Question
Hi, i had asked you about dormancy a while ago, and just want to learn a little
more. My venus flytraps and sarracenia had been brought in my garage
because i was worried about the declining temps. they were not yet in
dormancy, so i put them outside on my deck like you said. My flytraps are
brown, black, and red, with a little green. My pitcher plants are red and
brown, with some green. Both are in water trays, but temperatures arpund
here in pennsylvania are getting to 40-30 in the day, and 30-20 at night. I
just want to know if my plants seem normal, and if water freezing in the trays
would be bad. I have an unheated garage that stays in the 40's - 30's but i
dont know when the right time would be to bring them in.
Thanks for all your help,
Dylan

Answer
Hi Dylan,

That's exactly how they should look this time of year.  All of the long traps on the flytraps should be dead with just a few small ones in the center.  Sarracenia should be mostly browning up with a few tough leaves remaining.  This depends on the species, however, since all of the leaves on S. flava and S. oreophila should be dead.  Our temperatures here in Oregon have been close to the same, and that's exactly how all of ours look.

If you're staying above freezing during the day, it's still fine to have them outside.  If it looks like you have a deep freeze moving in, it's time to move to the garage.  Be sure to spray them with a sulfur based fungicide, and clip off any dead leaves for hygiene.  Also just have a little water in the trays.  You only want to prevent them from drying out.  Too much water encourages rot.


Good Growing!

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