Question
Hi Jeff, i hope you are doing well. I recently bought P. primuliflora on the pumice rock from you. I understand that it needs a lot of sunlight even if you grow them indoors, so i put it on the south windowsill as directed, but we barely have any sun here in Portland, OR at this time of the year, my question is should i get a light set up for it, or should i just let it go into dormant, and how can i do that? Right now it seem to be doing okay, but some of the leaves start to curled up even more pretty drastically, is that normal?

Answer
Hi Novi,

Even though P. primuliflora and other butterworts are more shade tolerant than other carnivorous plants, a light is a very good idea.  Here's an example of one that can work just fine:  http://www.amazon.com/Sunlight-Spectrum-Simulates-Daylight-Touch/dp/B003DRBOJ8/r  We've bought several of these at Home Depot in the past, but any fluorescent desk lamp can work.  It helps if you put them on a timer so it goes on and off automatically.  Put the plant on about a 10 hour day, then longer as we get into spring.  Have the light about 6 inches above the plant.

The outer leaf curling you're seeing now is probably from the change in envirnoment.  Plants always go through an adjustment period from changes in humidity and location.  If you get a light, and get into a stable location it should perk right up.

Letting the plant go dormant amounts to letting the plant have normal daylight hours and cool temperatures.  Unfortunately, P. primuliflora is infamous for rotting if this is done indoors.  They do better if kept growing.  I've had good luck with them outside, but they need to be in big pots and acclimated over the fall.

Good Growing!

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