Question
QUESTION: Hello,i buyed a dionea muscipula from a local shop where was o very bad conditions ,i give her very much light water and repotted in good soil.I dont now what do do in winter it seems like the plant likes where she is im afraid to put it on my window becouse almost no light and low temperatures(not below freezing).What should i do i dont whant to kill the plant why to give dormancy when the plant s healty ????Pleas help me

ANSWER: Hi Alex,

It sounds like this is your very first flytrap.  Unfortunately, purchasing a plant in poor health is always an uphill battle.  You might experience some success, but overall it's not a good way to start.  Your success first depends on how bad the plant is.  If the plant is too bad off, anything and everything you do might not work, so don't be disappointed if the plant dies.  The plant was in poor health from the moment you bought it.  Ideally you should only purchase healthy plants, especially if you've never grown a carnivorous plant before.  The care for a plant in bad conditions is much more difficult than the care for a plant in excellent conditions.

You also mentioned that you repotted your flytrap in "good soil."  I'm not sure what this means.  Not all soil is appropriate for flytraps.  Potting soil, garden soil, compost and fertilizers will kill your plant.  If you used any of these soil or ingredients, you will need to repot your plant in the correct soil mix for flytraps.  The correct soil mix is 1 part sphagnum peat moss and 1 part perlite.  This is important because if you don't have the right soil mix, anything you do will not work.  

After you have your plant in the right soil mix, place your plant in a south window that receives several hours of direct sunlight.  It should be a very sunny window because you'll need sunlight to help this plant regain its health.  If the light isn't bright enough, your plant will continue to decline in health.  If you don't have a sunny window, then you may need to accept the fact that your flytrap will not make it.  Flytraps require lots of lighting.

You should also keep the soil moist.  Use only bottled distilled water for your flytrap.  You can use tap water ONLY IF you are certain it is low in minerals (less than 50 parts per million).  Minerals in the water can affect your plant's health.  If you're not sure about your tap water, use bottled distilled water as a precaution.  

For now, forget about winter dormancy.  Your plant isn't healthy enough to withstand it and will likely die in the process.  Focus on regaining your plant's health by following the above recommendations.  

Again, don't be upset or disappointed if your plant still dies.  If its health was too poor from the beginning, it just won't make it regardless of your heroic measures.  

However, if the plant makes it to April, write back to us for more instructions on how to acclimate it to outdoor growing.  If it doesn't make it, consider purchasing a healthy flytrap or another carnivorous plant that would be most suitable for your growing conditions.  

For more information about growing flytraps, read our care sheet online:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

I also recommend that you use the Best Plants For You link on our website.  Just answer a few questions, and you'll get a list of plants best suited for your growing conditions.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin


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

QUESTION: Thank you for your answer but i mentioned that the plant now is healty the traps close instantly and are hot red color.The mix soil is 2 parts of peat moss and 1 part of perlite/vermiculite.It has good umidity (60%-80%)and the light is artificialy 13 hours of light every day and is not in a terrarium .I hope the plant wont die becouse of dromancy.And can you tell me who big can be a drosera pygmea ,i buyed one and is incredibile small:P

Answer
You will need to adjust your soil mix for your flytrap.  The ideal mix is 1 part peat moss and 1 part perlite.  The mix you have retains too much water, which can lead to root rot.  You should also avoid using vermiculite, especially with flytraps.  Vermiculite increases minerals and water retention, so it's not an appropriate soil ingredient as far as flytraps are concerned.

Again, whether your plant makes it is based on its health at the time you bought it and the lighting, soil and water.  It will be OK skipping winter dormancy for a year.  Next year, after you acclimate your plant for outdoor growing, just leave it alone and it'll go dormant.

Drosera pygmea is a type of pygmy sundews.  The Latin word pygmea means small.  All of the pygmy sundews are often 1/4 - 3/4 inch in diameter.  So don't expect a large plant.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin