How Big Do Venus Flytraps Get?
A venus flytrap will typically grow to about 5-6 inches in diameter with the flytrap heads getting up to 1.5 inches big. The biggest venus flytrap is the Dionaea B-52. The traps on this venus flytrap can get to be over 2 inches long. This is not typical for normal venus flytraps as this is the biggest cultivar currently available.
The real answer to the question, how big do venus flytraps get, is it just kind of depends on what kind of venus flytrap you have. Some species won’t get really big but others like the B-52 will grow quite large.
There are a few different factors that will determine the size of your venus flytrap. The more sun and nutrients they get, the bigger they will grow. It’s hard to predict exactly how big a venus flytrap will get but you can get a relatively good idea based on the amount of sun the plant gets as well as the type of plant it is.
What Is The Largest Venus Flytrap
The largest venus flytrap cultivar is the Dionaea B52. It was originally cultivated by Henning Von Schmeling. It has bright crimson traps when grown correctly and is known for it’s vigorous growth.
It was registered with the International Plant Society in 2006 by Von Schmeling. You can pretty easily find this venus flytrap. I don’t currently own one, but its on of the next on my list of venus flytraps to get.
Joel’s Carnivorous Plants actually sells one on Amazon that you can check out below! I listed everything you will need to buy and grow a venus flytrap. Make sure to check out my Ultimate Venus Flytrap Care Guide linked below as well to learn how to take care of your plant!
If you want your venus flytrap to get as big as possible you want to make sure that it gets as much sun as possible. A full slate of sun for your venus flytrap will help it grow to it’s full potential. If your flytrap is healthy you can also give it a specific dose of fertilizer. If your venus flytrap is outside in it’s natural habitat it’s probably catching insects. If your venus flytrap is catching a lot of bugs you don’t need to give them any kind of fertilizer.
Keep in mind, before you fertilize it’s important to do your research. There is a fertilizer called Maxsea that seems to be the most popular. You do need to make sure an dilute the fertilizer before using, but it can help your plant grow big and strong.
Check out a couple of my guides on feeding and watering below! Don’t worry, both of these links keep you right on this website.
There are many variables when looking at how big a venus flytrap can get. The most important variable is definitely the cultivar and in this case, the B52 venus flytrap is where you will get the biggest traps.
The amount of sun and insects or fertilizer your plant gets also determines how big they will get. Make sure you are giving your venus flytrap a lot of sun and opportunities to catch lots of bugs!
Don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel. I plan on getting some B52 Venus Flytraps soon and will keep you updated on their health. Until then, check out the video below of me rescuing and repotting a venus flytrap from Lowes!
Today we are going to talk about the best pots and planters for venus flytraps. It’s important that you have the right housing for your carnivorous plant. If you follow the quick answer below, you will probably be able to pick out a great pot or planter for your venus flytrap. If you want more information, definitely keep scrolling as we give some great examples and break it down for you!
Make sure to spread the word below if you find this article helpful or interesting! Pinning, liking, sharing this info helps me out so much!
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Best Pots & Planters For Venus Flytraps Quick Guide
To find the best pot or planter for a venus flytrap make it’s made out of plastic, resin or a fully glazed clay pot. Avoid terra cotta or un-glazed pots. The porous materials can cause your substrate to dry quickly by absorbing the water. They can also leach minerals that are harmful to your venus flytrap into the substrate. Make sure your pot or planter has good drainage in the bottom as venus flytraps need good water flow. Try to get a pot or planter that is at least 5-10 inches deep as Venus flytrap roots like to have room to grow. The width of the pot is not as important, just make sure it allows room for growth.
The pots below are a couple examples of planters that meet all the criteria. They are functional but also stylish, which can be a little tricky to find. Check them out and see if there is anything you like! I’ll make more suggestions below, but these are some of my favorites!
I double checked, the first planter below is great for indoors and outdoors. It’s glazed on the outside and inside, which means it won’t leach minerals into your substrate and won’t be porous and dry your soil out.
UNIQUE MARBLE DESIGN - This attractive marble pattern flower pot (8.6”D x 6.7”H) is the ideal...
RAISED DRAINAGE HOLE - This planter comes with 4 pre-drilled, built-in drainage holes that create a...
LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS - Made from durable recycled plastic and natural stone powder, the planter is...
WEATHER RESISTANT - Allow you to enjoy this plant pot for outdoor plants in all types of weather....
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED - We want you to love your purchase, therefore we strive to satisfy...
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Table of Contents
Best Pots & Planters For Venus Flytraps
Now that you have been given the quick and simple answer, lets dig in a little more. I’m going to give you a checklist of sorts for things to look for when picking out a growing pot for a venus flytrap. When selecting a planter, there are a few things you will want to take into consideration.
