Question
I recently to delivery of two very nice King Henry Venus fly traps.  As recommended I put the outside on the patio, in about 1 inch of RO water.  No sooner than I did that it started snowing and temperatures dropped accordingly, to between 4 and 20 degrees, when the water and plants pretty much froze.  I saw online that you should try to prevent freezing, but once frozen you should not try to thaw them artificially - if frozen leave frozen.  They are now no longer frozen as temperatures have risen, and I plan to move them to the garage prior to any future freezes. Just wondering if you could confirm I'm doing the right thing for the plants, and if not would you please advise?
Thanks
Jeff Blake
Cedar Fals, Iowa

Answer
Hi Jeff,

Yes.  Depending on how cold your garage gets that will be a better place for them to overwinter.  Venus flytraps are from a Zone 8 climate, and you're Zone 5a in Cedar Rapids.  To spend the winter outside they would need to be well buried in mulch for the winter.  One night probably didn't hurt them, but temperatures below 20 for any length of time they need protection.  Fortunately, since you got them from us, they were already acclimated to frost.

Ideally you want them between about 28 and 50 degrees for the winter.  Since you have only a couple plants, a garage can do the job if it stays in the 30's in there, or a cold windowsill can do the job too.  It's good to spray them with a sulfur based fungicide for either place to prevent mold problems.  For either the garage or windowsill, keep the soil most, but not waterlogged for the winter.  When growth resumes in the spring, return to tray watering.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com