Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Plant Species >> Carnivorous Plants

Winter Dormancy in a New Jersey Garage: Green Pitchers Are Normal

David's Sarracenia (Judith Hindle, Dana's Delight, Yellow Trumpet, etc.) in unheated garage (40s°F) still have green, fleshy pitchers with mini pitchers at base. Are they dormant?

Yes, They're Dormant

Dark + 40s°F = no active growth.
Species vary: S. purpurea/psittacina stay evergreen; S. flava/oreophila die back to phyllodia; hybrids intermediate.
Watch for mold in garage—spray sulfur fungicide.

Green pitchers in winter are typical for many Sarracenia.

Carnivorous Plants: Protecting Elevated Container CP from Deep Freezes in Portland; Winter Lighting for Highland Nepenthes in Wisconsin: Shop Lights Over SAD Lamps; Winter Dormancy for Sarracenia: Indoor vs. Outdoor Strategies; Sarracenia and VFT Dormancy in Sweden (Zone 6, -30°C): Basement Fridge Method; Protecting Sarracenia During Extreme Winter Cold: A UK Grower's Guide; Winterizing Venus Flytraps and Sarracenia on a Patio: Insulation Strategies; Determining Dormancy Timing for Temperate Carnivorous Plants in Variable Weather; Overwintering Sarracenia and Dionaea in Zone 5 Maine: Mulch Works Best; Winter Dormancy Strategies for Carnivorous Plants in Cool Climates; Venus Flytrap and Sarracenia Dormancy in Southern California: Mild Winters Are Sufficient

Garden Articles

Overwintering Sarracenia purpurea at High Elevation: Indoor Dormancy and Bog Garden Planning

Overwintering Alaskan Drosera rotundifolia in Southern California: Ice Chest vs. Refrigerator

Comprehensive Carnivorous Plant Dormancy Guide for Mixed Collections

Early Winterizing in Massachusetts: Mulch Depth and Temperature Spikes

Waterlogged Sarracenia: Diagnosing and Recovering from Winter Rot

Winter Dormancy for Sarracenia in a Basement: Light, Temp, and Timing

Protecting Pitcher Plants from Late Winter Temperature Swings in Georgia

Plants

Nepenthes, Seedling, and Darlingtonia Dormancy & Light Requirements

Front Yard Evergreen Winter Protection in Toronto: Burlap, Salt, and Japanese Maple Care

Planting Butterfly Bush in the Ground vs. Pot for New Jersey Winters

Bougainvillea in Texas: The Celsius/Fahrenheit Mix-Up That Kills Plants

Winter Flowering Plants: Brighten Your Cold-Season Garden

Winter Gardening: Growing Vegetables & Ornamentals in Cold Months

Pitcher Plant Dormancy: Winter Care for Sarracenia