| Every year, I receive many phone calls | | | | Plant |
| from parents wanting to purchase Venus | | | | For these reasons, I often persuade |
| Flytraps for their kids' science | | | | parents to select a different plant. The |
| project. I ask them what type of | | | | ideal |
| experiment that they | | | | plant is one that also moves, like the |
| are doing, and usually it is about what | | | | Venus Flytrap, but is also actively |
| type of food source will keep the traps | | | | growing |
| closed. I patiently listen to what they | | | | throughout the school year.The plant? |
| have to say, and then I share with them | | | | The Cape Sundew (Drosera capensis).The |
| three | | | | Cape Sundew is native to South Africa |
| reasons why Venus Flytraps make lousy | | | | and is considered a tropical plant. It |
| test subjects:1. Venus Flytraps are | | | | does |
| usually dormant when school is in | | | | not require any dormancy and will grow |
| session. | | | | beautifully throughout the year. They |
| The school year goes from September | | | | are |
| through June. Venus Flytraps are often | | | | also readily available by most |
| dormant from November through April. | | | | nurseries that specializes in |
| During dormancy, Flytraps stop growing | | | | carnivorous plants.Like Venus Flytraps, |
| and their traps stop working.For any | | | | Cape Sundews have leaves that close |
| science projects to work, your young | | | | around an insect. It does |
| budding scientists will need to use | | | | so very slowly, however, taking about |
| plants that are actively growing. That | | | | 15 minutes to witness this amazing |
| means the best time to do any science | | | | behavior.Just make sure that your plant |
| project | | | | has been grown in very bright lights and |
| on Venus Flytraps is during June | | | | has lots of |
| through September. Not many young | | | | dew on it. If not, your experiment may |
| budding | | | | not work properly.So, if your kids want |
| scientists are willing to do science | | | | a Venus Flytrap for a science project, |
| projects during the summer when there | | | | use a Cape Sundew |
| are many | | | | instead. But, still get them a Venus |
| trees to climb and ponds to swim in.2. | | | | Flytrap. Growing it can be a part of |
| Traps on a Venus Flytrap will open and | | | | their |
| close about half a dozen times. After | | | | summertime activities.Jacob Farin and |
| that, they stop working. | | | | Jeff Dallas are owners of Sarracenia |
| Now, how many kids (and adults) out | | | | Northwest, a nursery |
| there are disciplined enough to not poke | | | | specializing in the cultivation of |
| a | | | | carnivorous plants. They are also |
| Flytrap and to leave it alone? If a | | | | authors of |
| trap does not close properly, would it | | | | Secrets to Growing Beautiful |
| be because | | | | Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and |
| of the testing stimulus or because the | | | | Garden, the |
| trap was poked and poked and poked and | | | | most informative carnivorous plant |
| poked and simply stopped working?3. | | | | guide ever written. Together, Jacob and |
| Traps will live for about 2 months, then | | | | Jeff |
| it stops working and slowly turns | | | | teach first-time growers how to grow |
| black, regardless if it had been | | | | Venus Flytraps, pitcher plants and |
| triggered or not. | | | | sundews |
| Again, if a trap does not close | | | | without a fancy greenhouse or goofy |
| properly, would it be because of the | | | | terrarium. Over 22 years of secrets are |
| testing stimulus | | | | |
| or because the trap had come to the end | | | | revealed! |
| of its life cycle?Select a Different | | | | |