What Is Winter Dormancy in Carnivorous Plants?

  • New to carnivorous plants? Winter dormancy might sound scary—but it’s completely natural (and honestly, super fascinating!). Think of it as beauty sleep for your bug-munching plants, helping them gather energy for the next growing season.
  • Some species go dormant while others grow year-round. In South Africa, our seasonal changes (shorter daylight period and cooler temperatures) help signal when it's time to rest—especially for plants grown outdoors or in bright natural light.
  • If you're in the southern hemisphere, dormancy usually starts around April and lasts through winter, with new growth kicking in by September or October as days get warmer and longer.

💡 Need personalised help? Book a 1:1 Plant Care Consultation — perfect for checking if your plant is on the right track this winter.

Outdoor vs Indoor Growing in Winter

What to Expect from your Carnivorous Plants During Winter

Venus Flytraps

  • Expect the plant to shrink down with small, ground-hugging traps. The large summer leaves will naturally die back.
  • The rhizome (underground bulb) stays alive and well—just recharging below the surface!
  • Fresh traps return around September/October, with full-sized growth by November in South Africa.
  • Ordering in winter? You’ll receive a clean, resting winter bulb ready to regrow in spring.

Venus flytrap dormancy stages – showing winter dieback, trimmed traps, and healthy bulbs preparing to regrow in spring. Learn how to identify VFT dormancy and winter bulb prep in South Africa

Winter reality check — Don’t be alarmed by blackened leaves! These flytraps are fully dormant, and the rhizomes underneath are alive and healthy. This is exactly what you’ll receive when ordering during dormancy: trimmed, ready-to-grow plants for spring.

Venus flytrap preparing for winter dormancy

Venus flytrap preparing for winter dormancy — older traps darken while new growth shrinks down closer to the soil.

Winter vs summer - venus fly trap cv Whale

Same plant, two seasons —
Left: Dormant winter form with tiny, slow-closing traps (about ¼ of the summer size)
Right: Full summer growth with large, fast-reacting traps

Sarracenia (American trumpets, Purple pitchers & Parrot pitcher plants)

  • Most summer pitchers die back in winter, but some species (like Sarracenia purpurea and its hybrids) may still form short-stemmed pitchers.
  • Some trumpet pitchers form flat winter leaves (phylloda) to continue photosynthesis, but not all species do.
  • We trim, divide, and repot these into fresh carnivorous plant soil during dormancy.
  • Expect new growth from the crown around September to October, with full-sized pitchers appearing by November.
Trumpet pitcher plant winter dormancy

Left: Trumpet pitcher in winter dormancy — older pitchers die back halfway or completely, depending on the species
Right: Dormant rhizomes trimmed and ready for the growing season — this is what you’ll receive during winter

Tropical Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes)

  • Tropical pitcher plants don’t go fully dormant, but growth slows down a lot during the colder months.
  • Older pitchers naturally dry up (usually from the lid down) - this is perfectly normal.
  • New pitchers grow only from new leaves once the plant resumes active growth in spring or summer.
  • If kept warm or under bright light (like in a terrarium), they may continue growing slowly through winter.

Nepenthes pitcher plant in winter

Nepenthes in winter — older pitchers wither as growth slows. Green leaves remain, and new pitchers form once active growth resumes (or sooner in warm, well-lit terrarium setups).

Temperate Sundews

  • Temperate sundews like Drosera binata and filiformis disappear completely in winter, forming a hibernaculum (a tight winter bud just above the soil)
  • New dewy growth returns in spring or summer as days get warmer and longer.

Dormant sundew bud in winter

Dormant hibernacula — compact winter buds that keep the plant alive until warmer days return.

Drosera binata after dormancy

Drosera binata waking up in spring — fresh growth emerging from the winter bud.

Temperate Butterworts

  • Also form hibernacula with no visible growth above the soil — don’t dig them up!
  • Ease up on watering - temperate butterworts rot easily, if kept too wet during winter dormancy.

