Hi

Ok, in winter VFT's go dorment.
Now they need temps of between 40-50 F for this to happen and it is a good idea for them to experience the first frosts.
You do not feed them at all during this time.
Water them less so that they are no longer constantly wet, but are moist, never let them dry out.
If you have cold winters you can leave them outdoors so that nature can deal its course, if it gets extremely cold (below freezing) for extended periods then you can either try mulshing them heavily or bring them into an unheated room such as a garade where the temps would be low enough for dormency but not so low that the plant may not survive.

Hope this helps

Sheldon

Can I just extend this post a bit.

I removed the water trays on my VFTs in the greenhouse today as their growth is now agonisingly slow and they look kinda depressed.

I noticed that the plants have closed most of their traps and open traps are now slowly shutting over a period of days. They don't just snap shut but are closing gradually. Is this a normal part of the dormancy phase?

Cheers

Kyle

Thank you VERY much. In addition to kyles question, is it normal for the red color to darken on the mouthes as it gets cold, or is it due to improper care?

Thanks a bunch,

-Kat

Ive noticed this to, traps closing SOOO slowly, *sigh* they are getting sleepy and rubbing their eyes telling us they want to be tucked in!

lol Cheers

Well many have posted that they notice that when you give LESS light, the traps get a darker red.
My plants are currently still growing well and have not halted growth as yet.
What you are describing sounds like they are indeed going dorment now, I have not heard about the traps getting darker when this happens but from the growth stopping and the traps shutting this indeed sounds correct.
So just keep your soil media moist at all times now and dont let it dry out.

next spring hopefully all our plants will start growth again.

Cheers n goodluck guys!!

Sheldon

Thanks for the replies. I'm glad to hear this a a normal part of dormancy. I thought so but couldn't find anything on the net to make sure.

I'll keep lightly watering them whenever they feel slightly dry.

Cheers

Kyle

On the flytraps dormancy, is the refriderator ok, or is that too low temp/ light?
Thanks! -Ryan

Hey rcz300, many use this method.
Only thing is, if you take a perfectly happy VFT and dump it in the fridge, it has not gone dorment yet and you are then trying to force it into dormency.
I think this is a more dangerous route, mabey there are specific steps we need to follow on this one.

I know a few guys here have used it, hope to hear how they have suceeded with it.

Cheers

Sheldon

Kat,
Where in NC are you? There may be no need to bring it inside. In the central NC piedmont and the coastal plain, venus flytraps in large pots are fine outdoors all winter. The species is native to NC, after all. If you are using a small pot, then you might have problems with frost heave or freeze drying. In that case, your your best bet is to wait until sometime in December and then refrigerate the plant until March.

for the fridge id say just wait untill it shows signs of going dormant as desribed above or even a little longer
and then take it into the fridge.
theres plenty of time between the temps it will go dorman and when the temp drops to a dangerous level.

just let the plant tell u what it wants and that provide it.