Black Bamboo

The Venus Fly Trap hails from the bogs and marshes of North and south Carolina, in the USA. It particularly likes poor nitrogen free soils. It is because the plant cannot get sufficient nutrients from the soil that it has developed its renowned ability to feed on insects.

Often Venus fly traps are bought from garden centres and die in the home environment, where it is sometimes difficult to replicate the conditions - moist acidic soil, high humidity and plenty of direct sunlight.

Rain water should be used to water a Venus Fly trap - never tap water, which will kill the plant. Because of their preference for marshy conditions it is impossible to over-water a venus fly trap, and they should be kept in a saucer of water.

The last thing to remember if you are keeping a Venus fly trap is that it can manage perfectly well without flies, and prodding and poking the plant, or feeding it with morsels of processed food is not a good idea.

To feed the plant with insects you will need a live insect - and a way to motivate the insect to stay within the 'jaws' long enough for the plant to notice!