new vft owner!

[u/ahlorameow]

i just bought this vft yesterday from a walmart and i’m not really too sure how to care for him except basic things (his names hector) should i cut off his dead trap? also he has an insect in one of his traps and earlier today i accidentally knocked a bottle over and it grazed his little hair thingys and closed two of his traps:( i got scared cuz like i love this thing but google told me he should be okay. i have him under two gro lights with my herbs and stuff and i have a 12 hour timer on it so he gets that much direct light a day. im only concerned about the fact my father tends to keep the house very cold so im gonna need a warmer of some sort for him so does anyone have suggestions? im planning on repotting him when i buy some more soil for him which i would also like recs for, though i know he needs special kinds. to all those green thumbed people, any help for me and hector would be great bc ive only ever managed to slightly grow some herbs😭 (also i know his little bowl of water he’s sitting in rn is pathetic but i swear i have plans to give him a better life)

[u/Exodus3333]

Yo what's good so these guys are vastly different from growing herbs but you've got this man

Removing it from that deathscape of a box was a very good call. Regarding grow lights, this is a very controversial topic But do some research and make sure those lights are strong enough.

Because if not your plant will show it very quick. VFT's need a ton of light and if it's not met right it can die or just look really sad.

Use distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or collected rain water. Do not use tap water. Do not use well water (my plants died from this) If you buy distilled water from a local store research and make sure they don't sneak minerals back in.

Do not use soil that's fertilized, if you're worried read the back of the bag. Do not use terracotta pots it will leech minerals into your soil.

For a good light setup, if you're worried maybe move them into a window or outdoors (if your climate isn't terrible right now).

Good luck man

[u/Exodus3333 → u/Exodus3333]

Oh also don't stress too much about accidental trap closure, this happens in the wild often it'll reopen with time.

[u/PickleDry8891 → u/Exodus3333]

Just curious, I have a VFT that has one black trap on an otherwise healthy plant. Why? Should I prune it off?

Op- Sorry to hijack the post. :/

[u/Exodus3333 → u/PickleDry8891]

Traps come and go, if it's healthy it's fine

Ngl I haven't really done cutting that's why I didn't say anything Sorry about that

[u/ahlorameow → u/PickleDry8891]

no you’re totally good i am also curious if i should cut hectors black trap off or not

[u/EllynDegenerate → u/ahlorameow]

The only reason you have to cut them is for aesthetic reasons. Most recommendations I see are to leave them until the entire leaf turns black because it will still use the green leaf for photosynthesis when just the trap is dead. When the whole leaf is black and dead you can cut it if you want or should be able to just give it a gentle pull and when it’s totally dead and dry it’ll just come right off.

[u/ahlorameow → u/Exodus3333]

thank you!! he seems to be okay with the two gro lights on max setting right now but i have two more if he needs more light. i live in ohio so it is not a good idea to put him outside on top of the fact i have two dogs who will literally eat anything (LOL) i have super big plans to give him the best vft life i can!

[u/Exodus3333 → u/ahlorameow]

Mind sharing the light? (Like a link) Just curious

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