It’s important to know what you are looking for as venus flytraps can be a little more demanding than a typical houseplant. There may be some considerations you need to think about that you wouldn’t normally with a houseplant.
I’m going to give you a quick checklist below, then I’m going to give you some suggestions on cool venus flytrap pots and planters I have found. Some will be purely for functionality while others will be for style. You can can have both if you find the right pot or planter!
Venus Flytraps Pots & Planters Checklist
Let’s go over some of the most important things to consider when looking at pots and planters for venus flytraps. There are a few different things that are really important when deciding which planter you want. I’m going to go over all the things to consider below to help you make the best choice for your venus flytrap pots.
The material of your pot or planter for a venus flytrap is probable the most important factor when looking at which are best. I’ll talk a little bit about the most popular planter choices and go over why you should or should not choose this material.
Fiberglass/Resin
This is probably your best choice. If you can find a nice fiberglass or resin fiberglass planter this is probably the top choice for venus flytraps. They will help keep your flytrap well insulated during dormancy but also won’t leach any minerals into your substrate. They are affordable and durable in both indoors and outdoors. Almost all my planters are either a plastic or resin/fiberglass resin.
The nice thing about resin is that they make some really stylish planters made out of resin, like the examples below.
The resin planter above is always a favorite. I’m such a sucker for anything in a whiskey barrel. It’s a nice aesthetic but also will be a great functional pot for your venus flytrap.
I really like this set of 3 wicker style resin planters. The great thing about this set is that you will have the planters ready to go as your venus flytraps grow. As they grow and multiply instead of looking for a new pot, you just replant them in the next size up. This set of 3 is a perfect mix of nice looking planters along with the well insulated strong resin.
Plastic is probably the most functional and least expensive option. The biggest growers typically like to keep it simple and just keep their plants in simple plastic pots. If you don’t care much for looks and just want something simple and easy then plastic is the way to go.
Do keep in mind, if you live in an area that has a more harsh winter, the thin plastic pots may not give your venus flytrap the insulation it needs in winter time. You may need to work a little harder to keep your plant safe if it’s in a plastic planter. If you are in a warmer climate without a harsh winter plastic just might be the best option for you. I’ll share some of my favorite plastic planters below.
The plastic pot above is actually quite nice looking. It’s just a thin plastic and wont insulate as good as resin but you may not need insulation! If I was going to get a cheaper plastic pot that I could show off to my friends and family, I’d get a pot like the one above!
The plastic planter above is the king of functionality. I do like the grooves on the plastic as it gives it a little bit of character rather than the just normal smooth plastic. You can get a 12 pack of these for around $20, so the price is right. These also come with the tray!
Maybe you need a little color in your life? These are wonderful looking 6 inch plastic pots for your venus flytrap. They come with plugs you can put in the drainage holes. They look really nice, they really don’t even look plastic. They have more of a ceramic look but with the functionality of plastic!
When you are looking at ceramic pots there are two different choices. You have fully glazed or un-glazed ceramic pots. You really need to avoid any kind of un-glazed ceramic pots. The porous material that ceramic pots are made out of can actually sap the moisture from the substrate. You really don’t want your pot or planter absorbing water from the soil.
The other problem with un-glazed ceramic pots is they can leach minerals into the substrate. They are commonly full of sodium and if that sodium leaches into the soil it can be fatal for your venus flytrap or carnivorous plant. These plants need a substrate that is devoid of any minerals. Leaching can be really bad for your venus flytrap.
If you want to go with a ceramic pot I don’t blame you. They can be some of the most aesthetically pleasing. They also have some really interesting and neat ceramic pots. Just make sure if you go ceramic that the pot or planter is fully glazed. The glaze on the inside ensures that no leaching will occur.
I went ahead to did some research for you and found a few different examples of really nice fully glazed ceramic pots below for your venus flytraps!
These ceramic pots are fully glazed and absolutely beautiful. They are simple but look quite nice. The seller hand makes these ceramic pots and would look wonderful with a venus flytrap. I might actually be getting some of these for my next project!
This ceramic pot will be a show stopper with venus flytraps planted inside of it. This will be one that really grabs some attention. The hand made ceramic glazed pot along with the wood stand are just beautiful. If you really want the pot thats going to get the attention from friends and family then this should be your go to.
Imagine busting this bad boy out and showing everyone your venus flytrap devouring a fly. Prepare for some oohs and ahhs for sure! It is a little pricier but definitely worth it, check out the price by clicking the link above!
