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Carnivorous Plants/dormancy beginning now.

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Expert: - 2/1/2011


Question
I have been enjoying my Sarracenia six inch pot with 12 inch pitchers in a southern,sunny Berkeley,California window growing strong to date. I need a dormancy period but, is it too late to start now.  We still have a month of cold February ahead.  Should I put them outside in the cold shade or refrigerate them in the dark for how long?

Answer
Hi Dave,

I wouldn't worry about it now.  Sarracenia won't die (unlike Venus flytraps) from lack of dormancy.  They tend to have internal clocks that make them stop growing for a month or two, even if they are not cold.  We have friends in Hawaii that can attest to this.  Dormancy is also triggered by photoperiod.  If you try and put the plant outdoors now, a frost could kill it since it's not had time to adapt to cold.  If you think you won't get any freezing weather, it will be ok.

Good Growing!

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

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Sarracenia Northwest

Expertise

If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!

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With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again.

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Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.

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