Question
Virginia's outdoor car
I live just north of Portland, ME in Zone 5. I grow Sarracenia and Dionaea outdoors in planters set in a wall (see photo). How would you recommend I achieve winter dormancy for my plants? One year I set their pots near the house and covered them with 6 inches of mulch. Deep winter snows came in December and went in March, and everybody woke up fine for Spring. Next year, I tried the garage, no mulch, little light, no water (it would have frozen); high mortality resulted. A friend is suggesting a greenhouse for this year, which would provide light but would be unheated and unmulched. Your recommendations? Was I just lucky the first year? I'm game for just about anything that doesn't involve a refrigerator.
AnswerHi Virginia,
Always do what works for you. There are several techniques you could follow, but the bottom line is results. We have customers in Main, Michigan, Minnesota and upstate New York who mulch their plants as you do and experience excellent results. So if it worked for you before, there's no reason why it wouldn't work again. These plants are native to the United States, so they are accustomed to very chilly winters as long as they have the proper winter protection. I'm also in favor of doing what's easiest. With the other techniques you have to be vigilant about fungal infection throughout their dormancy. With mulching, you can literally forget about them until spring. The only issue is water should winter be drier and warmer than usual, but that's more of an exception.
You can find more information about winter care in our DVD, Grow Carnivorous Plants Volume 1.
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD
Good growing!
Jacob Farin
