How to Grow a Clip Trap (fly Trap)

The trap plant, also known as the flytrap plant, is an exotic plant native to the United States and thrives in environments where most other plants quickly perish. This carnivorous plant with leaves that “clamp” to trap insects is being grown in many places. With a little knowledge and a little care, you will be able to grow this strange and beautiful plant to decorate your windowsill or backyard.

Table of Contents

Buy a tree

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Learn a little about the clamp trap before you buy. This very interesting carnivorous plant has two parts – the photosynthetic stem and the leaf blade used to capture prey. The leaf blade is the “head” of the plant that can be easily recognized by anyone with a shape like a blue seashell with long fierce “teeth”. These “teeth” are actually trigger hairs, which signal to the plant that a delicious insect is nearby. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Purchase a clamp trap from a licensed distributor. This protein-fueled plant is so widely available that you can buy it in supermarkets or bonsai stores, but if you want an older or more disease-resistant plant, look no further. to reputable nurseries.

There are also websites that specialize in selling carnivorous plants. Although you may not be able to choose the exact plant you like, they will send it with instructions on how to care for it.

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Absolutely do not take traps in the wild. The trap is an endangered species and is protected by law. You can face fines and even jail if you break the law.

Choose the soil that meets the plant’s needs

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Find a deep pot so that the roots can sink into the soil. Clamp trap plants have relatively long roots, so they need to be planted in deep pots. In general, a pot with about 10 cm of space for the roots is satisfactory.

Choose an insulated pot. Clipper plant roots are also sensitive to temperature changes, so it’s best to choose an insulated pot for the plant. Although plastic pots can also be used, you should look at gardeners selling ornamental plants to buy insulated planters.
Choose pots that filter and absorb nutrients and salts that can be harmful to the clipper plant. The unglazed earthenware pot has tiny holes that allow the roots to breathe and act as a filter for water.
Self-watering planters are suitable for trap plants.
However, the clamp plant is not too picky about the pot. You can use a deep terracotta pot with a hole in the bottom or use a bucket to punch a few holes for drainage.

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Choose soil that matches the natural needs of the plant. Mix sphagnum peat moss and perlite in equal proportions. Absolutely do not use sea sand because there are nutrients in the sand. Perlite is a hydrated obsidian rock that looks like small white pebbles. Perlite helps keep potted plants moist. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Native to the marshes and wetlands of North and South Carpina, the trap plant prefers moist environments and acidic nutrient-poor soils. The ideal pH for a clamp plant is between 4.9 and 5.3 (most common plants prefer a neutral pH between 5.8 and 7.2).
Another mix that many clipper growers also love is 5 parts sphagnum peat moss mixed with 3 parts silica sand and 2 parts perlite. Silica sand helps to aerate and helps the plant develop resistance to heat and pests. Furthermore, neither silica sand (quartz sand) nor perlite release into the soil nutrients and minerals that are not good for carnivorous plants. Peat moss or Sphagnum moss is the best soil for growing clamp plants.
Do not use organic soil or conventional potting soil, as this will burn the roots and kill the plant. Avoid fertilizing the clipper plant, as the fertilizer can also “burn the roots” causing the plant to die. You also shouldn’t use nutrient-rich soil like Miracle-Grow because it contains organic fertilizers and compost.

Choose where to plant

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Place the clamp trap in a place where there is a lot of direct sunlight. During the entire growing period, the clamp plant needs 12 hours of light per day for proper photosynthesis and flowering, including 4 hours of direct sunlight.

Remember that the more sun the plant receives, the healthier it is. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Most clamp traps will show off their red color when they are healthy and happy with the position you have chosen for them.

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Choose a well-lit area of the house away from drafts. In addition to light needs, clamp plants also need a high humidity environment and no drafts. A sunny but draft-free area of the house will be the ideal place to place the potted plant.

Observe where the sun hits your house in the morning and afternoon.
If you’re planning to place a trapdoor in your home, you should choose an east, west, or south facing window. Remember that the plant needs a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight each day.
You can also grow traps in a well-ventilated aquarium with grow lights or fluorescent lights nearby. The closer to the light, the healthier the plant.

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Consider growing plants outdoors. You can also plant a trapdoor plant in a moisture-retaining garden. Remember to plant in direct sunlight and not on nutrient-rich soil.

You can place the trap tree near construction or draft-resistant trees to shield the tree.

Caring for plants during growth

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Identify the growing period of the plant. The trap plant will require plenty of water and sunshine from April to October or whenever you make it look like spring. The growth period is when the plant is at its maximum activity, “catching prey”, photosynthesis and flowering. Flowers can weaken plants.

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Use only purified water to water plants. You should only use purified water for watering plants; Distilled water, deionized water and rainwater are also suitable options.

Reverse osmosis water is the best choice, as most other sources such as drinking water have been fortified with minerals to enhance flavor.

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Avoid tap water if possible. There are 3 reasons why tap water is not good for the trap.

Tap water contains things like chlorine, sodium, and sulfur (and other chemicals) that build up in the soil over time, making plants sick and eventually die.
Most tap water sources have a pH between 7.9 and 8.3.
Chlorine kills most microorganisms, including beneficial ones.

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Test tap water if necessary. You can use tap water if the TDS (total dissolved solids) level can be measured with a TDS meter. Water must have a TDS reading below 50 ppm to be safe for plants.

