Overwintering Young Temperate Carnivorous Plants: Cold Basement vs. Lighted Warm Room

A grower with young greenhouse-grown flytraps and Sarracenia (too late to acclimate outdoors) compared two indoor options: (1) fluorescent lights, 12h, 70s°F day/60s°F night, or (2) unheated north-facing basement window, cold but above freezing.

Choose the Cold Basement

• Plants will enter full dormancy—essential for flytraps.
• Light is minimal during dormancy; not needed.
• Warm, lighted room prevents dormancy; flytraps respond poorly to shortened rest.

Basement Care

• Spray with fungicide.
• Keep soil moist, not soggy.
• Clip dead leaves.

Sarracenia tolerate the lighted option better, but flytraps need the cold.