Where I leave in Arizona I grow them inside a small greenhouse but during the winter. I let the soil they're growing in dry out just enought to keep the soil moist and throw a mesh cloth over the greenhouse to cut the light in half and open the air vents to circulate cold dry air. I don't transplant them till next spring and I don't even cut the old leaves. I just keep an eye on them and make sure the soil doesn't dry out completely. Maybe the problem is with the wine cellar. I've seen that the air in wine cllars can be quite damp and that will promote fungus growth. I suggest moving them in a cool dry spot and just make sure the soil doesn't dry out.

Good luck.

You're in Minnesota and I'm in western NY. We both get winter! What I tried this past year was grow my Sarrs, Cobra Lily, VFT's, and some temperate sundews, outside, in buckets, as minibogs. In mid-November I began dormancy for them. I took them up to the attic, where it is cold, but not below freezing, and placed them at a southern window sill. My VFT's were the only casualties - and they may have died before dormancy.

My theory is that by doing this, they would have cold temps, a declining and the increasing photoperiod, and exposure to the air. The increasing photoperiod caused the plants to break dormancy, at varying times and the exposure to the air prevented mold. I watered sparingly. They are now outside and providing lots of new, red pitchers / leaves.

I've had a few Fungus kills in the past also. But none since I started trimming my pitchers when I bring my plants if for the winter. I cut the pitchers back as far as possible without hitting the rhizome. I haven't had any fungus in 4 years now. You might try that next year.

I wouldn't trim anything that is green; just the dead foliage. Green means life and photosynthesis.

Is it late enough to cut off last years pitchers? I see lots of new growth getting ready to sprout from the rhizomes of my sarracenias. Could last years beaten up pitchers still doing any photo synthisizing?

I don't think you don't want much photosynthesis during dormancy. I think Clay's probably got the right idea for us northerners.

You don't understand... that greenery starts the plant off for next year.

You don't understand.. old traps die in winter and are starter food for fungus in winter. The worst problem is the mass of half digested fungus growing insects at the bottom. Cutting the pitchers off eliminates the problem. As I said I had several fungus kills prior to cutting the pitchers before dormancy. I haven't lost one to fungus since and my plants come out swinging in the spring putting up a ton of new growth.

4 years ago I started with a very small immature Judith Hindle, now I have 6 or 8 from divisions, with several new shoots already showing up this spring. 4 are flowering this year. My S. leucophylla 'Tarnok' was also immature 4 years ago, this spring it too is putting up 4 flower stalks and is about to become a nuisance due to it's size. That plant started with one point. It now has 8 or 10, and is spreading like crazy. IÂve cut them back every year. I donÂt think they mind.

And no it's not too late to cut any dead/sick pitchers off your plants. If you have healthy new growth I'd leave the live pitchers.

I cut all foliage off. The rhizomes spring back just fine in the spring...foliage + dormancy = fungus.

Im in Zone five, I grow mine in an unheated garage near a window. It gets pleanty of air flow Garage opens up 2 times a day. I would say IS ive heard people Basicaly getting Large Plastic Containers (see through is what i would do) And BAsicaly go from their. It keeps it warm... But What I would do is put Pine Hay (the needles) along it and wwrap the bttom of it in like a blanket Or something... If not Get one of those small Over winter Greenhouses that are like 2 feet off the ground... (just build one it should be cheep) If not invest in a Cold Frame green house.

Did you try a fungicide?

PS. the pings hanging on by an arm and a leg, and the Neps doing great!
If i get any Sarr divisions ill send you some.

Cheers