Fertilising guide
How to fertilise King Henry Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula 'King Henry')— schedule & NPK
Also called King Henry Venus flytrap, King Henry flytrap, Giant Venus flytrap.
More about king henry venus flytrap
About King Henry Venus flytrap
Dionaea muscipula 'King Henry' · also called King Henry Venus flytrap, King Henry flytrap · houseplant
Bred by Don Elkins of Mesa Exotics specifically for massive size, 'King Henry' ranks among the top three largest Venus flytrap cultivars in cultivation. Traps reach up to 4.5 cm, borne on long upright petioles. A fast grower that matures in just two seasons. Like all flytraps it demands full sun, pure water, and a cool winter dormancy. Pet-safe per ASPCA.
Growth habit: Upright rosette-forming perennial; frequently clumps due to tissue-culture origin; traps borne on tall, narrow upright petioles
Watch for — Smaller-than-expected traps: Large traps require deep pots — roots need room to grow. Use containers at least 12–15 cm deep. Insufficient direct sun and inadequate insect feeding also limit trap size. Ensure 6+ hours of direct sun and regular insect feeding during the growing season.
What fertiliser king henry venus flytrap actually wants — and why
King Henry Venus flytrap is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for king henry venus flytrap: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed king henry venus flytrap, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For king henry venus flytrap:
No soil fertiliser. With its large trap size, King Henry is highly effective at catching insects on its own. Indoors, supplement with freeze-dried bloodworms or small crickets — one per trap every 4–6 weeks. Deeper pots provide additional trace minerals from media decomposition, reducing feeding needs slightly. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when king henry venus flytrap is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for king henry venus flytrap
Half strength is the safe default for king henry venus flytrap — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water king henry venus flytrap first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the king henry venus flytrap watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding king henry venus flytrap
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for king henry venus flytrap:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding king henry venus flytrap
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full king henry venus flytrap care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of king henry venus flytrap with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for king henry venus flytrap
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising king henry venus flytrap — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does king henry venus flytrap need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. King Henry Venus flytrap is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed king henry venus flytrap?
No soil fertiliser. With its large trap size, King Henry is highly effective at catching insects on its own. Indoors, supplement with freeze-dried bloodworms or small crickets — one per trap every 4–6 weeks. Deeper pots provide additional trace minerals from media decomposition, reducing feeding needs slightly. No soil fertiliser. With its large trap size, King Henry is highly effective at catching insects on its own. Indoors, supplement with freeze-dried bloodworms or small crickets — one per trap every 4–6 weeks. Deeper pots provide additional trace minerals from media decomposition, reducing feeding needs slightly. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for king henry venus flytrap?
Half strength is the safe default for king henry venus flytrap — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding king henry venus flytrap look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding king henry venus flytrap year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of king henry venus flytrap?
Flush the pot of king henry venus flytrap with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- King Henry Venus flytrap care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water king henry venus flytrap — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise philodendron atabapoense
- How to fertilise philodendron paraiso verde
- How to fertilise philodendron patriciae
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library