Venus Fly Trap plants

davidscot

Following on from my fly problem-see thread 'Home made Composting is so exciting'- does anyone know where I could get some of these plants cheaply.
I dont want to start having to buy spray etc so I thought if I got some Venus Fly-Traps they could get rid of flies, that way I dont buy sprays and the plants would look ok in the house.

kickstart_3

Not sure on the price , but B&Q had some in last time i went ! Its a good idea , i think i will get some for my windowsills next time i go .

davidscot

Had a look in Homebase for them, they were wanting £4.50 for one

flashman_62

Never had one last more than 6 months...prob cos it's a tropical plant and needs heat. Have you tried those sticky yellow cards?

wiggly

they need heat and if they are like the ones that attract slugs they need peat in their pots, watered very specifically and generally fussed over

thescouselander

I too have never had one last more than 6 months probably because they never caught any flies!

Poppycat

Had one many years ago again never saw any flies it caught and didnt last long either. My local garden store sells them and other type plants all the time.

Jayar

Jumping on the bandwagon - can't keep them alive either

pboae

You would be better with a pitcher plant, as they catch more flies than a venus fly trap, but neither are really a good idea for fly control as they attract far more flies than they catch. I had some for display at work one summer and my porch was constantly full of flies. They are attracted by the scent but the plants only catch a handful of them.

To keep them alive (pitchers and venus types) you must only ever use rain water, and they are bog plants so never let them dry out, but don't let the soil get water logged either.

EDIT: and don't bother trying to grow them from seed, it is extremely hard work with very low germination rates.

newkie04

A friend had a venus fly trap for many years (up to and beyond ten years at the last count). Had to feed it on dog food during the winter months...I was told it particularly enjoyed chunks in jelly but I think that was a wind up. In addition I believe it grows best with spagnum moss as its base and you can only use distilled water. It also requires moist, warm, damp conditions. Can't think of many places with those conditions in a house unless artificially created.

mrbadexample

I've had mine for about 3 years now - it's currently flowering:





It sits on the kitchen windowsill (probably warmest / sunniest room in the house), in a dish of rainwater. It catches plenty of flies - I don't feed it, ever. It just lives there.

Easy. :rotfl: