Question

Odd flytrap  

odd flytrap   My Flytrap is sending up flower scapes that start out from the main plant, goes up about 2 inches then forms a clump of baby traps and the rest of the flower end of the scape. Is this bad for the plant. thanks for any help, Ed B.

Answer
Hi Ed,

This is called vegetative apomixis.  It's a pretty common occurrence on Venus Flytraps, and I've seen it a few times on Drosera filiformis.  With flytraps it will often happen if they've not had long enough, or cool enough dormancy, but sometimes it's just random.

It can be detrimental.  If it happens on younger plants, it can drain the plants resources to the point of killing the mother plant.  If that happens, then be sure and plant the plant that forms on the stalk.  Older plants usually have enough stored resources in their rhizome to produce the plantlet on the stalk.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com