There are so many really cool ceramic pots to choose from. Just make sure they are fully glazed, check out the selection below!
Terracotta pots and planters are extremely popular. They are not a good choice for carnivorous plants or venus flytraps. I would avoid them at all costs. They are extremely porous and will drink in a lot of the water. They also are terrible at leaching minerals into the substrate. If you can avoid terracotta, I would do so at all costs for a venus flytrap.
Clay Pots
Virtually the exact same for clay pots as for terracotta. Unless the clay pots are glazed, I would avoid them entirely for the same reasons were avoiding the terracotta or un-glazed ceramic pots.
Venus Flytrap Info Via Carnivorousplantshub.com
Drainage
It’s extremely important that your pot or planter for a venus flytrap has good drainage holes in the bottom. The water needs to have a place to escape to prevent root rot. At the same time, you need to make sure to have holes in the bottom if you are watering with the tray method.
Keep in mind, if you find the perfect planter that doesn’t have holes in the bottom you can always easily drill your own holes with a power drill. It’s pretty straight forward and simple. Plastic or resin is much easier to drill the holes than ceramic. With ceramic pots you do have a higher chance of breaking the pot when drilling a hole. It’s usually easiest just to find a pot or planter with pre drilled holes.
It’s important to note the pots and planters I showed you above all had pre drilled holes!
Color
Even the color can be important depending on what are you are in. If you are in a hot area and leave your venus flytraps in full sun it might be a good idea to aim for a light color. I have seen people that have fried their plant by leaving it in a black planter in full hot sun.
If you live in an area that has less harsh summers and temps rarely go above 100, then you probably don’t have to worry about it as much. California saw many days this summer with temps well above 100. A venus flytrap in a black planter could have easily become way too hot in those conditions.
Try to stick to white or even just a lighter grey color. Other colors work well too as long as they aren’t dark.
Size
I would recommend that you at least get a pot or planter that is at least 5 inches deep. The width doesn’t matter as much as you just want to make sure that you leave enough room for the venus flytrap to grow a little bit.
You want to go at least 5 inches deep since venus flytrap roots like to grow straight down. They don’t usually grow in circles or clusters, they go straight down. If you ever buy one from a grower you will often see the roots shooting out through the bottom of those little 2.5 or 3 inch plastic pots. That’s a tell that they need a deeper pot.
It’s tempting to get a smaller pot due to the amount of really cool ceramic pots that have been made for all the succulent lovers out there. Succulents have much smaller root systems and don’t need that depth. I know it’s tempting but avoid the cute owl planter unless it’s at least 5 inches deep.
Get What You Like
Most importantly guys, get the venus flytrap pot or planter that you really like. I suggest looking around and don’t get too stuck up on price. It’s very important that you love looking at your plant. Venus flytraps are beautiful and will make any old planter look amazing, but get the planter you love. Find one that speaks to you!
There are so many options out there you can really find a good planter for your venus flytrap that matches your personality. Have fun with it! Buying your planter should be fun and exciting. When you get done planting your venus flytraps in your new pot or planter you should be ready to take a photo and share it with the world! Check out my most recent replant below, I love it!
Conclusion
I really hope you learned everything you needed today so you can pick out the perfect venus flytrap pot. Having the right planter is so very important and will help you fall in love with these plants!
If you thought this article was helpful, it would mean so much to me if you shared it on your favorite social media platform. Whether it’s Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook, it helps me out a lot!
I have a dream to open my own carnivorous plant nursery some day and I’m using this website as a platform to learn and interact with the community. Thank you for your support, it means more to me than you could ever know!
Also, make sure to check out our YouTube channel, it has all kinds of fun venus flytrap and other carnivorous plant content. Your subscription or video like helps me out a lot! Check out one of our videos below!
Also, check out the carnivorous plant society below if you are passionate about learning more or conservation for carnivorous plants!
In short, yes, yes they can. A venus flytrap can eat mealworms. I’ll give you the short and sweet answer below, then we will discuss the proper techniques when feeding a venus flytrap mealworms.
Feeding Venus Flytraps Mealworms
A venus flytrap can eat mealworms. You can feed them both dried or live mealworms. It’s better to feed them live mealworms as the squirming insect will trigger the venus flytrap to seal and release its enzymes for digestion. Make sure the mealworm is no bigger than 1/3 the size of the trap or it will be too much for the venus flytrap to try and digest. Too much food will not digest correctly and can harm your venus flytrap. If you feed your flytrap a dried mealworm, make sure you lightly massage the outside of the trap to trigger the secondary seal so it will release the enzymes to digest the insect.
