Question
QUESTION: I LIVE IN THE HUDSON VALLEY IN NEW YORK. I HAVE MY PITCHER PLANTS AND VENUS FLYTRAPS OUTSIDE. THE WEATHER IS STILL IN THE 40' & 50' WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE THE WEATHER STARTS TO GET COLD.I DON'T LIVE IN A HOUSE ANYMORE SO I CAN'T PUT THEM IN THE GARAGE LIKE I USE TO.I HAVE THEM ON A STAND OUTSIDE ON MY PATIO IF I THROW A COVER OVER THEM WOULD THAT BE GOOD ENOUGHT.

ANSWER: The object in giving the appropriate winter dormancy for Venus Flytraps and Sarracenia is to prevent the soil or growing medium from freezing solid. Although Venus Flytraps can withstand light frosts that kill the leaves, they survive because the "bulb" and roots underground are not frozen, and the plant puts up new leaves when it can.

So if you live in a place in which the ground freezes hard and solid in the winter, you will need to provide protection for the Venus Flytraps and most Sarracenia in the form of a mulch or insulation of some sort. Venus Flytraps continue to photosynthesize and grow a little during dormancy, so it is best to allow the leaves to be exposed to light while protecting and insulating the pots and growing medium.

Throwing a cover over the pots will not be sufficient if the weather becomes very cold. In nature, plants such as the Venus Flytrap benefit from the gigantic thermal mass of the ground around them, which keeps them relatively warmer than the air. But in small pots, the growing medium will rapidly become as cold as the air and will freeze and potentially kill the plants. It would be best during the winter dormancy, if the plants must be kept outside, to place them on the ground, or in a trench or hole in the ground buried up to near the rims of the pots, to keep them warmer from the thermal mass of the earth mentioned above. However, as also mentioned, if the ground freezes solid in your area in the winter, additional protection will be needed, perhaps a covering of dry leaves or some other insulating material over the pots and plants until the cold weather passes and the plants can be exposed to the air and sunlight again.

Venus Flytraps do not need to be very cold during dormancy. Temperatures in the 40s and 50s Fahrenheit for most of the hours of the day is cool enough. So any indoor area, including many windowsills where the cool air falls from the inside glass surface, can be sufficient, especially if somewhat enclosed by a curtain or clear plastic taped to the top and sides of the window casing, with the plant between the covering and the glass of the window.

An important thing to remember during dormancy is to not overwater, and to allow the medium to dry until just moist before watering again, in the case of the Venus Flytrap.

I know that this is not a great answer or response to your questions and concerns, but I hope that it helps.

For a lot more comments and advice, including probably from growers who live near you, please join an online carnivorous plant forum and mention your questions and concerns there. Here are two forums to consider--

CPUK Forum
http://www.cpukforum.com/

FlytrapCare Forum
http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/

Best wishes and good luck.

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

QUESTION: If I put them in a box and cover the pot and plant  with leaves would that be ok.And should I spray them with a fungicide? if so what is the best thing to use

Answer
If I were in your place, I might put the pots and plants in a plastic or wooden crate, place that crate on the ground against a sunny side of the house, and surround the plants with perhaps styrofoam "peanuts" such as are used for packing material, or some other insulating material. Dry leaves would be OK except that they would hold a lot of dampness if it rains or snows a lot where you live.

The leaves should be exposed to the air and the sunlight, but the pots and soil should be insulated and protected. Being up next to the house and on the ground will help warm the soil and plants.

It is very important to remember not to water Venus Flytraps too much during dormancy. They can never dry out, and you can test this with a finger into the soil, but they should not remain wet for very long either. It's best to water in the morning so that they have all day to begin to dry out, during cold weather, and then don't water again until the soil is just on the dry side of moist, which can be anywhere from 4-5 days up to 14 days or more, depending on weather, humidity and other factors in your environment.

If it's very windy where you live, and you don't want the plastic peanuts to blow all over and litter the yard and neighborhood, then you could put a layer of something heavier over the plastic peanuts (but not on top of the plants), or use some other material that you consider a good insulator.

Good luck!

Steve