VENUS FLYTRAP: DC XL

• Species: Dionaea Muscipula
• The DC XL cultivar is the challenger to B52 for the "world's largest traps" title
• The "XL," refers to the words 'X-tra Large'
• These plants are mostly green with a reddish tint on the inside of the trap when grown outside in full sun
• The first traps in spring are usually the largest and can approach 5cm in size on a fully grown mature plant
• In addition to being handsome and ginormous for a venus flytrap, DC XL is also an extraordinarily hardy grower and a wonderful addition to any carnivorous plant collection
• These are 3 year old (medium-sized) to 5+ years (near-flowering size) plants, already potted in our deluxe carnivorous plant soil, ready for action during the upcoming growing season 

• Carefully select the 'How will you receive your plant' option
• Note that the shipping options are set up according to the volumetric weight of the parcel ie.  if you choose 'collect from us' ordering option, we assume you will be collecting your plants from our premises and there will be no Postnet or Courier shipping option available at the checkout section

• Venus flytraps need a lot of light to thrive.  Plants can be grown in a protected area outdoors with full sun, year round
• In Gauteng, we recommend growing flytraps outdoors with (at the very least) 6 hours morning sun.  Note that during summertime soil may become very hot and plants may overheat during heatwaves.  During these spells, protect your plant from the harsh afternoon sun

WATER:

• As venus flytraps are bog plants, always keep the soil moist using the tray method. Top-watering is fine during winter time when plants are dormant and sluggish traps will not be triggered accidentally
• Low-mineral water is highly recommended and we use distilled- or reverse osmosis water, when rainwater is scarce
• Fluctuate the water level to air the roots by letting the tray dry in between waterings, but never let the plant itself dry out completely

FEEDING:

• Carnivorous plants are self-sufficient hunters and have adapted to catch and digest their own food.  As venus flytraps are plants, their growing energy is derived from the sun via photosynthesis (Therefor your plant will never die due to starvation).  During the growing season they will lure, catch and digest their own insects which acts as a type of fertiliser. Never feed your flytrap hamburger meat, viennas, biltong, braaivleis, milk or vegetables (Let me know if I left something out 😂 )
• Venus flytraps also do not eat human fingers or pencils.  Trap movement requires a lot of energy and therefor each trap have a limited lifespan for opening and closing - usually 1-3 times.  Triggering the traps manually, waste their energy and the trap will die off

SOIL:

• Do not fertilise your plant and only use sphagnum-peat based plant soil, which is low in minerals. Compost, coco peat, palm peat and regular garden variety potting soil contains salts and minerals that will kill your plant
• We recommend repotting venus flytraps yearly, into fresh carnivorous plant soil, at the end of winter dormancy

WINTER DORMANCY:

• Venus flytraps are sun-loving temperate plants which means they grow actively during summertime, and die back to a dormant rhizome (underground stem) during the winter months when the daylight period is shorter
• If you are new to carnivorous plants, see our FAQ section on what to expect from your plant during dormancy
• Please note that images mostly represent mature plants in full summer growth cultivated in optimal conditions
• Plants will appear smaller, and traps close slower during and a couple of weeks after the dormancy period in the colder months of the year (Usually May to October)

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE:

• This is a lot to digest, but following this guide we trust that your venus fly trap will thrive in your care.  Below is a quick reference guide on growing a happy and healthy venus flytrap