FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hi all,

Currently I have some vft seedlings growing indoors that will be skipping dormancy. They are currently on an 18-6 schedule. If I put them outside in the spring, they'll go from 18 hours of light to about 8-9. Won't that trigger dormancy right before summer?

Should I leave them indoors until next fall or will they be fine if I throw them out in the spring when the rest of my plants begin to wake up? Also, do they need to be hardened off since they were grown indoors or can I just chuck them outside?

VFTNoob wrote:Won't that trigger dormancy right before summer?

They will just slow down a bit in growth and rest. It will actually be good for them.

VFTNoob wrote:Should I leave them indoors until next fall or will they be fine if I throw them out in the spring when the rest of my plants begin to wake up?

I would move them outside in the spring if they were my babies.

VFTNoob wrote:Also, do they need to be hardened off since they were grown indoors or can I just chuck them outside?

You'll definitely need to harden them off and probably grow them under shade cloth for the first summer. Full sun can kill baby flytraps.

Thanks Matt! Got some 40% white shade cloth on the way and I have some green house tarp. How long do you think I should keep them under that set up?

VFTNoob wrote:Thanks Matt! Got some 40% white shade cloth on the way and I have some green house tarp. How long do you think I should keep them under that set up?

Through the first year at least. If they grow to be at least 1 inch in total diameter, they can probably start handling full sun after that.