Question
Hi guys, me again. I've been having some problems with the second Venus flytrap i have. the most puzzling of all would be that all the  new young traps are coming in black and dead while the rest of the leaf is perfectly green and healthy. I'm using 50% peat moss and 50% perlite as my medium, and the good ol' sun for light #outside#. I am using a hose that is not hooked up to any softening or sterilization chemicals #or so i am told#. I live in Grand Island Nebraska, and it has been nice and sunny and warm for the past couple weeks now. #sorry no photo#

Answer
Hi Joseph,

Are you using water from the tap?  If so, check your mineral levels.  It should be less than 50 ppm.  Otherwise, I would say it's the minerals in the water that causing the symptoms you're seeing.  It's OK to use tap water ONLY IF the mineral levels are less than 50 ppm.  Of course, the lower the better.  Switch to bottled distilled water until you get your tap water checked out.  

I recommend watching Volume 1 of the Grow Carnivorous Plants DVD series.  In this volume, we discuss the issue of water rather extensively:
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD

Write back as a follow-up if you need further assistance.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin