Expert: Christopher Littrell - 1/22/2008

Question
Hello. I am planning to put my carnivorous plants outside in hanging baskets this year, so they will have to weather the winter outside. I have a D. Capensis, D.Filiformis, D.Arcturi, S.Catesbaei and other Sarracenia Hybird who will be outside. We have cool temps, rarely below 0 but usually between 5 and 10, and it rains a lot, so as well as cold there will be lots of wetness.

Will my plants be able to go through dormancy still?
Is there anyway I can keep them outside in the constant winter rains, and have them be dormant? It will probably rain nearly every day for winter, and it will be cloudy when it isn't raining. Will they be alright outside?

Answer
Hello again Kath,

The D. capensis is a sub-tropical that can be left inside in a window... it will not like the cloudy weather, but it should survive. If you leave it outside, it will likely survive as it will simply die back to the roots and regrow next year so long as the temperatures do not drop to or below freezing for long. The wet weather should not be too much of a problem if you leave them outside as the wind and rain will likely wash off spores from mold and the hanging baskets will drain well if they have drain holes in the bottom. You might just use some plastic bags over the plants in the coldest days to keep them from totally freezing. The Sarracenias should be the toughest plants and should come through with no difficulty... the Drosera filiformis and Drosera capensis also will likely make it so long as they do not totally freeze solid for long.

Christopher