Hello!

I am a carnivorous plant collector and I have a question, I heard some carnivorous plants go through a dormant phase. My question is, what is dormancy and what do I do with the plants (I collect multiple types) during the phase?

Thanks!

Jared

Which carnivore do you have Jared? Some carnivores do not go dormant so got to keep them in the appropriate temps. However the Sarracenias require cold dormancy but still in standing water. With my Sarracenias, I just leave them outdoors. They naturally die back, and come back when temps improve.

Jared, it would help to answer questions by knowing where you are located. Please take a moment and click on the "Your Prifile" character in the upper left hand column. Then click on "Change my public profile" and enter your city/state, or USDA zone, or both. You can even put in a name if you wish. Then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "Save Your Changes".

After doing this, the information will always show in the upper right-hand corner when you post.

Hello!

I just adjusted my profile. I didn't know you could do that, actually!

Onto the subject, I have attached a picture of my plants. My collection is small, but growing. I asked the question about dormancy because my plants are doing weird things and I wanted to see if dormancy was the problem. I am very young and don't know much about proper care of carnivorous plants. All I know is you need humidity, special soil, and distilled water.

Onto the plants:





The first is a Venus fly trap. Every time I buy one and take care of it, it dies. I don't know what the problem is!





The second is a pitcher plant I got from a friend. It went this color a week after putting it into a terrarium.





The third is another pitcher plant I got from the net. It lasted all summer but now I think it is starting to die. The bottom of the main stem is brown and the pitchers have all died.


If dormancy isn't the problem with these plants, what is the problem?

Thanks!

Jared

Hi Jared, that is still a nice collection, my collection is also small. But I do not grow the ones you have,

I just read this article about the venus fly trap, apparently this one has its dormancy too: http://www.thecarnivoregirl.co...

As for the pitcher plant. the pitchers also naturally wilt and die, it will grow new leaves with a new pitcher later, It helps to mist the pitchers when they are present, and I allow some water inside the pitchers as well.

These are my carnivorous plants.. just wanted to share, this is my first time with both.. can't seem to find any forums for carnivorous plants

Jared, Two of your plants are Nepanthes - tropical pitchers. Neither need a dormant period but you need to determine if they are highland or lowland pitchers. The care is different. Do you know the names?

Amanda, Looking good!

I have never "fed" any of my carnivorous plants and I have been raising them for years.

A good reference for all carnivorous plants is "The Savage Garden" by Peter D'Amato, the owner of California Carnivores.

Some three year old American Pitchers (Sarracenia) I grew from seed, ready to go outside this summer.

A whole pot of Drosera, one of many

A lowland Nepenthes - they take more heat

One of three outside bog gardens with Sarracenia just coming out of dormancy. They bloom first then grow new pitchers.


Daisy

Those look great daisy!! Good job.. hopefully I can do the Same.

jnicholes said:Hello!

I just adjusted my profile. I didn't know you could do that, actually!

Onto the subject, I have attached a picture of my plants. My collection is small, but growing. I asked the question about dormancy because my plants are doing weird things and I wanted to see if dormancy was the problem. I am very young and don't know much about proper care of carnivorous plants. All I know is you need humidity, special soil, and distilled water.

Onto the plants:





The first is a Venus fly trap. Every time I buy one and take care of it, it dies. I don't know what the problem is!





The second is a pitcher plant I got from a friend. It went this color a week after putting it into a terrarium.





The third is another pitcher plant I got from the net. It lasted all summer but now I think it is starting to die. The bottom of the main stem is brown and the pitchers have all died.


If dormancy isn't the problem with these plants, what is the problem?

Thanks!

Jared

Hey Jared, here is what I do with my Venus flytraps and they are healthy and big enough to eat medium sized crickets and large cockroaches. I bought some powerful LED full spectrum LED plant lights from Amazon so I can grow them indoors. I put them in an 8 inch pot not a terrarium as that fosters mold. I filled a spray bottle with distilled water and mist them several times a day. In the winter I use a mini fridge that is empty save for the plants set on number 1 setting which is 50 degrees. I put the whole pot in for 12 hours over night then take it out and put it back under the light 12 hours. It has worked great as I bought the plants last November and they are thriving.