Growing Venus Flytraps from Seeds:

Credit for the following information:

This information mainly derives from the Flytrap Care Forums:

This page is a great resource for anyone who’s looking for information on how to grow Venus Flytraps from seeds. Most of this information comes from the Flytrap Care Forums, but it’s been reformatted to fit our format. The care guide is very detailed, but if you'd like to see the original post and read more, you can click on this link:
https://www.flytrapcare.com/growing-venus-flytraps-from-seed/

Growing Venus Flytrap seeds:

The seeds of a Venus flytrap are easy to germinate and grow, as long as a few conditions are met. Growing Venus flytraps from seeds is a great way to gain new experience and connect with nature, and it’s a must for any Venus flytrap enthusiast!

You should harvest the seeds from April to June in the northern hemisphere. When stored properly in a refrigerator, the seeds will germinate well for at least a year after harvest. Some people even report great germination rates after several years of storage when stored correctly.

There are two basic ways to germinate Venus Fly Trap seeds. One way is to plant them in sphagnum peat moss, which will be describe in detail below.

The other way is by "water germination." To germinate your seeds in water, you should watch these videos by Ev & Em Carnivorium for clearly explained instructions which will replace the steps below up to the "transplant" section:
Water Germination of VFT's Part 1: https://youtu.be/nTsip79jnpY?si=iqlUiOSC3Nxuqbbe
Water Germination of VFT's Part 2: https://youtu.be/Lj9rIjWPTWE?si=4L0zaPKjdbAf6fhy

Step-by-Step Instructions for growing VFT's from seeds:

Planting Medium: Start with these steps on how to prepare the medium. Use the same soil that you use for adult plants. We recommend peat moss mixed with inert silica sand or perlite in a 1:1 ratio. If using perlite, ensure the pieces are small. Long-fibered New Zealand sphagnum moss is also effective. Refrain from using potting soil or Miracle-Gro, as they contain minerals that can destroy your plants. Regardless of the soil you select, it is crucial to sterilize it before sowing the seeds. This process will prevent mold and algae growth for some time until reintroduced through the environment. We use a pressure cooker to sterilize our soil by placing it in a large stainless steel bowl (enough to fill whatever pressure cooker we are using) and operating it for 30 minutes after it reaches pressure. More information on sterilizing soil can be found at this link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/sterilizing-soil.htm

Planting/Growing Containers: To keep your Venus flytrap seeds moist and warm, a Tupperware-style container makes a great home. But don’t forget the air holes! To promote airflow, poke some holes in the lid and some in the bottom of the container for drainage. These holes will allow the seeds to breathe and help prevent excess heat from building up. Planters with humidity domes are another option. Or, you can use any planter suitable for adult Venus flytraps; just be sure to cover it with a clear plastic bag.

Potting: When planting Venus Flytraps from seeds, you need to make sure you don’t bury the seeds underground. Instead, you must scatter the seeds on top of the moistened growing medium. Then, sift a very fine dust of sphagnum peat moss over the seeds. It’s important to note that the seeds should only be lightly covered, just to the point that you can still see them through the “dusting”. If you cover them too much, they might not germinate. If you can no longer see the seeds after dusting them with the sphagnum peat moss, that means you’ve added too much.

Water: Next, mist distilled water on the peat moss to moisten it and the seeds. Then, cover the container with the vented lid and place it somewhere with bright, indirect light. Do not place the container in direct sunlight, as this will cause the air and soil inside the container to overheat, which can damage or kill the seeds and germinating plants. Bright, indirect light is best. The germination time of Venus Flytrap seeds is highly variable, with most seeds germinating between 13 and 20 days, but some may take up to 30 days. Patience is required, and the covering can be removed after 4 to 6 weeks. Increase the amount of direct sunlight gradually for newly sprouted Venus flytrap seedlings. They need 6-8 hours a day, starting with 3 to 4 hours per day.

Watering the seeds of your Venus Flytrap is a crucial step. Ensure that the soil surface is always moist. You can use a spray bottle to gently wet the surface of the soil with the appropriate water. Continue spraying until some water drains out of the bottom. Alternatively, you can place the growing container in a container holding distilled water. Allow the soil to draw water upwards through the drain holes in the bottom of the growing container. This method ensures that your seeds have the moisture they need to germinate and grow into healthy plants.

