FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I currently have a pot with a sarracenia and a drosera (and hopefully soon a VFT). I'm in zone 6a, so I'm a bit hesitant to leave my bog pot outside in fear of sub-freezing temps.

I was thinking of putting the bog in an unheated garage, but there are no windows. Would this be unsuitable? Otherwise, I have a room above the garage with an East facing window, and although heated, it remains around 40-50 F throughout the winter. Would this be better?

Thanks in advance for answering these questions!

Your unheated room sounds like a good option for dormancy. The garage will work also. You will want to reduce the amount of water you have in the container during dormancy.

What kind of drosera?

ETA: I guess, though, that a capensis or other drosera that don’t require dormancy won’t mind the 40-50F temps.

Good point. From the other posts at the time, I believe it is a spatulata. A spatulata will not survive a cold winter dormancy. It might survive at 40 degrees, but I don't think so.

Both sound like good options for a cold temperate dormancy, as long as the plants stay above freezing. Light really isn't a factor as the plants are sleeping. I put mine in an insulated but unheated and windowless garage. In fact, here's a pic of mine last winter in my garage.

ChefDean wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 4:32 pm Both sound like good options for a cold temperate dormancy, as long as the plants stay above freezing. Light really isn't a factor as the plants are sleeping. I put mine in an insulated but unheated and windowless garage. In fact, here's a pic of mine last winter in my garage.
20230926_112735.jpg

I tried that last winter and it worked very well (putting the plants in garage with no light). I don't know why I bothered with lights all those previous years.

@Intheswamp - Panman got it, it's a spatulata (that admittedly isn't doing the best). Tbh, I might move the spatulata in to its own pot and replace it with a capensis, which although subtropical, I've read will happily go through a dormancy period with the rest of the plants.

Cool, from the responses, I think it'd be best for me to put the whole pot in the garage for the winter. I'll make sure to not have sitting water, but will keep it damp through the last frost.

Thanks everyone!

Jonathan Hao wrote:...replace it with a capensis, which although subtropical, I've read will happily go through a dormancy period with the rest of the plants.

I have capensis go through dormancy many times, but always on their own schedule. I've never tried to put one through a cold temperate dormancy. However, considering the abuse I've seen capensis overcome, I wouldn't be surprised if it came through without a hitch.

I would expect a freeze to kill off the plant but for it to come back from the roots.