There's a variety of approaches to deal with dormancy. Tommy's is one. I have taken VFT pots and put them in the butter keeper of the fridge door. I used to have an apartment with an attic with broad windows and take all the VFT's & Sarracenias up there, so they would respond to the temperature and photoperiod cues. I have since moved and the last two winters these plants were toted to a co-worker's garage. Or you can do as one very experienced hobbyist (Wildbill), who lives in connecticut. He heabily mulches his plants with pine needles. It depends where you live, whether it is in the mountains or more coastal. Dormancy is more a process than ane event. It actually begins in late June when the photoperiod begins to decrease. It doesn't become noticeable until late summer / fall. Conversely, the new growing season actually begins in late December as the photperiod begins to lengthen. That isn't noticeable until late winter / spring.

hello, I have a few of these I recently got and I am confused here. I thought when they get some thing in their mouths they close up like a Venus fly trap does. when closed they are eating and when open they are hungry. Is that or is that not how it works. I have the southern purple pitcher I got from Lowes. I water only with distilled water and when I first got them they were root bound so I put them in a bigger pot and used sphagnum peat moss. I keep them damp at all times and just moved them outside to my greenhouse, I was using the red and blue CFL light rays inside to harden them off, now they are under a 60% shade cloth, and getting used to the heat outside in the greenhouse. I did not know that I needed to water the inside of the pitcher as well though, oh and another thing one of the pitchers head came off when I was removing it from the plastic, I took propagation in college and so I put that broke piece down in the soil, it has been weeks and it has not changed colors or anything so I think you can propagate them my leaf cuttings, that is what we call it. Any way let me know about them opening up and closing up, because one of mine closed up right after getting home, so I take it that it ate something. Thanks.

It may not be cold enough in your windowsill for dormancy, unfortunately, most people keeps their homes too warm. Have you read up on dormancy requirements, and does it hit the proper temp there? What direction does your window face? It also may not get enough sun there the rest of the year either. Sarracenia are not good "indoor pets", as they require full sun to do well the rest of the year, and there's free meals for it outdoors too. As far as the pot goes, taller is better. Sarracenia can get very large and long roots systems if growing well. Terracotta should be fine if you are watering with distilled or RO water, but if your tap water is low enough in TDS that you can use it, you might still have a problem with salt and mineral build up over time. Just something to watch out for, so flush it well when you water.

Hi nature15boy, You might want to update your email addy with GW, since it could be missed in your post. I'm sorry too to say that selling on GW is not permitted. Possibly you could list of Ebay or Craigslist. hth. Sue