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Question
i live in canada and it is freezing here. i tried putting my venus fly trap by a window and it froze! i now dont know what to do. the trap is sort of brown. Is there any way to help my VFT????
Hello Paul,
Venus Flytraps survive freezing weather in zone 7 North Carolina every winter, so don't worry too much about it. It was protected enough indoors to keep it from drying out too much, which is the main problem when potted plants are left out in lower then usual temperatures than they can handle... inside it is not as much of a problem in the short run.
Just make sure the plant has barely moist moss and that the freezing only lasts for a few hours to a day at most at a time..thaw it and just try to keep it at about 40 degrees if possible... perhaps slightly farther from the window with a blanket wrapped around the pot for a little more insulation. It should be fine and be ready to spring back to full growth after winter passes.
The guys at Sarracenia Northwest consistently keep their North American stock outside in Oregon with just mulching and tarps to protect the plants from total freezing winds... so inside your home should be protected enough too, even in a lower zone.
Keep up the good care of your Venus Flytrap.
Christopher
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Answers by Expert:
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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