Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) are perennials native to boggy areas of coastal North and South Carolina. They grow in moist, acidic soils in full sun, but only survive winter outdoors here in the mid-west.
Venus flytraps do best in bright light but can live in partial shade. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight in summer, especially if they live under glass, as plants hit with direct sunlight may get too hot and burn up. If your Venus flytraps don’t show a pink interior or if the plants have long, spindly leaves, they are not getting enough sunlight.
Venus Fly Traps love humidity, always use purified water as they are very sensitive to chlorine.
The Venus flytrap eats flies (or other small insects). The prey must be alive when caught. Dead flies won’t work in Venus flytrap feeding; the insect must move around inside the trap or the trap cannot consume and digest it.
Venus flytraps, like many other plants, need a period of winter dormancy when they appear to be dead (the leaves may die back) but are merely resting. They’ll come out of it when the days start getting longer.