How much water venus flytraps need is usually not a simple answer. Where venus flytraps grow naturally in the pine savannahs in North Carolina, they are typically dry around the top but always have access to water underground where the roots are. We try our best to emulate this, venus flytraps need to be watered consistently so the top can stay relatively dry but the roots have access to water. This amount of water ranges throughout the year. The amount of water a venus fly trap needs is determined by temperatures, light/sun exposure and other factors.
Lets really dig in here to help you learn how much water your venus flytrap needs.
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If you are more of a visual learner and like to listen to a video, I go over everything below in video form. Check out my watering guide so you can learn how much to water venus flytraps. I also added part two of this video at the bottom of this article so you can learn what type of water and what equipment works best for watering venus flytraps!
How Much Water Do Venus Fly Traps Need
Venus flytraps are a tricky plant to water at times. Unless you live in an environment where the weather is always consistent, giving them the correct amount of water can be a tricky balance to achieve. If you know what to look for and how to easily measure the amount of water in the soil, it becomes a lot easier.
Were going to discuss best practices that I have learned over the last 10 years growing carnivorous plants including venus fly traps.
Venus Flytrap Natural Habitat With Water
Before we get into best practices with tips & tricks I think It’s important to understand how venus flytraps grow in the natural habitat. One of the biggest venus flytrap myths and misconceptions is that they grow in swampy boggy areas and need to be sitting in water all the time.
In truth, venus flytraps grow in North Carolina in areas called pine savannahs. These areas are well-drained on the top but the roots to the plants always have access to water below the surface. Knowing this helps us understand what type of watering conditions help venus flytraps thrive.
A little dry on the top but wet down where the roots are. This is a tricky balance to maintain which is why this can be one of the trickier venus flytrap care areas to master.
Learn the negative impact that tap water can have on your venus flytrap, click here!
Know The Weight Of Your Venus Flytrap Planter
My very first and possibly most important tip for watering venus flytraps is going to be understanding the weight of your planter or pot. Knowing the feel of your planter when it needs water vs when it is full will make your venus flytrap watering life so much easier. Knowing the weight will be easier than constantly sticking your finger in the soil or trying to keep a watering calendar. Watering patterns can change a lot as the weather and temperatures change. Knowing the weight will keep you an expert when weather is cold and warm.
When your venus flytrap needs water allow yourself to get really familiar with its weight. After watering, allow the plant to absorb water for 24 hours, come back and get familiar with the weight of the planter now that it’s full of water. Knowing the weight of your planter can take a lot of the guess work out of knowing when to water. I can’t stress how important this tip is to becoming experienced at watering venus flytraps.
Until you learn the weight of your pot, it’s important to go over some tips that will help you know when it’s time to water your venus flytrap.
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Simple Ways To Determine Your Flytrap Needs Water
If you are still learning the weight of your planters but need to know when your plant needs water, one of the easiest ways is to put your finger in the substrate. Go down about an inch or two, if the substrate is still dry your plant probably needs water. You NEVER want your venus flytrap to go completely dry. It’s important that the roots always have access to water. A venus flytrap can dry out and die if the planter is allowed to go completely dry.
Another great tip is to use a plant tracker to keep a watering journal. This can be really helpful when weather conditions are consistent, but can be hard to rely on when weather is not the same day in and day out. If you are interested in a free plant tracker, I actually have one you can download for free to help you keep track of watering patterns.
Click here to get a free downloadable plant tracker!
Tray Watering Vs Top Watering Venus Fly Traps
Tray Watering Venus Flytraps
I almost always tray water my venus flytraps. Knowing that the roots like having access to the water all the time while the top prefers it to be a little more dry points to the obvious choice of tray or bottom watering. Keeping water in the tray allows the lower part of the plant to have access to water more consistently.
A common watering error that I see all the time is people leaving the tray full ALL the time. You do not want your venus flytrap sitting in water ALL the time. This can lead to mold, mildew and even rot which usually results in the death of your plant. Crown rot is one of the more common killers of venus flytraps and it happens mostly because of the common belief that they should aways be wet and swampy.
There are always exceptions to this, lets talk about that real quick.
If you are in peak growing season and the weather is consistently above 75 degrees F, your plant is probably going through a lot of water. You can probably put water in your tray and it’s gone after 2 or 3 days. In these growing conditions, it’s absolutely fine and even recommend to keep that tray full. When the temps drop and you notice that the tray of water is sticking around for more than 3 days or so, I strongly recommend pulling the flytrap out of the water or emptying the tray.
Water is going to stick around a lot longer as temps begin to drop. It’s vital that your watering habits adapt to the weather. This is why understanding the weight of your planter is so important. Venus flytraps shouldn’t be sitting in stagnant water for more than a few days.
Can you feed a venus flytrap dead bugs, click to learn more!
When To Top Water Venus Flytraps
Lets talk about top watering real quick. I do top water them once a month or so. Not really for watering sake but to help flush the plant. Sometimes, especially if outside, they can collect stuff on the top. Pollen, falling leaves and debris, some of this stuff can seep into the soil and not be great for the flytrap.
I like to top water until I see the tray starting to fill. I then will dump the tray of water out. This helps flush some of the dissolved solids that may have built up in the soil. You can do this a few times to help give your plant a really good flush. This can help the long term health of your plant an substrate.
How Much Water Do Venus Flytraps Need Indoors
If you keep your venus flytraps indoors, it becomes even more important for you to keep an eye on the water levels. Water does not dissipate as quick indoors as it will outside in the sun. It’s important that you do not allow your flytraps to sit in water all the time indoors. I know I keep coming back to this, but it’s another good reason for you to have good familiarity with the weight of your planter. I give my venus flytraps considerably less water during peak growing season when they are being grown inside vs outside.
Follow all the same rules for watering venus flytraps when watering indoors vs outdoors. Just know that water doesn’t go away as fast which can make it seem like you are not watering enough, even though you are.
Should You Let Venus Fly Traps Sit In Rain?
Venus flytraps will do just fine in rain. If it’s just a rainy day mid summer, don’t worry about it. Let them be. They will dry out the next day and be fine. If the rain lasts for more than a couple days then I recommend pulling them out of their trays and allowing the water to flow out the bottom of the pot.
If the rain lasts for more than a week, I recommend covering them and getting them out of the rain. They really shouldn’t be exposed to that much water for really long periods of time. Anything over a week and a half I’d probably try to cover them a bit.
Watering Venus Flytraps During Dormancy
The last thing I want to talk about is watering during dormancy. If you are doing dormancy correct, it’s probably somewhere between 30 and 50 degrees F and there is little to no light for your plants. In these conditions water is going to stick around for a LONG time. I strongly recommend that you fill the tray, allow the plant to absorb water for a full day or two then dump the tray of water out.
The plant may maintain the water for weeks at a time. I watered my flytraps this winter in dormancy maybe once every 3 to 4 weeks. Overwatering and rotting venus fly traps during dormancy is extremely common. Know the weight of your pot, don’t allow this to happen.
Conclusion
Learning how much a venus flyrap needs is only part of the equation for watering these carnivorous plants. You are also going to want to learn about what types of water and how you can get that water. You can’t just use tap water or you will kill your venus flytraps. Watch the video below to learn about the best tools and types of water for watering venus flytraps.
Click here to learn about venus flytrap conservation efforts!