FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Sorry for all of the questions. This is my first dormancy and I want to get it right.

I live in Newport News, VA, which is in the southeast corner of the state. I was comparing climates between NN and Myrtle Beach, SC (where flytraps are from) and found some promising results.

Here's the climate chart for Newport News;
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimat ... undeclared

And here's the chart for Myrtle Beach;
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimat ... rom=search

The low temperatures only differ by 2 degrees F at most. Is this close enough to leave the plants by the window? My apartment is kept at 72 degrees F. The window faces Northwest. If this won't work I have a few friends who are willing to let me use their garage. Taking them home to Fredericksburg might be a little risky, since the average low is 23 degrees F.

The weather in Newport News, VA and Myrtle Beach, SC is certainly close enough that I'd guess your plants would be fine outside all year. In a windowsill in an apartment at a constant 72°F a flytrap might not get a proper dormancy. Also, the more sun you can give the plant, even in dormancy, the healthier it will be. A northwest facing window won't provide much sun.

Awesome! I have a botany major friend who would love to look after them at her house. Will the plastic pots they came in provide enough insulation, or should I make some ceramic "sleeves" to go over the plastic pots? Any other insulation methods for the roots that will work well?

If you're going to leave them outside, I'd recommend getting very large pots that are well insulated to pot them in. That will help prevent the soil from freezing.

I'll go searching tomorrow. Does the soil type of the insulator pot matter?

Wire Man wrote:Does the soil type of the insulator pot matter?

Soil type? I'm guessing you've already read the article on the main site about soil requirements for Venus fly traps?:
http://www.flytrapcare.com/media-soil-f ... traps.html

Just picked up the items for dormancy today.
-18" wide pot, about 12" deep
-an entire bale of sphagnum peat moss
-a bag of pool filter sand. The only perlite they had was Miracle-Grow, definitely not CP safe.

Wire Man wrote:Just picked up the items for dormancy today.
-18" wide pot, about 12" deep
-an entire bale of sphagnum peat moss
-a bag of pool filter sand. The only perlite they had was Miracle-Grow, definitely not CP safe.

Matt has taught you well.

Yes he has! It's a good thing I learn quickly. I went from keeping bettas to delicate licorice gouramis in 2 years with my aquarium hobby, so let's hope for the same luck with the CPs.