Venus Flytrap - plant-predator. Translated from the Latin Dionaea muscipula is translated as a mousetrap.
What to feed - what eats, what eats?
As mentioned above, the Venus flytrap is a predatory plant, and it feeds accordingly.
In a natural habitat, not at home, this strange flower prefers to capture in its red trap flies, mollusks, spiders and various insects. As soon as such a living creature will have the imprudence to land on the surface of its trap, it will shut, unless the food has time to get out before closing.
The digestion of food from Venus flytrap lasts sometimes up to 10-14 days. It occurs through the release of juice - similar to the human gastric. As soon as the trap opens back, it will mean that it is ready to eat again.
Interestingly, Venus is quite able to do without food for quite a long period - about 1-2 months, but do not forget that in the first place it is a flower, and it needs bright daylight every day. Without it, the plant will begin to wither and die.
When cultivating the flycatcher at home, it is worth paying particular attention to this and placing it under the plant pot most lighted space on the windowsill.
The process of photosynthesis occurs when in daylight, the plant produces oxygen that people need.
Therefore, do not forget: sun, natural light needed to maintain the vital activity of a flower, no less, or even more than mosquitoes or flies.
It is also worth remembering that, like any other plant, Venus gets useful macro and trace elements from the soil, so you need to take care of this. Plant it taken in a mixture of peat and perlite - so she will get the most amount of useful substances for herself.
Fertilizing the plant is extremely undesirable - it is quite able to kill This unusual flower in just a few days. It is assumed that even at home she herself should “hunt” in order to get her food.
Special note: It is desirable that the food you feed the Venus flytrap be alive - only this way the necessary digestive juices are allocated.
You can feed her spiders, mosquitoes, flies, bees.
Small note: the insect must be at least two times smaller than the trap itself. It is not recommended to give insects with too hard a shell, otherwise the trap will be damaged.
The video shows what eats Venus flytrap:
Also can not feed flower by earthworms, bloodworms and other living creatures used for fishing - they contain too much liquid, which can lead to decay, and further death.
If you did not know that your home "pet" can not be fed the above food, then wait until the trap opens and gently remove food from there. In no case do not try to open it yourself - you risk greatly damaging the plant.
In the photos you can see what to feed the Venus flytrap:
How often do you need to feed?
Many are wondering - how often should the predator Venus be fed? There are several feeding patterns.
- If your plant is very young or you have just purchased it, you can not start feeding immediately after you brought it home. You need to wait until the flower appears 3-4 new sheets under current conditions.
- An adapted plant is worth feeding. 2 times a month and necessarily live insects: antennae react only to movement. Of course, you can try to feed the plant with inanimate food, but after a couple of days you will see that Venus opened her trap without digesting the food.
- In winter, the plant "falls asleep" and feed it strictly prohibited. The winter period begins approximately from November and lasts until the beginning of spring, then Venus comes to life again. During this period it can only be watered, but only if the wintering takes place at air temperature with a plus sign.
This unusual plant will not leave anyone indifferent, but it, like all living creatures on this Earth, needs to be cared for.
Apply a little effort, and the Venus flytrap will become your peculiar pet, which is interesting to watch and very interesting to interact with.
