Why does my carnivorous plant turn black?

The venus flytrap is a carnivore that can turn black

Image - Wikimedia / Mokkie

Carnivorous plants are a type of plant beings that, unlike other plants, have turned their leaves into sophisticated traps with which they hunt their own food. And, there are so few nutrients in the soil where they grow that, if they had not done it that way, we probably would not be able to enjoy them today.

However, their care is not always easy. Having a copy requires acquiring basic knowledge about it so that it can live for several years without having problems. Because, If you have never had one before and you are wondering why my carnivorous plant turns black, then we will give you the answer to your question.

Spent trap

Carnivores can have spent traps

This is usually the most common reason. Traps, like leaves, eventually dry out and die. How long can it take? It depends on each species and how it is being cared for, but to give you an idea a trap of venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) tends to hunt three or four times before wilting; those of the sundew more or less open and close up to five times, and those of the Sarracenia are more resistant and trap prey for six months or more.

To avoid unwanted presences, such as parasitic fungi, it is necessary to cut them. But yes, use clean scissors, otherwise it could be you, unintentionally, the one who causes a fungal infection. And the spores are so small that they cannot be seen, that is why a good cleaning with soap and water before using the tool is so useful.

Sunburn

Although there are carnivores that must be located in an area where direct sun hits them, If we buy them from a nursery where they were protected from the sun and we expose them directly to it, they will burn. To avoid this, you have to get used to them little by little, putting them in semi-shade as soon as you get home and, in autumn or spring, exposing them more and more to the morning sunlight.

On the other hand, if we are going to grow them indoors it is very important that we move them away from the windows a bit, since otherwise the sun would also burn them due to the magnifying glass effect that occurs when the rays pass through the glass and hit the plants.

What are the carnivorous plants that need sun?

So that there are no problems, you need to know that all Sarracenia must be in full sun, if possible throughout the day, or at least half a day. It is very interesting that they are exposed to the star king, since they acquire their natural colors, which are very showy.

Also, other carnivores want light, but not as much. Let's see what they are:

  • Sun for half a day: Dionaea, Drosophyllum.
  • Filtered sun: Heliamphora, Cephalotus, Pinguicula, Darlingtonia.

Is hibernating

Carnivorous plants can turn black in direct sunlight

Image - Wikimedia / Lumbar

If we have taken good care of our plants and with the arrival of autumn-winter the leaves begin to turn ugly, we do not have to worry. There are several genera, such as the Sarracenia, Dionaea, Drosophyllum, Darlingtonia and the Nordic Sundew, which need a bit of cold to be able to grow strongly next spring. In the case of living in an area with a mild climate, where the minimum temperature does not drop below 0º at any time, we have to remove the substrate, spray their roots with fungicide and place them in a tupperware in the refrigerator where they will remain for two months at a temperature of 6 ° C.

Eye, This does not mean that the plants mentioned can withstand strong frosts.. The minimum temperature for them should not be lower than -3ºC, since otherwise they could die of cold.

Irrigation water with lime

Excess lime in irrigation water affects all plants, regardless of what types they are. But carnivores are especially delicate, since they cannot absorb the minerals that are dissolved in said water. Therefore, always irrigate with pure, distilled or osmosis rainwater. In this way, its roots will not be spoiled, nor will the plant become ill.

What do we do if we have already watered it with inadequate water? If it has been once or twice, nothing happens: we water it with distilled water and little by little the problem will resolve itself.. But, if there have already been a few more, we will have to extract the plant from the pot, remove the substrate and wash the roots with distilled water. Then, we will plant it in a new pot with a suitable substrate for carnivores, the standard mixture being the following: unfertilized blond peat (for sale here) with perlite (for sale here) in equal parts.

Excess irrigation

Although there are some carnivores, such as Sarracenia, which have to be watered very often, there are others that, on the contrary, do not feel good about having their roots in permanent contact with water, such as Dionaea or Drosera. For this reason, When we see that the leaves are turning black, we cannot rule out excess watering, and even less if we see that they are losing strength.

To try to save them, you have to change the substrate, put brown peat with perlite on them, and water less. If we put a plate under them, we have to drain it every time we water in order to keep them well.

