As a member of the carnivorous plant society and a avid collector let me say congratulations on your first
VFT. ;D
I have in my collection around 800 different species of carnivorous plants and around 50 Venus fly traps at any one time.
Tips......
leave the plant sitting in RAINWATER at around 2-3Cm's
during the growing season never let it dry out.
Chlorine is not the only killer in water it is the hardness and leaving it a while will NOT get rid of this. Distilled water will do but rain water is cheaper (during summer i use around 20 gallon a day !!)
Flower stalks should be cut off when they are around 1" high or the plant will suffer, unless you want to collect seed.
DO NOT feed raw meat or dead flies.The trap works by sensing the insect on the tiny hairs inside the trap, when 3 have touched to trap closes on the prey.If the plant feels the insect moving it compresses and starts to digest the prey-It may be the case a twig or leaf as fallen on to the trap so if no movement as been felt the trap will open in around 24-36 hours but the raw meat will have started to rot the trap. The hairs are a very delicate,fingers and pen's will break them!
Each trap usually catches around 3 flies before the trap will blacken and die ,but others will grow to replace them. You can overfeed VFT ,it only needs around 1-2 flies a year to survive constant feeding will stress the plant and lead to its death,the best way is to let the plant decide what it wants and leave nature alone.
The more sunlight the better the traps will get a lovely deep red colour depending on the type..Mine have direct sunlight for around 9 hours a day.
This time of year they should be dormant but if your is not it as either just been bought or kept to warm.
They will survive in a unheated greenhouse during winter to just below freezing- Mine have the pots freeze solid!
During winter (Oct- Feb ,depending on location) watering should be stopped with the plant not standing in water but just kept damp.
Check out my web-site and follow the links for the CPUK forum for more advice or help. Feel free to e-mail me for any assistance
I usually have many CP's for sale if any anybody else needs one ;D