To me, the light thing just doesn't make any sense... after a while, lack of light will make growth weak, but lack of light doesn't just cause all the traps to die
it could..if the plant is weak to begin with (for whatever reasons..a recently purchased "big box" plant, bad conditions before it was purchased, etc..) then why wouldnt sub-prime conditions (not enough light) cause the plant to weaken even further?
lack of light doesn't just cause all the traps to die
sure it could..lack of light could kill the plant..
It has never made sense to me why full sunlight is considered *bad* for some VFTs and Sarrs..
if we know a VFT needs full, direct sun in order to thrive and be in perfect health, then why is low-light somehow considered *better* than full sun for "weaker" plants? yes, its true that leaves that havent been acclimated to full sun can actually burn:
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/scottychaos/CP/page5a.html#burn
but new leaves quickly emerge that are "acclimated" and can handle the sun..and those new leaves will quickly start photosynthesizing in the full sun, giving energy to the plant, and helping it recover from whatever weakness it might have been experiencing from its previous sub-prime conditions..
It makes sense to me that a "sick plant" can get sicker, and possibly die, if it isnt given enough light..and "enough light" for a VFT equals full, direct sun..as much as possible.
IMO, any VFT, even a "sick" or "weak" VFT, should just go straight into the full sun..because full sun = the best medicine..its exactly what it needs. I think maybe this "give it less intense light if it's sick" idea might just come from anthropomorphism applied to plants..we do much better in shade than in full sun!
but many plants do far worse in the shade than in the full sun..
Im not saying im absolutely right! (and this might not actually be the problem in this case..)
I havent tested my theory on "sick" plants..but I do know I have burned plenty of leaves, and the plants are always fine..
it just makes logical sense to me that more light is always better than less light..
Scot