Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 9/16/2011

Question
ok i got some roundleaf and forkleaf sundew and a nepenthes in my house in the winter time my humid in the house drops to zero will the plants survive this type of winter or is there somthing i need to do my humid in the summer is usually in the 80s and is starting to drop fast now

Answer
Usually low humidity is a non-issue.  Carnivorous plants, as with most plants, will adapt to changes in humidity.  As long as you provide the proper lighting, water and temperatures, your tropical plants grow very well throughout the winter months.  We have customers in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico where humidity is much lower who are able to grow plants very well.  They don't use any special setup.  One grower in Arizona remarked that his Cape sundew was covered with dew even though the humidity in his home was only 15%.

So don't fret about humidity. As long as you concentrate on lighting, water and temperature, your plants will adapt.  Yes, there might be some minor imperfections from constant low humidity in winter, but consider it a seasonal change.  This is par for the course when growing any tropical plant in cultivation.  Usually in winter they slow down, and in spring and summer they perk back up.

By the way, you mentioned a roundleaf sundew.  This sundew is actually a temperate plant and is best grown outdoors.  In fall, the plant will drop its leaves and go dormant.  It will emerge from dormancy in spring.  For more information on growing temperate sundews, read our care sheets.
http://www.cobtraplant.com/caresheets

Good growing!
Jacob Farin