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Supply water according to the needs of the plant. Never let the soil dry out completely during the growing season. Try to keep the growing medium moist (but not soggy). There are 3 ways to water plants for you to choose from, each with its own advantages:

The method of placing the potted plant in a water tray : This method is one of the best methods of watering plants during the growing season in direct sunlight. Plants should be planted in pots with drainage holes in the bottom. You will place the pot in a tray of water; The growing medium will absorb water like a wick, providing the necessary amount of water for the plant and increasing the humidity around the pot.
- Be aware, however, that if your potted plants are relatively shallow (about 13 cm) this method can be detrimental, as the roots can become soaked, causing fungus or bacteria to grow.
Top watering method : This is the most common method of watering plants – watering or spraying the soil around the plant and waiting for the water to drain at the bottom of the pot. Soil should always be moist but not soggy. This means watering the plant 2 – 5 times per month during the growing season.
Double Pot Method : This is the most effective method for growing clamp traps. Place the potted plant in another larger pot. The outside pot acts as insulation protecting the plant from sudden temperature changes, helping to increase the humidity in the air and maintain it. Pour water only into the outer pot surrounding the planter in the middle.
- Terracotta pots with tiny holes placed inside will help moisture seep in and filter out harmful mineral salts.

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Make sure the plant gets enough sun. As mentioned above, the trap plant needs at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day throughout the growing season. In addition to “eating” insects, the traps depend on photosynthesis for growth and health.

Place the plant in a location that receives at least 12 hours of sun each day.

Caring for plants during hibernation

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Identify the dormant period of the plant. From October to March, the trap plant will go through a dormant period. The dormant state occurs when the plant stops flowering or growing. Many traps die during dormancy because their owners continue to care for the plant as it was during normal growth.

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Reduce watering for plants. You should not use the method of soaking the potted plant in a tray of water while the plant is dormant. Water the soil. Although the trap plant requires a lot of water during its growth period, its water requirements will drop drastically during the dormant period. Most clippers will only need to be watered every 10-14 days.

Soil needs to be much drier (but not completely dry). The soil around the base of the tree and the roots should be slightly moist and the rest of the soil should be dry. Water the plants as at other times, remember to water well.
When watering plants, you should water them in the morning so that the plants have time to dry out before nightfall and temperatures drop.
Don’t over-water – only water the plant when the soil around the base of the plant begins to dry out. Bacteria and fungi can arise if you water too much.

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Place the plant in the sun. Although hibernation is often understood as the dormant period of the plant, the clamp plant actually still needs photosynthesis during hibernation, so your plant still needs light.

If possible, bring the plant indoors and place it under bright light while it hibernates.

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Protect the plant from freezing temperatures if you grow it outdoors. The measures you should take will depend on the climate in your area and where the plants are grown indoors or outdoors. For outdoor plants, you have 2 options: ^{[4] X Research Source} :

If the plant is grown outdoors and lives in a relatively warm climate where the temperature never drops below -1 degrees Celsius, you can leave the plant outdoors year-round without worrying about it getting cold.
If the plant is grown outdoors in colder climates where frosts are occasionally present, it’s a good idea to plant the traps in the ground during the winter (the pot will absorb the heat of the surrounding air). Plant in a moist garden or in soil suitable for traps (see section 1). You should also cover the plant with leaves or mulch to protect it in bad weather.

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Bring the plant indoors if you live in a cold area. In areas where freezing temperatures persist, you’ll need to bring the traps indoors during the winter. Place plants on windowsills in unheated rooms such as garages or patios. This is the best way to keep the plant alive through the winter indoors while hibernating. If possible, place the plant on a south-facing windowsill so it can continue to photosynthesize.

Take basic care measures

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There is no need to feed the plants with insects. You can either feed the plants to provide the nutrients they need, or apply a very small amount of nutrient-rich fertilizer to the soil, or occasionally spray the plants with a liquid fertilizer. ^{[5] X Sources of Research} Outdoor forceps trap insects, grasshoppers (and sometimes even small animals like frogs) as a source of nutrients for stronger plant growth.

Note that tree traps sometimes don’t close if what’s inside doesn’t move. This means that you should feed the plant live bait such as flies and mealworms. A useful tip when feeding plants with live bait is to put them in the freezer for a few minutes to let the prey lethargic. You should only feed 1 or 2 traps of the plant at a time and only when the plant is healthy and sturdy.
If you decide to feed the plant with a dead insect, you should place the insect in the trap and gently rub the trap every 20 to 30 minutes until it closes. Rubbing the trap is to make the plant think that the prey it has caught is stirring. However, this is not always necessary, as the trap plant also uses chemical receptors to close the leaves when it senses nutrients inside the trap.
Don’t give the plant “strange” foods like a sandwich or muffin. This action can kill the plant, especially if you feed it to the plant, as the clamp will have a negative reaction to the fat.
- Decomposing fats and meat are favorable conditions for bacteria to grow and can damage the clamp plant.

Warning

During the first few weeks, do not suddenly bring the plant out into direct sunlight for long periods of time. This will kill the tree.
Never over-water the plant. If the plant is waterlogged, mold can multiply and the plant can easily die.
Regrettably, despite attracting curiosity and demand from all over the world as an exotic species, the pinnacle ( Dionaea muscipula ) in the wild has been increasingly severely affected since the 1980s. due to habitat loss, firefighting and illegal harvesting.
Don’t throw the plant away when it suddenly looks “dead” during the fall and winter – it’s just dormant and should recover in the spring.
The clamp plant is not a tropical plant. Although it likes high humidity, hot and humid temperatures will cause the plant to rot and develop fungi.
Clipper plants do not need to eat much, you should only feed them when they need nutrients.

Steps