Red Dragon Flytrap Losing Color? Check Your Water

Jim's 'Red Dragon' flytrap gets 6 hours of sun, sits in a water tray with other flytraps, but new leaves stay mostly green with only red edges. A flower stalk shriveled before opening—possibly bird damage or fungus. He wonders if it's disease or just a slow variety.

Classic Hard Water Symptoms

Red Dragons show mineral sensitivity before other carnivores. At the nursery, they're the most vigorous flytraps. If you're using tap water, switch to rainwater or distilled immediately. Bird droppings in the soil can cause similar issues.

Action Plan

• Repot into a larger container with standard peat/perlite mix
• Switch to pure water (rain, distilled, or RO)
• Inspect the rhizome for abnormalities; spray with sulfur fungicide if you see mold
• Send a photo showing the plant and its neighbors for better diagnosis

Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
www.cobraplant.com