How to grow your very own Venus Flytrap Plant
Step 1: Place moss in pot and thoroughly wet the moss using preferably rainwater, but distilled or filtered water will be alright. They do not like hard water.
Step 2: Sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the moss and lightly press with the back of a spoon to ensure the seeds have good contact. Check seeds stay on the moss and not on the back of the spoon! Do not bury the seeds. It is a good idea to record the date of sowing.
Step 3: Position the pot on a saucer of water to keep the compost damp all the time. Cover with a clear plastic bag and put in a bright place, out of direct sunlight.
Step 4: Remove the plastic bag from the pot when the first traps appear. The first leaves will just look like a normal tiny leaf. The traps will form later.
Step 5: Seeds take up to 12 weeks to germinate, but if sown in the autumn may not germinate until the following spring. They are very small at first, but even these tiny seedlings catch minute insects. Once the seedlings germinate, place the pot in full sun, a windowsill or conservatory is ideal. Being bog plants, they can stand in a saucer of about 1 – 2 cm of water over the spring and summer. In winter, they are dormant, so reduce the watering to prevent rotting, keep damp in a cool place away from central heating. During this period it is natural for some or all the leaves to die back – don’t worry. Simply remove the dead leaves to prevent mould or disease occurring. New growth will resume in the spring when warm conditions are restored.
Step 6: Re-pot at one year old to a bigger pot. The plants take 3 years to mature to full size.