Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 12/12/2011

Question
Hi,
I have recently bought a fly trap from you. Thank you. It arrived a little "tired". I placed it in a makeshift terrarium under white lights in my office and now she's very strong and happy. Now that I think the plant is well recovered from its shipping, I will let nature take its course and remove it from the white light and place it by my window at home. I live in Boston.
My next step would be to let it rest for the winter but I am very afraid that Boston is too cold for it. I am afraid that if I place it outside, it may die.
So my questions are:
(a) How can a slowly prepare the plant for winter and
(b) Do you think it will survive a Boston winter? And if not, what happens if the plant never goes dormant (because it's always inside by the window?)
Thanks
Bernardo

Answer
Hi Bernardo,

It sounds like the nursery that sold you the plant had them under lights to keep them growing, or was in a warmer climate, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing a flower right now.  (They normally bloom in June.)  

Moving it to a window to receive natural light to get it back in sync for the season is a good idea.  Simply place it right up in a cool window, such as an East window, will be ideal.  With the short days, and cooler temperatures the plant will begin going dormant.  What that looks like is long traps will wither, and only some shorter traps will remain.  Cut the flower stalk off; it will only weaken the plant.  Make sure your plant has a shallow tray of water to sit it.  Keep the soil just damp.  You don't want the plant waterlogged during the winter, but the soil should not be completely dry either.  Use either rainwater, melted snow, or distilled water to water it with.  Most carnivorous plants are sensitive to minerals that make up "hard water", and most of the country has hard water.  After that, just be sure to clip off any dead material on the plant, and watch it for mold.  A fungicide spray is a good preventative.  Here's a link to our information on fungicides:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfVUrMaGjVs

Next spring, when it looks like danger of frost is past, you can move your plant outside to a sunny location.  Here's a link to our general growing information:  http://www.cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=8  Transplanting to fresh soil, and a larger pot will help you plant.

Also consider our volume #1 DVD:  http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38&products_id=205  This is a great way to protect your investment in plants, and help you avoid the mythology and pitfalls so many new growers find themselves in.  One of the chapters on the DVD has detailed information on how to overwinter plants.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com