Sarracenia Dormancy Question for Zone 3

[MJP]

Hello all!

This is my first year growing sarracenia and a typical venus flytrap. I don't think they are the rare collector varieties but they are:

Sarracenia 'Farnhamii'

Sarracenia 'Maroon'

Sarracenia Leucophylla 'Velvet'

Sarracenia Purpurea spp. Venosa

Sarracenia spp. Rubra

My question is, since I live in Zone 3 / 4 and we get temperatures below -40c during our winters, how do I induce dormancy?

At what temperature should I start bringing the plants inside?

I have an unheated garage storage area with no light. Will this be okay with them until spring?

Or should I do the refrigerator method?


Thanks!

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

First of all, you don't need dormancy. I've been growing Sarr's and VFT's for years inside under lights.
You'd need a garage that stays above freezing.
Outside you'd need strict mulching of inground plants with a thick consistent snow cover. Even then at your temps, you'd lose some plants every year. How many would be an experiment. You should do logging of temps under the snow cover for a winter before trying.
Fridge is safe, although a dedicated fridge would be a good idea.
Bring the plants in before they freeze.

 

[MJP]

First of all, you don't need dormancy. I've been growing Sarr's and VFT's for years inside under lights.
You'd need a garage that stays above freezing.
Outside you'd need strict mulching of inground plants with a thick consistent snow cover. Even then at your temps, you'd lose some plants every year. How many would be an experiment. You should do logging of temps under the snow cover for a winter before trying.
Fridge is safe, although a dedicated fridge would be a good idea.
Bring the plants in before they freeze.

This is very interesting! I'd love to hear more about how you grow them indoors. I've always been told that they require dormancy or they won't have enough energy and will eventually die.

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

No big deal, I just grow them under bright LED lights, in room air. Really no problem. I keep the pots small to keep the plants small.