Question
QUESTION: You have helped me before figure out strategies to get my VFT through the winter in Zone 3 (Calgary, Alberta, Canada).  I have a few questions now that it is time to apply mulch.  I hope you don't mind me asking them all now, but they're all related so it seemed easier asking all at once.

1. My VFT is dormant now, has been for a while, and I was checking my plant before spraying it with fungicide.  The leaves are still green, but are a bit wilty, so I was thinking of cutting them off.  If I do, and there are no leaves left, would I still spray with fungicide (e.g. the bulb, or the "soil")?

2. The strategy I've decided upon is burying the plant in a box of mulch and placing the box in an unheated garage.  I was thinking to help with keeping it hydrated, I would put some water in a margarine container, cut a hole in the lid and place the plant pot in the hole.  All this would then be buried.  Do you see any problems with this?  I'm not great with figuring out whether this would make the plant freeze or would interfere with insulating the plant from the cold and temperature changes.

3. I was reading your advice to other people overwintering in colder climates and you mentioned that once the potting mix itself freezes, covering the plant with a black garbage bag helps prevent dehydration.  Could you do this to a mulched plant as well?  And would this be advisable with my set up?  My concern would be creating a situation of high moisture with not enough air circulation. However, Calgary's climate is very dry.

Thanks so much for all your help :)


ANSWER: Hi Kristine,

1.  Go ahead and cut them off.  Since you are so much colder, this will be a benefit to the plant.

2.  This sounds fine.  I just wouldn't use a lot of water.  You want there to be moisture, but during thaw periods too much water will encourage rot.

3.  In the garage the black plastic bag would be overkill.  The reason we cover plant during our periodic freezes is to shield from wind which hastens dehydration.  We don't leave them covered for long periods of time, however.  Your mulch will be fine in the garage.  Just throw a little water on it from time to time if it seems to be getting excessively dry.

Good Growing!

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

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

QUESTION: Thanks for your answers :)  In regards to the first question, if I cut off the all of the leaves, do I still need to spray anything with fungicide, like the bulb or the potting mix?

Thanks again :)

ANSWER: Hi Kristine,

Yes, very much so.  Use a sulfur based fungicide and saturate around the bulb.  Since the plant will be in cool, dark conditions for the winter, those are prime conditions for fungal growth.

Good Growing!

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

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

QUESTION: Thanks for clarifying that!  I think I may have run into a larger problem.  I went out to spray with the fungicide, and noticed that the potting mix is solid (I think maybe frozen), and the temp in the garage is -5C (23F).  So if I am able to move the potting mix away from the bulb of the plant, the spray will just freeze, and then possibly freeze the plant.  Not good??  Or does it not matter?  I was thinking taking the plant inside just to spray it.  What would you suggest?

Thanks again! :)

Answer
Hi Kristine,

Just spray it frozen.  While the soil is frozen fungus can't grow anyway.  I wouldn't try to disturb the plant in it's current state.  During periodic thaws the fungicide will seep down to the plant.


Good Growing!

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