FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hi,

Looking to buy a VFT, when would be the best time to buy a grown plant? I'm in the UK, I have found an online seller that sells these plants potted, would I be best buying before new leaves form or wait until the plant has gotten over the winter period?

Also any recommendations on which variety would be best as they have a few difference types to choose from, this will be an indoor plant.

Thanks for any help.

I am relatively new(no experience) but i read a lot that ppl wait for the winter is over, unless the plant is dormant?

You can order one any time of year, but they look their best during the months of May through September. If you order one during the winter months, it will appear much smaller. But then it is quite exciting to watch it come to life in the spring!

As much as the plants are not the best looked after before you buy them, B and Q or homebase sell VFTs for 3.99 all year round. Its a relatively cheap way to get your first plant and experiment on your set up. You may have an issue with an indoor plant if kept indoors all year round as the plants require a dormant period which may be difficult in a centrally heated house. You may be able to use an unheated porch as long as it gets the sun.

If you will struggle to provide any form of dormancy at the moment it may be best to wait till March when all the plants will be waking up properly. You will have the summer to spend with your plant and by autumn it will be one of the family and you will make a dormancy space just to keep it happy!!

I thought in the winter they wouldn't need to be kept in the sun? thought I saw/read someone keeping them in the fridge over winter?

Thanks for the B&Q/Homebase tip, didn't realise they sold them, saves me £6 on P&P but are they as good a specialist grower?

The plants are not looked after anywhere near as well as from a specialist but they are still VFTs. They are not a special looking clone but they do everything a clone does but as they are more normal looking dont cost as much.

Fridge dormancy is an option for people who can not get a good dormancy normally as its either too hot or cold. Even in the north people in the UK get a good dormancy without the extreme lengths of a fridge dormancy.

Who are you buying from? £6 P&P is a lot...

Buying from B&Q is okay, but you'll buy a plant which thinks it's summer, which will be a pain. Specialist and private growers will have much higher quality, possibly larger plants. They'll have the right time of year in their "Minds" and, depending who you buy them from, they'll be a good price too.

Fridge dormancy is a mad thing to do in the UK.
If you can keep them on a cold windowsill, dormancy will work, if you can keep them outside in a greenhouse or a shed (With windows) even better.
Mine have been through several freezes so far, and are looking just fine. They'll also come enter and leave dormancy at the perfect time for themselves.

Also, welcome to the forums!

Daniel_G wrote:Who are you buying from? £6 P&P is a lot...

Thanks, yeah sounds a lot but I believe it's a standard £6 for 1 or more plants, I guess good packaging and delivery is not cheap.

I've looked at buying from Hampshire carnivorous plants, looks a good option, anyone tried them? B&Q are not an option after reading the replies here,

I got my first Flytrap from them Not had much other experience with them, but by the sound of it, they're a good supplier

Hampshire carnivorous plants are great!

I would actually recommend getting a dormant plant because that way you know what it'll look like next winter and won't worry if it starts shrinking or dying back. Dormant plant purchases give new growers the ability to say "Hey, I've seen that before!" instead of panicking (which happens to a lot of us when we first start).

Good luck