These methods help to keep the growing container humid, but you’ll want to lift it once a day and fan the air to freshen it up. By doing this, you’ll help prevent the development of mold.

Storage: When growing Venus flytrap seeds, keep the growing container at a warm temperature. The optimal temperature to germinate Venus flytrap seeds is above 78 degrees F and up to 90 degrees F (24 to 32 degrees C). Seeds that are kept slightly lower than this will likely take much longer to germinate. If they are much lower than this, they may not germinate at all.

Transplant: After several weeks of growth, transplant your Venus flytrap seedlings to a more permanent uncovered container. It's important to transplant your Venus flytrap seedlings when the cotyledons (the first two seed leaves) and first trap leaf are formed. The root of the seedling will help it to anchor into the new soil and adapt to conditions with less humidity and more light. Even though higher humidity is needed for newly germinating seeds, transplanted Venus flytrap plants do not have this requirement. When you transplant the seedlings out of their germination chamber, you can lower the water content and allow the plants to have more air. Venus flytraps grow well in just-moist soil, but be sure that the soil never completely dries out.

An easy method to transplant your Venus flytraps is to get a wet wooden toothpick and gently lower it into the soil near the plant. Lift the plant out of the soil with the root intact. Poke tiny holes in the new, rinsed growing medium for the plant. Transfer the tiny plant into its new growing container and gently orient it properly, ensuring the leaves are upward and the root base is downward. Very gently, settle the plant into the new hole with the toothpick and/or a very light touch of a finger, lightly covering any gaps in the growing medium.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Should I do Stratification? - For those who are wondering whether or not Venus Flytrap seeds should be stratified, the answer is no. Stratification, which involves keeping seeds cold and damp for several weeks or months, is typically used for fall-blooming plants to simulate winter conditions. However, Venus Flytraps bloom in the spring and their seeds germinate within days of falling to the ground during the summer. To get the best germination rates, the seeds can be stored in a cool refrigerator before being sown at a later date.

How should I store seeds? - When you have extra Venus flytrap seeds left over, store them in the refrigerator for later. Place the seeds in a small plastic bag and squeeze out the excess air to keep them from drying out. This process will keep the seeds fresh for longer. It will also prevent them from trying to germinate prematurely, as heat stimulates germination. If you’re harvesting the seeds yourself, allow them to dry for two or three days in a small, open container before storage. This step will prevent the seeds from developing mold.

When should I purchase Venus flytrap seeds? - In the northern hemisphere, the seeds are typically available from late June or early July. But they can be stored in the refrigerator and still germinate great for at least a year after harvest. So you can grow your own Venus flytrap plants at any time of year.

How should I pollinate and harvest my own seeds? - It is not advised to let the flower stalk grow on a Venus flytrap plant unless you want to harvest seeds. The flower stalk will sap a lot of the plant’s energy, which can hurt the plant’s health. If you do decide to grow the flower stalk, it will typically happen in the Northern Hemisphere between February and May. The flowers can be pollinated for only 1 to 1.5 days after they open. When pollinating, use fresh pollen from younger flowers, preferably one that just opened.

Seed Production in Venus Flytraps:

To pollinate the flowers, you can use a small artist’s brush. Brush the “anthers” (the antennae radiating around the fuzzy yellow “stigma” at the center of the flower) of a young flower to acquire some pollen. Then, transfer that pollen to the stigma at the center of a slightly older flower (1-1.5 days older) by brushing it lightly onto the stigma. This can be done this a few times if you wish, as long as the stigma is receptive, which is still receptive if it is still fuzzy and the flower is open. Once the flower is pollinated, the petals will begin to die off.

Here is another video from Ev & Em Carnivorium that can help better visualize these directions:
How to Pollinate VFT's: https://youtube.com/shorts/8EnRbjBsLO0?si=MH59eDpQHYzsEpDR

And there you have it, how to grow Venus flytraps from seed.

Happy Growing!

Contact information:

If you would like to contact us to understand more about this information, you may send an email to SeaIslandSnapTraps@gmail.com.