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Carnivorous Plants/How does my Venus Flytrap get sun in the winter?

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Expert: - 10/3/2009


Question
I live in Finland and there is not much sun here in the winter! And I'm afraid Bob (my Venus Flytrap) will be dead by the summer comes... So if you could help me I would be really happy! Thanks!

PS: I know that I could buy a light for Bob but is there some other way it could stay alive?

Answer
Hello Isabella,

Bob, your Venus Flytrap, is a North American plant that will go dormant in winter and will really not need much light at all during that time. Some people actually place their Venus Flytraps in the refrigerator in winter for controlled dormancy. All you really need to do is let nature take its course with Bob and he will begin to get ready for dormancy as the light diminishes in intensity and day length. As winter approaches and cold weather moves in, place Bob where he will feel some of that winter cold, down to about 40 degrees, all winter. A cold drafty window, a cold basement with a window, or even outside in a protected patio would be good. Just make sure Bob is protected from the worst of the cold and that he does not experience temperatures below freezing. Next spring, as the days warm up and the sunlight returns, Bob will wake up and flower a couple months later if he is kept in a warm, sunny spot.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

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Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

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