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Carnivorous Plants

I'm in zone 7, is it ok to leave VFTs outside year-round?

17 years ago

I made an impulse buy of several VTFs and I want to make sure I don't kill them. From what I've read on the web, it seems the best way to take care of them is to leave them out year-round. Will they survive the DC winter if I simply add a layer of pine needles? Will they be ok if the water in the tray freezes? I don't have a garage and I think my basement would be too warm.

As a general question some people advocate watering (distilled only) the plant itself, with the water draining into the tray, until it fills to two inches and repeat the process whenever tray empties. Others seem to suggest simply adding water to the tray alone when all the water has nearly evaporated. Does it make a difference?

My VFTs thank you in advance for saving them from a gruesome death.

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Comments (6)

fly_traper
17 years ago
i live in Birmingham AL witch is zone 7 and i leave my vft outside it is growing new traps like crazy.
nametakken
17 years ago
your somewhat near me occrider, im in SW va... im going to bring mine in because it snows/freezes here for more then a day. they can stand short freezes but if you don't have a non-heated area to put them some people put them in a refrigerater...as for the water i don't see a differance i do both, just try not to get water on the leaves if you water them in the middle of the day(hot sun).
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petiolaris
17 years ago
You're just a tad too cold for yearround growing, unless you mulch them. Pine needles is a good insulator. Distilled water is great, but you can also collect rainwater in plastic trash barrels. You can also save the water in plastic gallon milk or juice jugs.
occrider
Original Author
17 years ago
Pine needles it is ... thanks for the advise everyone.
ilbasso_74
17 years ago
check with the guys as www.cobraplant.com they advocate year-round outdoor growing and have ideas around climate problems. In "The Savage Garden", I seem to recall mulching outdoor bog gardens, covering with a tarp and the mulching again with several inches of padding. I don't think that I'm going to do that here in Ohio, but just a few pine needles may not work. I tried that last winter with no garage or basement and eventually sent them to a foster garage during the cold spells. None are around now to tell the tale.

This year I have a garage to use but will still mulch (just in case). I think I overwatered last winter.

I only water from above on occasion. I don't see a problem with it, but waiting until the water evaporates may not be ideal. Just keep the water an inch or two (depending on the size of the pot) and they'll be happy.

As I learned this spring, don't put pots in containers that are higher than the pot! I have a couple of litter boxes filled with pots and water and one morning the plants were swimming when the tray filled.
ilbasso_74
17 years ago
check with the guys as www.cobraplant.com they advocate year-round outdoor growing and have ideas around climate problems. In "The Savage Garden", I seem to recall mulching outdoor bog gardens, covering with a tarp and the mulching again with several inches of padding. I don't think that I'm going to do that here in Ohio, but just a few pine needles may not work. I tried that last winter with no garage or basement and eventually sent them to a foster garage during the cold spells. None are around now to tell the tale.

This year I have a garage to use but will still mulch (just in case). I think I overwatered last winter.

I only water from above on occasion. I don't see a problem with it, but waiting until the water evaporates may not be ideal. Just keep the water an inch or two (depending on the size of the pot) and they'll be happy.

As I learned this spring, don't put pots in containers that are higher than the pot! I have a couple of litter boxes filled with pots and water and one morning the plants were swimming when the tray filled.

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