Has been paid

Sundew are carnivores that want semi-shade

In the same way that lime can burn the roots, making the traps turn black, the fertilizer has the same effect. Never fertilize carnivorous plantsbut rather let them hunt their own prey. In addition, the substrate we choose must be very poor in nutrients.

If it has been paid, then we will have to do the same as if we had watered it with water that is not correct; namely, extract the plant from the pot, and proceed to wash the roots with distilled water. Then, we plant it in a new container, made of plastic with holes in its base, and a substrate made up of equal parts blond peat and perlite.

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  1.   Juan said

    Hello. I have a medium dionaea, and I try to take care of them as they recommend. I know that when they catch a fly, they consume it and it takes about 7 or 14 days to open, I have seen them. But lately I have seen that one of the traps, after having caught a fly, began to open its trap after 3 days, when the fly is not yet completely dry. What is the cause of that?

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi John.
      Sometimes they do it because they have lacked water at some point, or because of cold.
      If it's otherwise okay, don't worry.
      A greeting.

  2.   javi said

    I find, one of his traps, after eating a cricket, began to darken, with spots. Is x excess food? The traps are still small, around 1cm and the animal barely goes in all the way. Health

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Javi.
      The traps have a short life expectancy: after 4-6 meals they usually dry up and die. Do not worry.
      If the rest of the plant is healthy, everything is fine 🙂
      All the best

  3.   July said

    Hey.

    I have the typical carnivorous plant and what I see is that it is almost all black and it worries me. What I can do? Is it good to go removing the ones that are very black? We are in winter and the sun shines but it is not very strong and around here the temperature is usually 8 or 9º. Why is this happening and what can I do about it?

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi July.
      Yes, cut off everything that is black because it is no longer useful to the plant.
      What water do you water it with? If it is from the tap it is likely that it is having a hard time because of it, since it cannot live well with water rich in lime. It is better to use distilled or osmosis water.
      And if you are already watering it well, then it occurs to me that perhaps it is getting cold, in which case I would recommend keeping it in a bright room without drafts.
      A greeting.

  4.   The me said

    because my carnivorous plant looks flat, it looks like ... squashed. I don't know why it's flat and closed but not black, is it dead? since yesterday it is flat and closed

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello me.
      If it's still green, it's alive 🙂

      It may be that it has become so cold. If you want, send us a photo to our Facebook and I tell you.

      Greetings.

  5.   Daniela said

    Hello, my carnivorous plant is turning very black, I water it with rainwater through absorption and I have followed all the care in this post.
    What could be happening to him

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Daniela.

      How often do you water it? Does the sun shine on you?

      Although carnivores in general must be watered, ensuring that the substrate does not dry out, it is also important that they do not get the sun when watering them. In addition, as a substrate, blond peat unpaid mixed with perlite in equal parts; In other words, it is not necessary to use another type of soil, otherwise they would be spoiled.

      If you have doubts, write to us.

      Greetings.

  6.   Monica White said

    My Venus Flytrap keeps turning black, what should I do to heal it?

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Monica.

      We recommend reading the article to find out what may be happening to it, and how to treat it.

      Greetings.

  7.   Sara said

    Hello, my little plant has many leaves but I see that they do not turn very red, what do you need to make them red? It is normal ?

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi Sara.

      What kind of carnivorous plant is it? If it is a venus flytrap, you have to give it direct sunlight for a couple of hours in the morning or afternoon to make it turn red.

      Greetings.

  8.   Demian said

    Hello, I recently bought my first dionaea, and I was following the care as is.
    Only one morning did I expose it to the sun for too long and it turned black from all its traps (even those that were just born) only one could not be black. What I can do?

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi Demian.

      I recommend putting it in semi-shade, but in an area where it does not get the strong morning or midday sun.

      You can also cut what is black, since it will not recover.

      Greetings.

  9.   Oliver Camargo said

    Hello, a few days ago I bought a Venus Flytrap and there are a few traps that are black with their mouths closed, what can I do? And if I have to cut them, how do I do it?

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi Oliver.

      We recommend cutting them with disinfected scissors, cutting at the base of the trap.

      To take care of her, I leave you the link to an article about her care, click.

      Greetings.

  10.   Francisco said

    Hello, I was wondering if you could help me answer any questions, it turns out that I have a carnivorous plant, but someone from my filia smokes asked me if something happens to the plant since its color has changed