Mealworms make a great and nutritious snack for your venus flytrap. They make a great snack, but it’s important that you ask yourself the question, does your venus flytrap need to eat mealworms?
The answer to that is probably not. Especially if you are growing your venus flytrap outside. Odds are you do not need to feed your venus flytrap any insects at all. Odds are it’s getting all the insects it needs just by being outside. Even if they are inside, they are usually catching houseflies or spiders.
Maybe a better question is, do you need to ever feed your venus flytraps any insects? The answer is probably not. Many people like to do this to show their friends or do it for fun on occasion. The truth is however, most venus flytraps just need a healthy does of sun and feeding them mealworms or other insects just isn’t necessary.
If Not Mealworms Or Insects, What Do They Eat?
Venus flytraps can actually live just fine without insects. Someone explained this to me this way one time, since then it’s made way more sense.
Venus flytraps are native to the North and South Carolina area. They are very hardy as they survive in the hot sun during the summer and freezing temperatures during the winter. They are a perennial plant that goes into a dormancy period.
The reason they eat insects is the soil they thrive in is almost completely devoid of any nutrients. They have evolved to live without their soil. They get almost all their energy and growth from the sun. The best thing you can do for your venus flytrap is give it a full days worth of sun. Mealworms and insects can help, but you have to be careful.
An insect or mealworm is like the fertilizer. You can give your flytrap some fertilizer but too much can kill them. Too much fertilizer for any plant can cause a lot of harm. It’s the same if you feed your venus flytrap too many insects. One trap per plant should only be fed one insect per every week or two. This will give them all the extra nutrients they need to survive.
I Really Want To Feed My Flytrap Mealworms
Okay, okay… I totally get it, it’s really cool to feed venus flytraps insects. Mealworms are great because you can easily put them in the trap and they don’t get away. Which makes them almost a perfect candidate to feed to a flytrap. You can actually feed your venus flytrap live and dried meal worms. Each way though, will require a little different method.
To feed a venus flytrap a live mealworm you won’t have to do a lot. Grab a pair of plyers or your fingers and place the meal worm in the trap and let the venus flytrap do its thing. One thing that is very important is that you make sure the mealworm is not bigger than 1/3 of the venus flytrap. Anything larger can be hard for the venus flytrap to digest and can harm it.
Once you have the mealworm the right size (you might have to cut it in half depending on the size of your trap) you just place the wiggling worm into the trap. The worm will trigger the hairs that closes the trap. If the worm continues to wiggle, it will trigger the secondary response from the flytrap and it will close even tighter.
This secondary trigger is an evolutionary trait that prevents a false positive for the venus flytrap. They expel a lot of energy closing their trap and releasing the digestive enzymes. If it closes and releases the enzyme and it’s just a leaf on the inside, it can harm the plant. When the trap closes and nothing is moving that secondary trigger doesn’t happen and the trap opens back up.
This helps the trap only move forward with digesting a real insect. It will need the nutrients from the insect if it goes through the process of closing and releasing it’s enzymes.
Can you believe we live in a time where you can buy live and dried mealworms online and have them shipped to your home? Craziness!
To feed a venus flytrap a dried mealworm, you will have to work a little harder. It will be simple to trigger the initial trap closing but it can be a little harder to make the flytrap trigger that secondary response that sends the digestive enzyme.
Once the trap closes, you want to gently massage the outside of the trap head. You will want to gently squeeze it closed tighter. Do this every 30 seconds or so for the next several minutes. This should trigger the hair on the inside after the trap closes and it should release the digestive enzymes.
If you want to learn more about feeding a venus flytrap, I have an entire guide on it below.
Can venus flytraps eat mealworms? I know it’s really tempting to make our venus flytraps eat mealworms but sometimes the best thing we can do for them is to just let them be. They will eat all the sun they need and should catch enough insects when left outside.
If you want to show off to a friend from time to time, that’s 100% acceptable. Just make sure not to overfeed the flytrap and make sure the mealworm is 1/3 or smaller so the venus flytrap can digest it.
These rules pretty much apply to feeding your flytrap any kinds of insects, but mealworms do work great if your dead set on feeding your venus flytrap.
If you want to learn all about feeding a venus flytrap and overall care, make sure to check out my venus flytrap care guide below! You can learn everything you need to know about growing and caring for a venus flytrap.
Also, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page where I show you all my carnivorous plants. I like to rescue plants from Lowes, Home Depot and Walmart. You can follow me on my journey with updates and videos all about carnivorous plants, much of my content is about Venus Flytraps! Check it out below! Make sure to subsribe to my channel to support my dream of starting my own carnivorous plant nursery in my own community! https://youtu.be/j6UkfpWpe7U