Temperate butterwort winter dormancy hibernacula

Temperate butterwort in dormancy — tight winter bud with no visible leaves above the soil.

Mexican Butterworts

  • Most species lose their larger, sticky carnivorous leaves and form a compact winter rosette of tiny, succulent, non-carnivorous leaves.
  • Rosette size varies depending on species and age — mature plants of large species shrink to around 1–2cm, while miniature species can go as small as 0.5cm or less!
  • Some species — like Pinguicula gigantea and its hybrids — don’t form a tight rosette but instead reduce in size with smaller leaves during winter.
  • Most Mexican butterworts start flowering in late winter. Sticky, carnivorous growth with larger leaves returns around October.

Mexican butterwort transition to dormancy

Mexican butterworts: The sweet transition into winter dormancy — large sticky leaves are replaced by tiny succulent rosettes with non-carnivorous leaves.

Mexican butterwort winter vs summer comparison

Same mature plant, different season —
Left: Dormant winter rosette with tiny, non-carnivorous leaves
Right: Active summer growth with larger sticky carnivorous leaves. What an awesome transformation!

Albany Pitcher Plants (Cephalotus)

  • Pitchers shrink during winter as growth slows down.
  • Non-carnivorous leaves appear first in spring, followed by new traps (pitchers) in early summer.

Bladderworts

  • Both epiphytic and terrestrial types keep their green leaves. Mature plants typically start flowering again in the warmer months.

Quick Care Tips for Carnivorous Plants During Winter Dormancy

  • Give them as much direct sunlight as possible to store enough energy for the upcoming growing season - especially important for indoor growers.
  • Keep the soil only lightly moist (never soggy). If watering from the bottom, allow the water tray to dry slightly between waterings.
  • Carnivorous species like Temperate sundews, Venus flytraps, Trumpets and Purple pitcher plants don’t mind cold or even brief frost. If in doubt, bring them inside overnight and return them to full sun during the day.
  • For healthy plants during the growing season, repot dormant plants at the end of winter (August to mid-September) using clean pots and nutrient-free soil

🔧 Need help repotting? Book a professional done-for-you service or a personal consultation for step-by-step guidance tailored to your setup.

Buying Our Carnivorous Plants During the Winter Months - What to expect

  • To highlight individual characteristics, all product photos show our plants at their best - in full summer growth - unless noted otherwise, so you can see their full potential.
  • From April to October, we ship temperate species as healthy, resting winter bulbs with tiny traps, tight winter rosettes or clean, dormant rhizomes with trimmed pitchers
  • 📌 Pro Tip (South African growers): If the growth stage isn’t listed yet, use the seasonal guide below to get a feel for what to expect - based on natural growth cycles in our local climate:
    • Sep–Nov: Emerging from dormancy - new growth starts pushing up
    • Dec–Feb: Peak growing season - full-size traps, pitchers, or sticky leaves
    • March–May: Winding down - older growth fades, new growth slows
    • Jun–Aug: Full dormancy - minimal or no carnivorous leaves, resting mode
  • 💡 Winter is the best time to buy carnivorous plants in South Africa: Shipping is safer, plants are dormant and travel well and they settle in with less stress into their new environment - ready to grow when spring arrives.

🌿 Still looking to grow something carnivorous this winter? Check out our Winter-Friendly Plants — a hand-picked selection of species that grow well during the colder months, ideal for windowsills, terrariums or indoor setups.

👀 Want to See Dormant Carnivorous Plants in Real Life?

  • Visit our seasonal outdoor show garden at Strawberry Pot Nursery (202 Hendrik Verwoerd Dr, Wierdapark, Centurion) to see real examples of what dormant carnivorous plants look like during winter in South Africa — from Venus flytraps to pitcher plants and more.
  • Open Mon–Sat 8am–5pm, Sun 9am–2pm

🤓 We explore winter dormancy in more detail during our seasonal workshops & masterclasses – keep an eye on our socials or subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to join the next one!

📬 Still unsure what to expect when buying carnivorous plants in winter? Email us or WhatsApp us for expert advice tailored to South African growers.