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Carnivorous Plants/venus flytrap dormant

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Expert: - 2/5/2010


Question
QUESTION: my venus flytrap is dormant (im not 100 percent sure though) anyways is it okay if the flytraps trap closes during dormancy is this bad or what?

ANSWER: Hello Miguel,

If the Flytrap is not growing much, if any at all, has been slowly acclimated to short daylengths of 8 hours of light or less, and slowly acclimated to cold weather of about 40-60 degrees, it is likely dormant. Slow acclimation occurs naturally as conditions in weather change with the seasons.

Venus Flytraps often close their traps in cold weather. It is simply a reaction to the cold.

Christopher

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i never knew that thanks.but it didnt close by itself.i forgot to water it so i rushed to get water (i hadnt watered it in a few days!!)and i thought what if it died so i taped the trap and i made it close does that change anything.

Answer
Hello Miguel,

Accidental closing of the traps does occur in nature as animals touch the leaves even in winter. It is nothing to worry about. Water it a bit less in winter, just enough to barely keep the soil moist, and with no, or very little, water in the tray.

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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