Question
Hi, I had a few questions concerning dionaea and sarracenia regarding winter dormancy. I know you prefer to leave them outside, but I have been getting lots of different info. I live in Seattle, where the winters aren't too harsh but will go under freezing. Should I leave them outside? Cover with leaves? Plant them in bigger pots? I have heard the rhizome are more susceptible to freezing in smaller pots.

Also, I noticed that you let your VTF's flower, I have heard that this saps growing energy for the following season. Is this true? Does trimming the flower stalk really help?

Thanks,
Paul

Answer
Hi Paul,

Yes, you're certainly right that there are many different opinions about growing carnivorous plants.  If you peruse our website and look closely at the photographs, you can draw your own conclusions about what our opinions are!  

Before I answer your question, please keep in mind that whatever you choose to do, follow it through.  If you decide to use a different set of recommendations, make sure that you follow it through.  That's the only way you can determine if those particular recommendations are right for you.  

Our care sheets indicate what we think provides the highest degree of success for the majority of growers.  Your weather isn't at all different than what we experience in Oregon.  In some instances, we have slightly harsher winters because our region isn't tempered by the Pacific Ocean as is Seattle.

We grow our flytraps outdoors, and they make it through the winters just fine as long as we follow the basic winter protocols.  Again, you can read more about them in detail in the care sheet section of our website:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

Keep in mind that Venus flytraps are native to North Carolina.  It rains and snows there, and flytaps live there in the wild.  Much of our growing information is based on what plants experience in the wild and translating that information to cultivation.  For this reason, we recommend keeping flytraps and other US-native carnivorous plants outdoors.

As for flowers, the myth exists only because too many growers grow their flytraps indoors where the lighting is far from adequate.  If you grow your flytrap indoors or in the shade, it can't produce enough energy from photosynthesis to support both leaves and flowers.  If you grow your plant in full sun, your plant will have enough energy to do both.

Take a look at our photographic essay:
http://www.cobraplant.com/humidity

The first two photographs illustrates how flytraps can look when they are grown strictly outdoors in full sun!  We keep the flower stalks, and yet they look healthy and robust.  

So take in the information, and decide which course of action you want to pursue.  Keep in mind that our recommendations on our care sheet depends entirely on the presumption that you are growing your flytrap outdoors in full sun.  If you have them indoors or the shade, then they may not be healthy enough to withstand winter dormancy outdoors.  That's why it's really important to select one set of recommendations and follow them throughout the year.

I know that this is a lot of information to assimilate, so if you need further assistance, I invite you to submit a follow-up.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin