to gather critical nutrients from the ground, like Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus.
How do Venus fly traps produce food?
Venus flytraps produce most of their food through the photosynthesis process. They can live just through photosynthesis thanks to the abundance of light and water. However, their diet is not complete without consuming bugs. Venus flytraps capture and digest bugs inside of their leaves.
What Can You Feed a Venus Flytrap?
Only give flytraps insects that are small enough for the trap to close tightly enough to keep out bacteria. A rule of thumb is to use insects that are no larger than a third of the trap’s size (which are generally about 1″ big on a typical plant).
What Should You Not Feed to Venus Flytraps?
When feeding Venus flytraps, the don’ts are just as important as the dos:
How Often Should I Feed My Venus Flytrap?
Note that Venus flytraps can go for long periods without eating insects, such as during dormant winter months. They require a cold winter dormancy period between November and February. Be careful not to overfeed your flytraps during growing season since they require just two insects each month to obtain sufficient nutrition.
List of Food Options for Venus Flytrap
As you might notice from the list below, many arthropods are suitable to feed for Venus flytraps. Also, some less conventional options include plant food. Make sure to read the text below the list to learn which are the best and most practical alternatives for your specific scenario.
What You Should Never Feed Venus Flytrap
With so much misinformation out there about what to feed Venus flytraps. I felt highly compelled to emphasize what you should never feed your Venus flytrap:
Insects You Should Avoid Feeding to Venus Flytraps
Venus flytrap can consume almost any insect. However, some bugs are not the most suitable options. Here is a list of which ones to avoid:
Venus Flytrap Feeding Instructions
Without proper instructions, it is not recommended to feed Venus flytraps. Feeding your plant incorrectly can end up harming it. For that reason, you must make sure to go over all of this information.
How to Avoid Black Leaves After Feeding Venus Flytraps
Sometimes after feeding a venus flytrap, their leaves turn black. Why does that happen? And how should you prevent it? Here is an explanation.
