Does Different Soil Change the Reaction Time of a Venus Fly Trap?

Natural Soil

• The Venus flytrap's natural growing soil consists of a thin surface layer of peaty material. Underneath the peat is mineral soil consisting of some organic matter but mostly sand. The majority of the plant's roots are confined to the upper 4 inches of the soil with some extending to a depth of 1 foot. Chemical testing shows the soil to be low in nutrients with a pH ranging from 3.0 to 5.0.

Appropriate Potting Mix

• Several potting mixtures are suitable for growing a Venus flytrap as a houseplant. Plain peat moss or sphagnum moss is the easiest to use. The most widely utilized soil blend is a 1:1 mix of peat moss and perlite. Another good growing medium is a mixture of five parts peat moss, three parts silica sand and two parts perlite. The silica sand helps develop healthy roots and allows air circulation throughout the soil. General houseplant potting soils are too nutrient-rich and burn the roots. Inappropriate soil slows the trap's reaction time and eventually kills the plant.

Trap Closure and Soil

• In nature, an insect touching the trigger hairs on the leaf causes trap closure. Trap closure takes less than a second. One hair must be stimulated twice or two hairs touched in succession for the trap to react. The mechanics involved in the closing of the trap are complex. However, one phase of closure involves the rapid movement of hydrogen ions into the cell walls responding to the stimulated hairs. Therefore, if the Venus Fly Trap is not in hydrogen-rich acidic soil, reaction time decreases.

Changing the Soil

• Periodically changing the soil keeps the Venus flytrap health with a rapid reaction time. Every year or two, replant the Venus flytrap in fresh peat moss or peat moss mix. The older the soil gets, the less acidic it becomes. The soil is also leached of other nutrients, and fresh peat is necessary for the plant's health.