Hi

A VFT's trap will open again not long after you attempt to close it. The only time a trap will stay closed is if something is still triggering the tiny hair's inside the trap. Even in a digestive state it is quite hard to open the trap and not good for the plant anyway.

Oh and as you will see from the correct competition on the forum the traps rarely reach more than a couple of inches in size. The clue would have to be small or folded up.

You would be better hiding it in a dry pitcher plant, although I wouldn't imagine it being a great idea as the paper might be pushed to far into the trap.

I hope this helps

Chris

What a strange request.

1) A venus fly trap would not be the best idea for this sort of thing. Maybe a sarracenia, where the paper could be rolled up to fit just inside the tube of the pitcher would be better.

2) No the paper can be any colour.

3) If you used a venus flytrap, the trap would close as soon as you brushed two of the trigger hairs on the pad of the trap. However it would open again in a short while as the paper would not be struggling to free itself to encourage the trap to digest it.

4) It would open at its own leisure and you would not be able to open it sooner without destroying the trap completely. It may even open too soon. This is why a Sarracenia or pitcher plant would be better, because it does not close and the paper would be easy to retrieve from the tube (so long as it is not pushed too far into it) once it was discovered.

5) A vft would not digest the paper at all because it is not wriggling. Prey needs to be alive and moving for a trap to digest it. Nor would a sarracenia digest the paper as the digesting is done deep in the base of the pitcher and you would not push the clue in that deeply.

Tiffany

Hello there Chris, thanks very much for your very speedy response, I felt a nice tingling sensation all through my body when I realised someone had replied to me so quickly.

Unfortunately (for me) I have to say that I am disappointed and a little annoyed after what I have learned from you though - why doesn’t a 'VFT' (look at me using the correct acronyms!) stay open for longer!?

And it's "quite hard to open the trap"? How hard can it be?! My daughter is allowed to use scissors at our house (I hear not at her Mother's though!) so surely she could just snip, snip the plant? I can see how doing this wouldn’t be "good for the plant" as you say though. Fortunately my daughter wanted a bicycle for her birthday and not a 'VFT' (I remembered to use it again!) so I don’t think she would be particularly upset if the plants themselves died.

I haven’t seen the competition you mention but I am not sure I need to now that you have told me they rarely grow more than a few inches. I have to say that I did imagine I would have to fold the paper anyway so this may not be an issue. While I can't remember seeing my daughter unfold paper recently I am entirely sure she is capable of such hand movements.

You mention that a 'Pitcher plant' may be better but then go on to contradict yourself by saying that it wouldn’t be a good idea. Is there anyway you could decide which one you truly mean and let me know?

Thanks again

Ronald Summers

“And it's "quite hard to open the trap"? How hard can it be?! My daughter is allowed to use scissors at our house (I hear not at her Mother's though!) so surely she could just snip, snip the plant? I can see how doing this wouldn’t be "good for the plant" as you say though. Fortunately my daughter wanted a bicycle for her birthday and not a 'VFT' (I remembered to use it again!) so I don’t think she would be particularly upset if the plants themselves died.”

What a great way to teach your daughter to respect living things

Tiffany

Hi Tiffany, (nice name by the way)

I apologise if I offended you at all with my comment regarding the snip, snipping of the plant - I certainly didn’t mean this to happen and now feel a little stupid!

My daughter does respect living things, so please don’t think she doesn’t because as I said, she does. I just think that snip, snipping a plant in order to get the pink bicycle she has wanted for over a year won’t be too much of an issue.

Do you think that if I choose to go ahead with this that maybe sitting down with her and watching the program I watched at Johnnies house (about plants) would be a good idea? I am sure she will want to ride her bicycle first though. She IS only six and making her watch a program about plants on her birthday may not make me the most favourite of the two parents!!

Again I apologise if I caused offence.

Are you free to comment on anything I have just mentioned?

Thanks

Ronald Summers

Well Ron I was thinking out loud. Tiffany has given you the same suggestion. The Pitcher plant (Sarracenia) it is a tube that narrows as it gets deeper I am just saying that if the paper is pushed a bit to far you would lose it.

I was in no way thinking your daughter was 'incapable' of using her hands I was actually thinking about the damage you would do to the plant by tearing its trap open. I was actually doing anything other than offering you friendly advice. Your idea is however creative just needs to be altered from a VFT to an alternative OR do it just before your daughter searches for the clues so the trap is still closed when she sees it

And Please don't 'snip snip snip' a VFT

Chris

“Again I apologise if I caused offence”

Ron seriously what do expect by this comment. The people on here are experts in their field. They devote alot of time to these plants so to hear of one being torn appart is a little strange.

I think you are clearly a thoughtful father but I am sure the bike would be happily recieved without the need to damage a plant in the process.

I am not saying don't hide the clues just there are other ways of doing it without damaging a plant that would still be just as cool

Chris

I see now. Your daughter at 6 years old respects living things. On the other hand you as a grown adult don't.

To use your own words, I apologise if I cause offence.

Now why do I get the feeling you are just here on a wind up.

So long as it's not my vfts being chopped up I am really not worried. If you want to use a vft to hide clues on your daughters birthday that is entirely your choice. You have the answers to the questions you asked.

Tiffany