Question

My flytrap   QUESTION: Hi!  I know that I've asked you a lot of questions on my flytrap, but I'm worried about my flytrap.  So, when I got it in late November, I had it in my room for two days before moving it to my unheated, mostly non-insulated garage.  For a couple days last week, since the weather was staying above 25 F, I moved it outside into a sheltered area.  I was going to transplant it, but it looked brown (like in the picture).  Do you think it's alive?  What can I do to help it?
Thanks a lot,
John

ANSWER: Hi John,

I think it is, but you may have had some damage.  Did your plant have a chance to acclimate to cold before it was put in the garage or outside?  Plants that have been indoors can't just be sent outside in freezing temperatures since they have not had time to produce the chemicals needed to protect them during winter.

Your best option right now is to just park the plant in a cool, sunless, North window indoors, let it finish the winter there, then when danger of frost is past you can move it outside.  For now, however, park your plant and stop moving it around.  You're loving it to death!  You won't know until March if it's going to make it or not.

Good Growing!

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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi SNW,
That was helpful, and I did what you said until I remembered that you had told me earlier about two months of dormancy being enough, so I decided to bring it out, but found out about overwatering too late to stop the fungus attack.  So, the plant died.
This is my favorite plant in the world, though, so I'll buy another one once you update your inventory.  Is it time to transplant it into my deep, 12" mini-bog with a Sarracenia 'Daina's Delight' and Drosera intermedia, or should I wait?
Thanks for your time and patience with my questions, which are probably too many,
John

Answer
Hi John,

Wait until the late April.  You should be fairly safe that way.  Also, it will help if you know whether the plant you buy has been in a greenhouse, or experiencing natural temperatures.  Almost any you buy commercially will not be acclimated to normal outdoor temperatures, so waiting till spring will help.

Good Growing!

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