Question
Hello, I'm wondering before buying: if ANY of your carnivorous plants offered would be hardy in zone 4a (central Vermont) if planted in the ground - or if they can be kept outdoors in pots, then brought in around first killing frost?
a.ok.c

Answer
Hi AOKC,

Almost any of the North American plants will over winter in zone 4 provided that they are properly insulated from extreme temperature swings and freezing arctic winds.  A fellow grower in Toronto (zone 4) successfully overwintered his plants in an outdoor bog garden.  We have a customer in Maine (zone 4) who also overwintered her plants outdoors, so we know it can be done.

The greatest factor for success seems to be in-ground bog gardens. After a week of overnight frost, you'll need to trim your plants and cover them with about 8-10 inches of mulch (wood chips, pine needles or aspen bedding).

Containers are possible, but you'll need to use very large pots and mulch accordingly.  We have a customer in Denver (zone 5) who used a kiddie pool to build a bog garden on his balcony.  His plants overwintered fine with a layer of mulch over the garden only.  He planted his plants towards the center of the garden for added protection.  Otherwise, you can store your pots in an area that remains approximately 35癋 throughout the winter.  

Of course, it may be too late to build an in-ground bog garden.  It may also be too late to acquire any plants since you've likely experienced some extended frost by now.  Though our plants are grown exclusively outdoors, they've only experienced intermittent frost.

If you choose to acquire any North American plants now, you'll need to care for them in a south windowsill for the winter.  In spring, after the risk of frost has passed, you can acclimate your plants for outdoor growing.

For more information about growing North American plants, read our care sheets online:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

Good growing!
Jacob Farin