Venus flytrap

My 10 yr old son would like to ask a question.
He has just bought a venus fly trap plant.
Over to you Philip.
What food should I give my plant to eat when there are no flies to catch? We tried corned beef and the water keeps going down fast.
It is on my bedroom windowsill, is this the best place?

 

No. It has got to be outside in the sunshine where it can open its traps and catch flies. Don't feed it at all, but lots of water. See my other post in Greenhouse section.

 

Hi slugbug and a warm welcome to Philip as well!

Here's a link to a good article about the Venus Fly Trap - but don't worry if you don't understand all of the big words, I didn't either! :D Wikipedia: Venus Fly Trap

 

.... what is with our 10 yr olds?
The advice given by the GC was to keep it humid (hence the standing on a saucer of damp compost), NO plant food, and only rain water.... and if it were in my son's bedroom, then there would no problems with lack of flies!!!! :eek:

 

I always fed mine on cheese of all things, although you have to rattle the traps after they close in order to stimulate them, otherwise they just open up again without digesting the meal.
Grow them in pure sphagnum moss peat standing in a saucer of water, rain water is best but as the moss is so acid the occasional drop of tap water wont hurt.
Sunshine is best, then the traps turn reddish, and as long as there is a good supply of water the temperature can rise as high as you like, within reason of course but 100deg F is OK in summer and just above freezing in winter.

 

Found this link....
Little shop of Horrors...

 

Thanks for all the above advice.
We have read the links and I agree there are some difficult words to explain.
Philips plant was only bought from a garden centre 2 weeks ago and the flower was ready to open.We have put it outside hoping the wind would not break the flower but now we have read that we shouldpinch out the flower for the 1st year to prevent the plant weakening.
It has flowered with little white flowers .
Should we break it off or are we too late now and just leave it?

 

If the flower has been fertilised it will start to form seeds. That will take some food and energy

 

Its up to you wether you keep the flower, I used to cut them off before they formed too much as I didn't find them particually attractive, but first time is always interesting with a new plant.

 

slugbug,did i read right?did you really feed it cornedbeef?. :D :D :D :D :D .