A Little Watering Trick to Increase the Size of Your Venus Flytraps

Watering Venus Flytraps is pretty simple - all you have to do is set them in a tray of distilled water and let them do their thing. However, there is a less mentioned watering trick that encourages more vigorous, hardy growth and bigger rhizomes. And it's very simple.

Let them dry out (a bit).

For many beginner enthusiasts, this seems like a surefire way to kill your plants. After all, don't flytraps have to be sitting in water all the time? In reality, this is a common misconception. While keeping the plants in a deep dish of water is an easy way to maintain the plants, especially for beginners, Venus flytraps do not need to constantly have "wet feet" and can benefit from drying slightly between waterings.

Why?

A plant's size and vigor above ground depends largely on its strength underground. In other words, bigger roots = bigger plant.

When you allow your plants to dry out a bit between waterings, the plant is forced to send its roots deeper to search for the water, extending its root network. As a result, the plant has a larger foundation to grow off of and also becomes hardier to the elements.

Matt from FlytrapCare.com allows his plants to dry until the growing medium is slightly damp. Note the length of the roots on his plants. These long roots allow his plants to be resistant to the elements and grow more vigorously.

Additionally, keeping your venus flytraps in constantly waterlogged soil increases their susceptibility to root rot. This condition arises when too much moisture creates an environment lacking in oxygen, resulting in root death and infection. Addressing root rot in venus flytraps is especially difficult due to their limited root systems, where losing even a few roots can be quite harmful. Letting your growing medium dry out slightly allows oxygen to penetrate the soil, preventing bacteria and fungi that cause root rot. This approach will also result in stronger, more resilient roots that are less likely to rot.

This Venus Flytrap was kept in waterlogged peat moss, causing its roots and rhizome to become mushy and die off.

How Dry?

A general rule of thumb is to wait until the surface of the medium is slightly damp before watering, similar to the feel of a wrung-out paper towel. This means that the medium should exhibit a subtle level of moisture retention; it should feel cool to the touch and slightly moist but should not release a significant amount of water when you apply pressure. When you give it a firm squeeze, ideally, only a few drops may escape, indicating that the medium is adequately hydrated without being overly saturated. This careful balance is crucial for promoting healthy root development and preventing issues such as root rot, which can occur if the medium remains too wet for prolonged periods.

If you grow your plants in long-fibered sphagnum moss, it becomes quite convenient to assess the moisture content visually. The appearance of the moss can serve as a reliable indicator of its hydration level. When the moss is wet, it takes on a rich, darker brown color, which signifies that it is fully saturated and capable of providing the necessary moisture to the plant roots. Conversely, as the moss dries out, it transitions to a much lighter, pale brown shade, indicating that it is losing its moisture content and may require watering soon.

For more information regarding Long - Fibered Sphagnum moss and alternatives, visit this link: https://albertlulzh.wixsite.com/snapgarden/post/peat-moss-vs-sphagnum-moss-as-a-growing-medium

I hope these tips helped you in your growing journey!

Happy growing!