FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

So my flytraps have been sitting in my garage for the last 2 months on the garage floors at temperatures of between 40-55 degrees for the most part. They are getting a 9 hour photoperiod and are being kept moist, so I think I am doing everything that needs to be done correctly, but some of my plants have been dying off... I'm not sure what is causing it, but the growth point will just turn black and it will spread to the rest of the plant and kill it. It doesn't look like mold that I can see, where is would be white or anything like that. Is there anything that I am missing? Because I don't want to kill all of my plants Here are some pictures if that helps. Any ideas would be appreciated!

From the pictures I'd say your plants look healthy. Did you dig them up and check on the rhizome? If the rhizome is dead the whole plant is dead. I wasn't sure if you meant the rhizome when you said "growth point". My first dormancy my plants completely died away on the surface, like, I thought they were dust in the wind, but they still came back next spring.

They all look good except the last one, which you are already aware of. That looks to be root rot to me. It starts below ground and the rhizome turns into brown mush and then the leaves die. That one already looks pretty far gone, but if you want to try to save it, I'd uproot it, remove anything that's brown or mushy from the rhizome and then replant it.

JohnnyZ wrote:They are getting a 9 hour photoperiod and are being kept moist,

Just be sure not to keep them too moist all the time. Rather than watering them a little and frequently, it might be better to water thoroughly (preferably in the morning so they have a chance to dry before a cool night) and then allow them to dry as much as possible before watering them thoroughly again. By "as much as possible" I mean until it's still moist but almost dry, but of course not to the point of substantial dessication of the plant.

During dormancy, in pots that are 5-8 inches deep, I often don't have to water again for 10-14 days even in a dry environment (I live in New Mexico, US). My plants are kept in a greenhouse during dormancy where they get plenty of light and there is a heater and thermostat set for between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

The plant in the last photo might be OK. I notice a small division off to its side. The main growing crown appears to have died back extensively, but if you protect it from (further?) rot it might divert its energy into the new division (offshoot).

Anyway, good luck and thanks for posting!

Great thanks you guys I'll see what I can do!

One other thing-- You mentioned that you didn't see any fungal growth (the visible, white fibrous kind). Rhizome and crown rot can be caused by fungus or bacteria that aren't readily visible and not white. It's important to not keep the growing crown and rhizome too wet all the time (just like it's important for many other plants in containers or in the soil) in order to help prevent fungal and bacterial infection and rot, and it's doubly important during cool to cold weather, because fungi that flourish in cold temperatures are often a more destructive kind.

Good luck!