FAQ: What can I expect from my plants during winter dormancy?
If you are new to carnivorous plants we highly recommend doing some research on what to expect during the colder months
The carnivorous plant world comprises of a whole bunch of different carnivorous plant species and varieties and some will need a rest period during wintertime to store some energy for the new growing season. In South Africa we are blessed with distinct seasons and besides being the most awesome plants in the universe, these plants are soooooo clever....they will know exactly when to go to sleep if grown in natural light
During autumn, the temperatures will start dropping and the daylight period shorter which will trigger a winter rest period in temperate carnivorous plants. This period sets in during autumn with new summer growth emerging in springtime when the daylight period gets longer again
Here is a few guidelines on what to expect during winter dormancy:
As the daylight period gets shorter in autumn, trap formation will taper while energy is stored in the underground stem (a bulb like structure called the rhizome)
During late autumn the tall leaves and large summer traps will start dying off and the plant will generally appear much smaller (approx 1/4 size) for a couple of months in comparison to their active growing season (summer)
This means that during wintertime, flytraps have very little growth above the soil level and are largely inactive during the colder months (May to October) of the year
Most flytrap varieties still produce tiny traps close to the soil level (called ground hugging traps) that are sluggish to close
Venus flytraps are mostly inactive from late autumn (around May), with new active growth (tall and/or longer leaves with larger traps) emerging during September and October
Venus flytraps come back bigger and stronger after their beauty sleep and should be back in full bug-munching action by November
Buying fly traps from us during the winter months: Venus flytraps are sold as clean, dormant rhizomes or underground bulbs. During dormancy they have very little growth above the soil making them appear very small overall - Size in summertime refers to the maximum size your plant will reach during the upcoming growing season
As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop in autumn, the tall summer pitchers will die off from the lid either partially (halfway down) and in some cases entirely, this is also the case for winter dormancy in purple pitchers and parrot pitcher plants
many varieties of trumpet pitcher plants produce flat pitchers with small heads that will not open, these non-carnivorous leaves are used for phytosynthesis and is called phylloda
During wintertime trumpet pitcher plants are unpotted and trimmed back. Phylloda leaves are left for phytosynthesis while rhizomes are cleaned and treated with fungicide, hereafter they are repotted into fresh soil, ready for the upcoming growing season
If grown outside in full sun, trumpet pitchers come back into play with bigger, stronger pitchers popping up from the growth point during September and October and should be in full swing by November
Even though the foliage will remain, most of the pitchers (cups) produced during spring and summer will die off
If grown in natural conditions, tropical pitcher plants will start growing actively - producing new foliage with pitcher formation - around September to October
Temperate sundews for eg Drosera Binata and Drosera Filiformis as well as Temperate butterworts will die back to a single winter bud (called a hibernicula), with
no visible growth above the soil level
If given enough light, new growth on temperate sundews and butterworts will start popping up from (or around) the hibernicula when temperatures rise and the photoperiod gets longer in September to October
Many plants in the Mexican butterwort family will lose their large carnivorous leaves as the daylight period gets shorter in winter
With the exception of Pinguicula Gigantea, mexican butterworts will produce tight rosettes with tiny non-carnivorous leaves - making them appear much smaller during the colder months of the year
Most mexican butterworts flower in late winter to early spring with the bigger carnivorous leaves returning around October to November
during wintertime only the green leaves are visible
Buying plants from Cultivo during wintertime
Plant images shown are always from our own plants unless otherwise mentioned. To best display individual characteristics on each species and/or variety, images represent our plants in full summer growth under optimal conditions
From May to October, temperate plants will be sold as dormant rhizomes (underground bulbs or roots) with cut pitchers. Naturally, this will cause the plant to appear smaller overall
All cold-hardy perennials (trumpet pitchers, purple pitchers, venus flytraps, temperate sundews and parrot pitchers) are grown outdoors in harsh conditions. Their appearance will change with the seasons and will be indicated in the 'currently available' section of each listing September-November: Emerging from dormancy. Traps and pitchers from the previous season will be cut off December-March: Plants are in active growth. Best growth occurs in late summer April-May: Plants stop growing and will have fewer traps and pitchers June-August: Plants are still dormant. Traps and pitchers from the previous season will be cut off
As many species and varieties are inactive in the colder months, we repot our plants into fresh carnivorous plant soil during winter dormancy. Plants and dormant rhizomes are available either bareroot or already potted - ready for the upcoming growing season
Keep the soil only moist during wintertime and provide as much direct sunlight as possible. Protect your plants from below freezing temperatures. Temperate plants settle in better if repotted into fresh carnivorous plant soil at the end of winter dormancy - around August to mid-September. If given optimal conditions, plants will start growing actively with new growth emerging from the growth point as the days get longer during September to October
Shipping during winter dormancy is ideal as it reduces stress on the plant and help them to settle in quicker into their new environment without too much disturbance
For the most part, the carnivorous plant species we grow, display best during the active growing season. For those carni-fans who wish to drop by to view before purchase, the Strawberry pot nursery stocks a selection of our plants and winter bulbs year round - they are located at 202 Hendrik Verwoerd drive in Wierdapark, Centurion and are open 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 3pm on Sundays
As always, our online store is open 24/7 and we offer a range of payment- and shipping options if you are not collecting from the nursery
