my venus flytrap is becoming black! HELP! what should i do?

[edwardyeeks]

Dear everyone,
i know that venus flytraps becoming black is normal but what does it mean if the bulb (the base of the flytrap) is starting to blacken? My plant was divided from a bigger plant of my friend and just came out of dormancy three weeks to a month ago. Please, anyone know what's the problem? I don't want to loose my flytrap.................it's too young to die..........

[plantlover]

Any photo of your flytrap?

[TS]

That's not a good sign, if it blacken from the bulb, meaning it will rot very quickly. You probably giving it too much water.

[kentosaurs]

rootrot???

Ken

[arvin555]

Clarification requests:
Mother plant came out of dormancy a month ago?
After dormancy it was divided to get you your plant?

Or It was divided a long time ago and your plant was in dormancy and came out of it a month ago?

May I also ask if the leaves are blackening or browning at the base and easily pulled off? I'd be worried if they are falling off or easily pulled off without much force. All 3 of my VFTs that went to heaven had this problem, ended up with just the bulb then bulb rotted away.

I have seen VFT bulbs being black or brown, but these are below, the healthy ones are usually dark green to green.

Good luck! And yes as Aaron mentioned do post a photo.

TTFN
Arvin

[edwardyeeks]

One problem, I don't have a digital cam so no pictures. However, the mother plant was alright when my friend divided it. Then, my friend placed the divided plant into a pot of long fibered sphagnum moss. It went into dormancy for about 2 weeks. After that, my flytrap sprouted new leaves.

That was a month ago.

Oh, yeah, when my plant was divided, my friend actually removed three leaves from the mother plant together. Those leaves died of and I had to cut one of those leaves last week after it did not open at ALL. In fact, the bulb is blackening from where i cut off that particular leaf.

It has been raining lately a lot in my area. I'm staying in a condo. I use the water tray technic so now I don't water it at all. Does anyone think I should remove the tray? The blackening is not extensive, it just started about four days ago and it is happening near the top of the bulb. I hope I can save it......

[strath76]

I would suggest that you change the media that you are using to a 50:50 mix of peat moss and sand. Then place the pot in tray with about an inch of water and allow the tray to dry before putting more water in. Also place the plant where it will recieve the most light. This should certainly help with your problem. Usually when you get a leaf without a trap it is due to insufficient light. If the plant is also kept wet inthese conditions the bulb could rot. Try the above and if these are the problems it should fix itself very quickly. Cheers.

[edwardyeeks]

Thanks a lot, strath76?

I have another problem, I don't have any soil media for any CPs at all. I don't know where to buy. And I am using the water tray technic, keeping my VFT in an inch of water. but it has been raining a lot in the past five days, usually in the evening and my plant is getting rather drench. it is getting at least three hours of full afternoon sun. Most unfortunately, my balcony blocks a lot of sunlight. Should I get rid of the water tray until my plant condition stabalizes?

Sorry for the troubles caused

Cheers

[strath76]

I would suggest that if the media is not going to dry out due to the amount of rain then you could do away with the tray. Just make sure that the plant does not dry out. I would suggest that you start lookng for peat moss and sand in bags at your local nursery or hardware store. Another good spot to try for peat moss is a mushroom farm if you have one in your area. I used to get large bails from them very cheaply (bags that had been broken intransit. Apparently they couldn't use them if they arrived with the packaging damged). Hope this helps.

[plantlover]

I use sphagnum moss. I can't find perlite or sand or peat. Usually the workers call it 'shui tai' or 'orchid sponge'(cause its use sometimes for orchids). Once when I said shui tai they called it seaweed. and once they told me it is water lettuce.