FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Sponsored by FlytrapStore.com

Ask questions about how to grow and care for Venus Flytraps

Moderator: Matt

By penatrap
Posts:  92
Joined:  Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:01 am
#344604
Hello all

So I just saved 5 VFTs from my local Home Depot. They looked starved of light and not very healthy - but still very green, which was kind of expected since they were indoors. None of the traps worked either (they were kind of splayed apart) They were discounted to a dollar each so I just took every plant that was on the counter.

Anyway, at first I wanted to just put them outside and let them recover that way - until I realized that it was the end of the growing season now and it would put them into dormancy. A facebook user suggested I put them indoors, put a grow light over it and just grow them normally for the winter as they said putting them into dormancy in such a rough state could kill the plants.
What do you guys think? I honestly don't have grow lights as I've never tried growing CPs indoors before - the closest thing (I think) I have is this white LED panel that I currently have over my plants. It's probably not good enough but it's the best thing I have right now
Attachments:
IMG_1738.jpg
IMG_1738.jpg (79.99 KiB) Viewed 4229 times
71770442_1705061292962691_4641662192914006016_n.jpg
71770442_1705061292962691_4641662192914006016_n.jpg (54.58 KiB) Viewed 4229 times
User avatar
By fluffy123
Posts:  754
Joined:  Sat May 27, 2017 3:30 pm
#344605
I think they may still go dormant if they get exposed to the cold and short days. Since they are in grow lights inside the house they may still grow and not go dormant.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
User avatar
By optique
Location: 
Posts:  1893
Joined:  Fri May 24, 2019 11:15 pm
#344615
There is no way of telling if has skipped dormancy on the way to you. Plants that skip dormancy slowly run out of gas, dormant plants explode in growth in spring.
User avatar
By salty
Location: 
Posts:  198
Joined:  Mon May 17, 2010 11:30 am
#344621
How do you keep your other plants over winter and what state/grow zone are you in?
By penatrap
Posts:  92
Joined:  Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:01 am
#344628
I’m in Vancouver BC which people have told me is in zone 8-ish? I’m not sure but we do get regularly below freezing temps and during the really cold months a LOT of snow. The only other plants I have at the moment are my tropical s which I already have inside for the winter. The first VFT I had I killed it by accidentally letting it freeze outside, so uh I’m a bit wary about dormancy as well
User avatar
By optique
Location: 
Posts:  1893
Joined:  Fri May 24, 2019 11:15 pm
#344630
VFT's come from zone 8b, if you are in 8 you should be good to go. But keep in mind its not freezing that kills VFT's its the Frost Burn caused by prolonged deep cold. I live in zone 8b and once ever 3 years i might have to protect my potted plants for a week max.
By penatrap
Posts:  92
Joined:  Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:01 am
#344636
Anyway so my
main question is this - should I put them outside and let them go dormant or keep them inside with the light panel thing I have for the winter? I’ve revived VFTs in much worse condition than these ones so I’m sure they’ll survive if I do it right but it’s not the summer anymore which makes it hard...
User avatar
By salty
Location: 
Posts:  198
Joined:  Mon May 17, 2010 11:30 am
#344653
I personally would put them outside until it got too cool and then bring them into a cool area under lights.
By Huntsmanshorn
Posts:  947
Joined:  Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:32 am
#344655
penatrap wrote:Anyway so my
main question is this - should I put them outside and let them go dormant or keep them inside with the light panel thing I have for the winter? I’ve revived VFTs in much worse condition than these ones so I’m sure they’ll survive if I do it right but it’s not the summer anymore which makes it hard...
This is one reason I like growing carnivorous plants, there's always a puzzle to solve. In this case, as you said it's a tough call, I think I would put it outside and treat it like you would any other vft but maybe only do a 10 week dormancy. Then inside under lights until the weather warms up.
By penatrap
Posts:  92
Joined:  Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:01 am
#346096
just a quick update - so they've been outside for some time now, and the temps are dropping into the 5-8C range. I'm assuming they've already gone dormant-ish as there is pretty much no growth happening right now. I actually got a 600w grow light from amazon so when I do bring them inside they'll be going under that.

Otherwise they look pretty fine - ish? Everything's still green so that's a good sign I guess
By tommyr
Location: 
Posts:  1748
Joined:  Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:38 am
#346203
My VFTs have been in the fridge since October 18th. 2 more months to go!
By tommyr
Location: 
Posts:  1748
Joined:  Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:38 am
#346303
penatrap wrote:i got these lights
https://www.amazon.ca/Spectrum-Reflecto ... den&sr=1-8
i know they're most likely not 600w but they'll be good enough for vfts.. right?
i'll probably be bringing them in in about a month or two
That's overkill IMHO. Regular shop lights would be fine and far cheaper. This is until they can go back outside in full Sun right?
By penatrap
Posts:  92
Joined:  Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:01 am
#346331
tommyr wrote:
penatrap wrote:i got these lights
https://www.amazon.ca/Spectrum-Reflecto ... den&sr=1-8
i know they're most likely not 600w but they'll be good enough for vfts.. right?
i'll probably be bringing them in in about a month or two
That's overkill IMHO. Regular shop lights would be fine and far cheaper. This is until they can go back outside in full Sun right?
yes... I also thought they were overkill, but my friend (who knows I like plants) got them for me as a gift. will it burn the VFTs? I thought they loved full light
Transaction with Secretariat73

I purchased five varieties of Sarracenia from Secr[…]

Drosera germination time

Oh, and the Twister II seeds are in this germinati[…]

So far, not less than five days apart. Humidity va[…]

Argh! Just 4 days left in the photo contest and we[…]

SASE received. Order is fulfilled. Return envelope[…]

My Sarracenia x moorei 'Red Velvet' is turning out[…]

Hello, New to the forum

And if the deer runs, be sure to track it down. A […]

A greenhouse or a greenhouse terrarium? They do we[…]

Support the community - Shop at FlytrapStore.com!