Dionaea muscipula ‘Purple Ambush’

Description

Whenever someone thinks about carnivorous plants, Venus flytraps are usually the first to come to mind. The genus Dionaea is monotypic, meaning only a single species is recognized; all other variants of Venus flytraps are cultivars! The Purple Ambush cultivar is known for traps that are deep red in color, turning purple under intense light. Dionaea muscipula captures insects by using specialized leaves that form “jaws,” which close upon detecting movement through sensory hairs.

The three most important aspects of carnivorous plant care are light, soil, and water. Venus flytraps need light – the more, the better. Indoors, they require full range lamps over 30 watts, and truly thrive outdoors in full sun, either in a tray of water or in a full miniature bog. Flytraps have adapted to low-nutrient, boggy environments, and most regular potting soil will kill them. We keep ours in a 50-50 ratio of unfertilized peat and perlite.

Carnivorous plants should be kept in a shallow tray of reverse osmosis, distilled, or rainwater at all times. Water that is too high in dissolved solids will eventually kill them as salts build up in the soil and burn the roots. Our plants ship potted in 3″ plant pots.

Originating from the bogs of North and South Carolina, these plants also undergo winter dormancy. To ensure their long-term health, it’s recommended to either keep them in the refrigerator during winter or keep them outdoors during winter. They are cold hardy down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.