Carnivorous plant fertilizer?

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Humidity could be a factor, but I have a question about your watering. It sounds like you may be drowning the plant. They like to stay moist, but not soggy. If you are keeping standing water in the root zone, they will drown. You may want to replace the bowl under the pot with a saucer. I am assuming you are in a 2.5 - 4" pot like they are sold in at most large box retailers. A saucer will allow the media to wick water from a shallow saucer or dish. Also, peat and play sand will compress overtime and has to be replaced at least yearly. I prefer 50/50 peat and perlite. A little vermiculite wouldn't hurt, but is harder to come by and not a required component. You need a media that will drain well, but still hold moisture and air. This is probably a problem for later though. The book "The Savage Garden" may be of interest to you if you wish to learn more about these types of plants.

Also, as pole said the traps only close a few times (2-4 usually). Feeding once a month is more than enough. If you do feed (probably not needed) use only insects (dried mill worms work OK in small enough pieces or crushed). Never, ever feed meat like you would eat (beef, pork, etc) the fat content is too high and it will cause the traps to rot.
 
Humidity could be a factor, but I have a question about your watering. It sounds like you may be drowning the plant. They like to stay moist, but not soggy. If you are keeping standing water in the root zone, they will drown. You may want to replace the bowl under the pot with a saucer. I am assuming you are in a 2.5 - 4" pot like they are sold in at most large box retailers. A saucer will allow the media to wick water from a shallow saucer or dish. Also, peat and play sand will compress overtime and has to be replaced at least yearly. I prefer 50/50 peat and perlite. A little vermiculite wouldn't hurt, but is harder to come by and not a required component. You need a media that will drain well, but still hold moisture and air. This is probably a problem for later though. The book "The Savage Garden" may be of interest to you if you wish to learn more about these types of plants.

Also, as pole said the traps only close a few times (2-4 usually). Feeding once a month is more than enough. If you do feed (probably not needed) use only insects (dried mill worms work OK in small enough pieces or crushed). Never, ever feed meat like you would eat (beef, pork, etc) the fat content is too high and it will cause the traps to rot.

Well I have two. The one I'm talking about is in a 6" pot. I just got it a few weeks ago maybe the middle of last month. I have another that I left in the original container it came in and that plant has been growing great.

The only thing I've feed is spiders i feed around my back door but that was last one. I know they can't eat meat.


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With out knowing more it is always hard to make suggestions. Could be lighting or any other number of factors. I've found humidity is beneficial, but usually not a total deal breaker. I keep a couple planters with CPs on my patio and deck. Humidity is not very high and they still do well. VFTs like a little more light than it is commonly believed, so they enjoy the full sun outside my place. Good luck.
 
With out knowing more it is always hard to make suggestions. Could be lighting or any other number of factors. I've found humidity is beneficial, but usually not a total deal breaker. I keep a couple planters with CPs on my patio and deck. Humidity is not very high and they still do well. VFTs like a little more light than it is commonly believed, so they enjoy the full sun outside my place. Good luck.

Well light could be another factor to why it's dying too. The one in the container that gets more day light. Both are in my window I can't keep them outside it gets too cold at night. Plus outside construction.


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You're not supposed to use any fertilizer or force feed insects. Let nature take its course. If the plant does not get any insects it will still live fine. Make sure the soil is moist at all times and make sure it is rainwater/distilled water only. Give it LOTS of light/sun. This is the best care for a Venus flytrap. They also grow slow and there is not much you can do to speed this up.
 
How cold? They are native to the US you know? I have seen them survive covered in snow.

It's averaging 60 during the day and 40-50 degrees at night.

I think you misunderstood about the food. I DO NOT force feed. I've only fed it twice since I got it. The one in the container is growing farely fast compared to the other one


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...are you sure it isn't naturally going dormant? It is getting to that time of the year and may be getting light cues if it's by the window.
 
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