Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Plant Species >> Carnivorous Plants

Is Feeding Triops to Venus Flytraps Safe? Understanding Prey Suitability

Stick to Flies and Spiders

Triops (a crustacean) likely won't harm the plant but offers no benefit. Calcium is harmful if it enters the soil and is not proven to be used by flytraps. They need minimal calcium from natural sources. Standard insect prey is best.

Carnivorous Plants: Understanding Water Mineral Content: Hardness, TDS, and Carnivorous Plant Safety; Feeding Carnivorous Plants When Insects Are Scarce: Alternative Nutrition Strategies; Saving a Struggling Nepenthes mira After Repotting; Feeding Butterworts: Rehydrate Bloodworms for Best Results; Do Venus Flytraps Need to Catch Insects? Feeding vs. Natural Growth; Coffee as Fertilizer for Carnivorous Plants: Skeptical View; Feeding Sarracenia 'Judith Hindle': Can You Use Nightcrawlers?; Feeding Venus Flytraps Dyed Fishing Maggots: Potential Risks and Better Alternatives; Choosing the Best Calcium Supplement: Liquid vs. Pills, Dosage, and Quality; Raccoons at Bird Feeders: They Won’t Starve If You Stop Feeding

Garden Articles

Calcium Chloride vs. Chelated Calcium for Apple Fruit Quality and Size

Interpreting Soil Test Results: High Calcium, Magnesium, and Lime Requirement

Growing Cacti in an Office With Only Artificial Light

Feeding Blooming Phalaenopsis: How Much and How Often?

Fertilizing Roses in California: Seasonal Schedule for Spring Blooms and Summer Rest

When to Fertilize Roses in Early Spring: Avoiding Freeze Damage to New Growth

Early Spring Feeding for Nepenthes: When to Resume Fertilization

Plants

Venus Flytrap Leaves Turning Black: Dormancy or Rot?

Camellia Leaf Blight After Wet Spring: Fungicide and Monitoring

Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes with Fruit Rot: Calcium and Phosphorus Focus

Feeding Koi: The Complete Seasonal Guide to Nutrition and Water Temperature

Feeding Roses: Nutrient Needs, Fertilizer Types, and Schedules

Attracting Birds to Your Backyard

Feeding Camellias: Organic Fertilizers in Early April