Question
How do you simulate sarracinea purpuria dormancy in a tropical climate?Do you put it in a refrigerator

Answer
Hi Eric,

Since you said you live in California, you don't actually live in a tropical climate.  Southern California is usually referred to as sub-tropical and is USDA zone 9 in most places.  Most parts of California can get frost from time to time.

You don't need to do anything to your plant.  If you have your S. purpurea outside (best place to keep it), it will experience the natural decrease in daylight hours in winter, and this will trigger dormancy.  Temperatures alone don't bring on dormancy, but the combination of temperatures and photoperiod.  Also most Sarracenia can tolerate near tropical conditions as many Hawaiian growers can attest to.  The only one that might have a hard time would be Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea, the Northern Purple Pitcher.  It's used to much longer, colder winters.  Most purpureas sold are purpurea venosa, the Southern Purple Pitcher.  This is very different for other North American carnivorous plants such as sundews and Venus Flytraps.

Good Growing!

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