FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

If I leave my plants outside year-round in Florida, will they go dormant on their own? (I have a typical venus fly trap and a pitcher plant from Lowes labeled Nepenthes Ventricosa, see my other post)

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Your Nep doesn't need to go dormant, and as for your flytrap, it depends on which part of Florida you're in.

Fishkeeper wrote:Your Nep doesn't need to go dormant, and as for your flytrap, it depends on which part of Florida you're in.

Im in Miami

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I'm planning on doing a detailed write up about dormancy here as soon as I can squeeze or in, but I'll sum up some info that should help you.

Cold temps and shortening daylight hours trigger the first stage of dormancy endo-dormancy. This is true dormancy. The plant is in a suspended state of animation. Nothing will break this dormancy until the plant counts the appropriate amount of chilling units. The second stage or alternative stage is eco-dormancy. This stage can be induced by shortening days, this stage can also be broken by weather.

Being you are in a pretty subtropical area. I would recommend to find an alternative dormancy solution for your VFT. The fridge method works well. I used it this past winter, my weather is the opposite as yours. It's too cold in the winter here, at least without some form of protection.

I would also just wait until next fall to worry too much about dormancy, since it's coming up on growing season now.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 30434.html
http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 31990.html

Another dormancy question: for S. Austin, I believe that is 8a according to the USDA region, what would be the dormancy period for VFT's and Nepenthes? If indoors are either in need of dormancy to thrive? Should they be left out, within reasonable temps, and if so, how cold is too cold to leave out? TIA!

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DRBeck wrote:Another dormancy question: for S. Austin, I believe that is 8a according to the USDA region, what would be the dormancy period for VFT's and Nepenthes? If indoors are either in need of dormancy to thrive? Should they be left out, within reasonable temps, and if so, how cold is too cold to leave out? TIA!

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For VFT'S their natural dormancy period is between November and February. They'll handle light frosts, just fine. So, the basic answer is 32°F, to be safe. There's a lot of variables to this, but that's a basic guideline.

You being in a warmer climate could grow them outdoors, or use a fridge method. That's entirely up to you and what works best for you.

Haha, I'm the last person to comment on Neps. I can tell you they don't need a dormancy being tropical plants.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 30434.html
http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 31990.html

boarderlib wrote:I'm planning on doing a detailed write up about dormancy here as soon as I can squeeze or in, but I'll sum up some info that should help you.

Cold temps and shortening daylight hours trigger the first stage of dormancy endo-dormancy. This is true dormancy. The plant is in a suspended state of animation. Nothing will break this dormancy until the plant counts the appropriate amount of chilling units. The second stage or alternative stage is eco-dormancy. This stage can be induced by shortening days, this stage can also be broken by weather.

Being you are in a pretty subtropical area. I would recommend to find an alternative dormancy solution for your VFT. The fridge method works well. I used it this past winter, my weather is the opposite as yours. It's too cold in the winter here, at least without some form of protection.

I would also just wait until next fall to worry too much about dormancy, since it's coming up on growing season now.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 30434.html
http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 31990.html

I looked "Dormancy in Florida" and found an old post where Matt said you can leave your fly traps outside year round and that they will undergo a weak dormancy. He also said that shorter days in winter will trigger it and that temperature isn't as big of a factor as the length of the days.

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He's talking about eco-dormancy.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 30434.html
http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 31990.html

I won't say whether or not that is a good alternative solution long term, because I can't test the theory. My climate naturally allows my plants to go into endo-dormancy, which is true dormancy.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 30434.html
http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 31990.html