Viewing post #1591533 by JamesT

You are viewing a single post made by JamesT in the thread called New Venus Flytrap Owner!.
Image
Nov 23, 2017 4:06 PM CST
Name: James
California (Zone 8b)
@Alpakatt

If you edit your garden.org profile to include some region and climate zone information, you will get better information from the community here.

These things need a winter dormant period, their native habitat is Zone 8 in the Carolinas. It's referred to as "humid subtropical", but winter nights get down to around 15°F. The refrigerator method is proven, but maybe you could find a spot in a garage which would stay in the right temperature range. If you run them under lights while dormant, adjust the photoperiod to mimic winter. Mine always hold a few leaves over winter, it might make a difference in their health.

Water on the traps shouldn't really be a problem, although under certain artificial growing conditions (wet, dank, inadequately-lit terrariums) it could be. It's humid, and rains quite a bit where they come from, but in the wild they also get full sun and good air circulation. Strong light builds strong, healthy plants.

I grow mine in 20/80 perlite/peat. I give a light application of quarter strength MaxSea 16-16-16 about three times during the growing season to give them a boost. (Avoid fertilizers with calcium—I understand it's like Kryptonite to flytraps.)

There's no summer rain here, so I use reverse-osmosis water and the plants stand in saucers with about 1/2" of water in them. I dump and clean the saucers occasionally, and remove them during the winter so that the rain can flush the soil mix.

@okiecowboy
Which light did you buy? I went a little overboard on succulents this season and many of them are going to need to be under lights for the winter. I'd like to try an LED, but there are so many mind-boggling choices, and the ones which throw purple light are supposed to be great for plants, but look a little strange.

« Return to the thread "New Venus Flytrap Owner!"
« Return to Carnivorous Plants forum
« Return to the Garden.org homepage

Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Ruffled Ruby"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.