Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 4/21/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi,



My VFTs are currently entering dormancy. It is the second Autumn month here in Sydney.



Just wondering if the plant will be OK if the dormancy lasts for about 4.5 months. It will be Spring after this time.

Growing conditions as follows:
Grown outdoor full sun
Climate is comparable to wilmington, north carolina where VFTs are. Only a few degrees warmer.
All growing conditions are optimal as per light, water, soil. All VFTs were vigourously growing.

I am concerned the length of the dormancy might kill my plants.

ANSWER: Hi Bradley,

If your climate is similar to Wilmington, NC and is slightly warmer, than your plant should be fine during winter dormancy.  We grow our flytraps outdoors throughout the year, and we've had a record low of 13°C.  Wilmington will sometimes see temperatures as low as -7°C.  So you really have nothing to worry about.  If anything, it's warm winters (above 10°F) that do more harm.  If these plants are kept warm and not allowed to go dormant, then they tend to die off in spring.

For more information about growing flytraps, read our care sheet online:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

I also suggest that you watch our DVD, Grow Carnivorous Plants Volume 1:
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

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

QUESTION: Hi Jacob,
Thanks. 10 degress fahrenheit converts to -12 degree celsius. The average temperature in Wilnmington seems to be above this, let alone Sydney.
The average lowest temp during winter in sydney is about 12 degrees celsius. During the day it obviously gets warmer and averages about 18-20 degrees. Is this suitable for dormancy or am I going to have to use the refridgerator method.

Answer
My mistake.  I meant 10°C.  I also noticed another mistake.  I meant to say that we had a record low of -13°C.

In any case, you're no where near as cold as Wilmington or at our nursery in Oregon.  I can't really say if this is suitable climate for your flytrap outdoors because I simply don't know what your weather patterns are like.  I'm not a fan of the refrigerator method because I think it's too much trouble.  I prefer that growers grow plants that are most suitable to their climate.  This makes it much much easier for first-time growers to learn about carnivorous plants. So if you're growing carnivorous plants for the first time, I strongly suggest growing plants that grow well without the need for special treatment.  There are many Nepenthes and sundews that would grow well in your climate.  There are many carnivorous plants I would love to grow, but I know they won't do well in my climate without having to resort to expensive heaters and grow rooms.  

The most I can recommend is simply grow your plant outdoors during the winter.  Again, your climate is no where near as cold as Wilmington, so you don't have to worry about it being too cold or a very long winter dormancy.  (Our flytraps usually have about 4-5 months of dormancy with week long freezes of -7°C every year.)  

Is it cool enough to grow flytraps year after year?  The only suggestion I can give is to give it a try.  Some growers in similar climates in the US can make it work, others can't.  It all depends on your local weather patterns.  So if it works, great.  If not, then at least you know, so you can either make appropriate adjustments or grow something else.  That's the nature of gardening.  There's no hard and fast rule.  It's all about paying attention to your plant and making adjustments as necessary.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin