Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) "Red Periscope" — 1–2-inch plant

Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) "Red Periscope" uses nectar-covered inner trap walls and touch-sensitive trichomes to capture insects. Interlocking cilia help retain prey, while enzymes digest it after the trap closes.

At a glance

• Current size: about 1–2 inches in diameter
• Trap action: touch-sensitive trichomes in the middle of each trap trigger its closing mechanism
• Prey digestion: interlocking cilia make it difficult or impossible for prey to escape; enzymes digest it after closure, a process that can take up to 10 days
• Dormancy: during winter, roughly October through February or March

Care

• Light: full or partial sun
• Growing medium: peat and perlite, or pure peat
• Water: use the tray method; provide less water during winter dormancy
• Feeding: fish food or bugs every 3–4 weeks
• Conditions: 50–85% humidity; 65–80°F in spring and summer, 35–55°F in colder months