© Gabriele Zoppoli / CC BY-SA 4.0Venus Flytrap Alien
The Alien Venus Flytrap is a distinctive carnivorous plant whose traps curve dramatically into a bold arch, with tips that fuse together instead of closing all the way. The name comes from its odd, curled shape, said to resemble the head of the creature from the Alien films, and this cultivar was originally bred in France. Short teeth line the edges of the traps, each tipped with a tiny wing-like flare. It's a perennial that can be kept going for years through division, with traps reaching roughly 4 to 5 cm long on a mature plant. Growing it takes a bit more experience than growing a typical Venus flytrap, but its strange, endearing form makes it a rewarding plant to raise.
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Apply as a growerVenus Flytrap Alien key facts
- Growing Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Lifespan
- Perennial (can be kept for many years by division)
- Size
- Traps 4-5 cm long on mature plants
- Watering
- No fertilizer (catches insects)
- Light & Placement
- Full outdoor sun is best. A windowsill indoors is not bright enough; white LED lighting for about 14 hours a day works well.
- Watering
- Keep the pot standing in pure water at all times. Avoid tap water high in dissolved salts; use distilled, RO or rain water.
- Soil & Repotting
- Grows in pure sphagnum, sphagnum peat or a 1:1 peat-sand mix. Avoid perlite and other possibly salty materials. Divide and repot when the plant grows across the pot.
- Fertilizer
- Never add fertilizer to the soil. Feed insects or rehydrated dried bloodworms if growth slows. The traps of this cultivar do not close well, so do not force them shut.
- Dormancy Care
- Plants outdoors that experience freezing winters need dormancy. Blackened leaves in winter are normal; the plant underground is alive.
- Propagation
- Keep the cultivar true by division or leaf pullings; seedlings will not be 'Alien'.
About Venus Flytrap Alien
The Alien Venus Flytrap is an intermediate-level carnivorous plant with dramatically curved traps whose tips never fully close, evoking the creature from the Alien films. Bred in France, it's a perennial you can keep for years through division.
7 things to know before growing Venus Flytrap Alien
1Sunlight and Placement
Direct outdoor sun is ideal. Indoors, a windowsill doesn't provide enough light, so grow it under white LEDs for about 14 hours a day.
2Watering Basics
Keep the soil consistently moist—this plant doesn't tolerate drying out. Tap water minerals can build up over time, so use rainwater or distilled water, and the tray (bottom-watering) method works well for keeping moisture even.
3Choosing the Right Soil
A mix based on sphagnum moss or Kanuma soil that balances drainage and moisture retention suits this plant well. Avoid standard potting soil with added fertilizer, as it can damage the roots.
4When to Repot
Repot roughly every one to two years during a period of slower growth to prevent the roots from becoming pot-bound. Because Alien's traps curve outward dramatically as they mature, choosing a slightly larger pot each time keeps the plant from feeling cramped.
5Managing Winter Dormancy
Growth slows from autumn onward, and the plant enters dormancy in winter. Reduce watering frequency during this period and let it experience cool temperatures—this dormant rest helps growth stabilize again once spring arrives.
6Caring for the Traps
Alien is known for traps whose tips never fully close, a defining trait of this variety. When a trap blackens and dies back naturally, trim it away at the base so it doesn't drain energy from the rest of the plant.
7Picking a Healthy Plant
Look for a plant with traps that curve strongly and show little discoloration or damage. Since the degree of fused, unclosed trap tips varies between individual Alien plants, comparing a few is part of the fun of finding one you like.
Frequently asked questions about Venus Flytrap Alien
- Q.Is the Alien Venus Flytrap suitable for beginners?
- A.Alien is generally considered an intermediate-level variety, so some prior experience growing Venus flytraps helps. That said, a complete beginner can still succeed by keeping the watering and light basics right.
- Q.Why is it called Alien?
- A.All of its traps curve strongly into an arch, a shape that reminded its discoverer of the creature's head in the film Alien. It was found in France and registered with the International Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS) in 2010.
- Q.How big do the traps grow?
- A.On a mature plant, the traps typically reach about 4 to 5 cm in length. The exact size can vary somewhat depending on growing conditions and the individual plant.
- Q.Is it a problem that the traps never close all the way?
- A.No—traps with fused, incompletely closed tips are simply a defining trait of the Alien variety, not a sign of poor health. It's part of what makes this cultivar distinctive.
- Q.How many years can I keep growing this plant?
- A.The Alien Venus Flytrap is a perennial, and it can be propagated by division to keep it going for many years. With the right care, it can be enjoyed for a long time.
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