Venus Flytrap Shark Teeth
Venus Flytrap 'Shark Teeth' is a form of Dionaea muscipula sold under this name for its distinctive trap margins: instead of the usual long, thread-like cilia, the teeth lining each trap are short and jagged, giving the open trap a rugged, shark-jaw look that sets it apart from a standard Venus flytrap. Care is exactly the same as for the basic species, so with the right light, soil, and watering routine it settles in as a perennial you can keep for years. Because it multiplies naturally through division, an established plant can be split to grow your collection while keeping the same characteristic teeth.
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Apply as a growerVenus Flytrap Shark Teeth key facts
- Growing Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Lifespan
- Perennial (can be kept for many years by division)
- Size
- Few published measurements
- Watering
- No fertilizer (catches insects)
- Light & Placement
- Give full outdoor sun. A windowsill indoors is too dim; use white LEDs for about 14 hours a day.
- Watering
- Keep the pot standing in pure water. Tap water high in dissolved salts harms it; use distilled, RO or rain water.
- Soil & Repotting
- Grows in sphagnum, peat or a 1:1 peat-sand mix. Divide and repot when the plant fills the pot.
- Fertilizer
- Never fertilize the soil. Feed insects or rehydrated dried bloodworms to the traps if growth slows.
- Dormancy Care
- Plants facing freezing winters outdoors need dormancy; blackened winter leaves are normal.
- Pests & Cautions
- As an unregistered trade name, plants with this label may differ; check photos of the actual plant's teeth before buying.
About Venus Flytrap Shark Teeth
Venus Flytrap 'Shark Teeth' features short, jagged trap teeth. Grown just like the standard species, it's a perennial you can propagate by division. Explore its traits and care basics.
7 things to know before growing Venus Flytrap Shark Teeth
1Give It Plenty of Light
Like the standard Venus flytrap, Shark Teeth needs strong light to grow well. Outdoors, give it a spot in direct sun; indoors, place it by a bright window or under a grow light so the traps develop properly.
2Water From Below
Keep the soil consistently moist by standing the pot in a shallow tray of water. Use rainwater or purified water rather than tap water, since minerals in tap water can be hard on the plant over time.
3Use a Sphagnum-Based Mix
Shark Teeth prefers a lean, nutrient-poor mix such as sphagnum moss combined with akadama or perlite. Avoid ordinary potting soil that contains fertilizer or compost, as it can damage the roots.
4Repot Every One to Two Years
Sphagnum moss breaks down over time and drainage suffers, so repot into fresh mix roughly every one to two years. Early spring, just after dormancy ends, is the gentlest time to do this.
5Let It Go Dormant in Winter
Venus flytraps naturally stop growing and go dormant in winter, and Shark Teeth is no exception. Leaves blackening during this period is a normal part of the cycle, not a sign of death — keeping the plant warm indoors year-round without a dormant period can actually weaken it over time.
6Divide to Keep It Going
As a perennial, Shark Teeth naturally produces offset bulbs underground as it matures. Dividing these at repotting time lets you propagate more plants with the same trap characteristics while keeping the parent healthy long-term.
7Choose by Tooth Shape
'Shark Teeth' is a trade name without a formal registered standard or a clearly documented originator, so plants sold under it can vary. Rather than judging by the name alone, look at the actual trap margins on the plant to confirm the teeth are short and jagged before choosing it.
Frequently asked questions about Venus Flytrap Shark Teeth
- Q.How is Shark Teeth different from a standard Venus flytrap?
- A.The main difference is the trap margin: the cilia are short and jagged rather than long and thread-like. The trapping mechanism and general growth habit are otherwise the same as the basic species.
- Q.Where does the name 'Shark Teeth' come from?
- A.The name refers to the jagged, saw-like shape of the trap teeth, which resembles a shark's teeth. It's a trade name not found in the ICPS cultivar registry, and its originator and reference plant aren't documented.
- Q.Is care the same as for a regular Venus flytrap?
- A.Yes, the basics — light, watering, and soil — are the same as for the standard species. It's considered suited to intermediate growers, since a bit of experience helps with things like managing winter dormancy.
- Q.How large does it typically grow?
- A.There isn't much documented data specifically on Shark Teeth's mature size. It's generally expected to grow within a similar range to a typical Venus flytrap.
- Q.Can it be propagated by division?
- A.Yes. As a perennial, it forms offset bulbs underground as it matures, so you can divide these at repotting time to propagate new plants while maintaining the original.
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Learn more about Venus Flytrap Shark Teeth in the encyclopedia
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Care difficulty, size, origin and light needs — all basics covered.
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