Question
Hi, I hope you can help me. I live in Perth, Western Australia (home of Cephalotus), and am trying to find out if Sarracenia (and Venus fly traps) will grow here. This issue is specifically related to winter dormancy. Our winter temperatures are very mild (18 C (64 F) max; 9 C (48 F) min), which seem too high for even light dormancy. Would these plants struggle or even grow at all over here? Thanks, Steve.

Answer
Hi Steve,

The temperature range you're describing is very similar to central California here in the U.S.  We have many, many customers that do great with their plants there.  It's not just temperature, but photo period that brings on dormancy.  You should do very well with Sarracenia and flytraps in Perth.  You actually have a few commercial growers in Australia that produce large numbers of Flytraps and Sarracenia every year.

Good Growing!

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