Venus Flytrap help please

basmic

Had my current VFT for about 6 months now, and it's doing quite welll. Feeding it the odd insect or spider every month or so, and watering it with my own collected rainwater.

Anyway, come December the VFT will be entering it's dormancy stage for about three months - until the end of February.

Now my problem is, I don't really have anyway dark and cool for it. I lived in an old terrace, with coal and out house - so perhaps I could put it in the coal house in the backyard.

Would putting the VFT expose it to the risk of frost? Would I need to open the door every day for a bit to give it light? Can I even put it there?

Before putting the VFT into it's little coal house, should I trim it back? The traps do overhang the pot a bit, so obviously I don't want to pick up rotten traps everywhere. :eek: Will the rotten traps help the soil, but rotting down and adding nutrients/whatever they are called to the soil?

Suggestions please, I really want to do what's best for the plant at the end of the day!

*emsj21*

During dormancy they need to be cold, but not anywhere freezing, so perhaps not kept outside during really cold weather. You don't need to pick the rotten traps off though.

You might find this website useful, http://www.sarracenia.com/faq/faq2000.html

Hope that helps.

mrbadexample

Mine spent last year outside in the snow. They're pretty hardy, and it takes a long freeze to kill them. The coal shed should be ok if you don't want to chance it outside.

I would trim off any black & rotten leaves / traps.

There is no requirement to feed them, ever.

A_Clock

Read ages back about putting them in a bag tied shut and leaving it in the fridge!

basmic

mrbadexample wrote: »

Mine spent last year outside in the snow. They're pretty hardy, and it takes a long freeze to kill them. The coal shed should be ok if you don't want to chance it outside.

I would trim off any black & rotten leaves / traps.

There is no requirement to feed them, ever.

Will they be fine in the dark then, during winter? Providing I water it just enough to keep the soil moist, it ought to be fine?

mrbadexample

basmic wrote: »

Will they be fine in the dark then, during winter? Providing I water it just enough to keep the soil moist, it ought to be fine?

I think so. Best place for all your carnivorous plant dormancy questions is here.

basmic

Ok, three months later, I have chosen to awake the beast from it's den. :eek::eek:

I have been keeping the soil just moist, while it was in dormancy in the coal shed (on a shelf, not on the floor). I probably only topped it up with water twice, in all honesty - that's all it seemed to need.

Anyway, I'm a little concerned about the state of some of the leaves. Should I trim these off ASAP, or leave them on to continue rotting?

My instinct tells me to trim off ASAP.

basmic

Have some pictures:

Penelope_Penguin

basmic wrote: »

Ok, three months later, I have chosen to awake the beast from it's den. :eek::eek:

I have been keeping the soil just moist, while it was in dormancy in the coal shed (on a shelf, not on the floor). I probably only topped it up with water twice, in all honesty - that's all it seemed to need.

Anyway, I'm a little concerned about the state of some of the leaves. Should I trim these off ASAP, or leave them on to continue rotting?

My instinct tells me to trim off ASAP.

Go with your instinct leaving them on may lead to the rot spreading to the healthy leaves.

Well done for keeping it through the winter :T

Penny. x

A_Clock

I have just left mine outside in a darkish corner, and its all died off baring 2 leaves So will have to see how it goes

basmic

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Go with your instinct leaving them on may lead to the rot spreading to the healthy leaves.

Well done for keeping it through the winter :T

Penny. x

I've trimmed off all the black bits, and shoots/traps with any black on them.

For some reason, I have a slight phobia of handling my own VFT. So picture a late-20's bloke holding a shoot with a pair of eyebrow tweezers (not mine :eek:;)) while snipping off as close as I could to the soil. :rotfl:

Got it sat in the window now - I want some rain, so I can give it some lovely fresh rainwater now. :j