Question
Hello Guys,
I just brought my carnivorous plants out of their dormancy hiding and it looks like they will survive for another growing season! I live in Mass and I know I have a whole summer ahead of me but I wanted to get a head start on another approach to dormancy. Right now I currently cover my plants with weed fabric and then mulch them for the winter. I know that ideally it would be best for them to get sun light over the winter to continue storing energy. My thoughts for next winter is to build a cold frame. I was thinking of building one with a glass top and put mulch around the pots of my plants up to the rim to help further insulate them. I would attach a prop that would hold the glass doors open on warmer days so they don't cook in there and also place a thermometer to measure the temperature. Do you think it is worth my trouble to build a cold frame for next year? Do you think it will provide the correct temperatures and protection for my plants to go dormant if I keep an eye on the inside temp? Have you had any customers in the past use this method? Thank you guys for your time!

Answer
Hi Ken,

This can work quite well as long as you can keep it cool on sunny days.  You might also be able to find a thermostatic opener like is used in greenhouses to automatically open on warmer days.  A little shade cloth over the cold frame might help too since it would keep the sun from being as intense.

Good Growing!

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