What to Expect from Carnivorous Plants During Winter Dormancy

• Should you be new to carnivorous plants we highly recommend doing some research on what to expect during the colder months so there are no (or fewer😉) surprises
• 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 enough 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, temperatures will start dropping and the daylight period become shorter, which will trigger a winter rest period in temperate carnivorous plants. In South Africa, this period usually starts during April and lasts until late September when the temperatures rise and the daylight period gets longer again
• Here is a few guidelines on what to expect during winter dormancy:

Venus Flytraps During Winter

• Venus flytraps:
• 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
• As the daylight period gets shorter in autumn, trap formation will taper while energy is being 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 (around ⅓ of the actual size) for a couple of months when compared to their active growing season (summer)

• 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 April-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

Trumpet Pitcher Plants in Winter Dormancy

• Trumpet pitcher plants
• 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 photosynthesis and are called phylloda
• During wintertime trumpet pitcher plants are unpotted and trimmed back. Phylloda leaves are left for photosynthesis 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

Tropical Pitcher Plants: Slower Growth in Cold Months

• Tropical pitcher plants will slow considerably during wintertime
• 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 and Butterworts: Winter Buds (Hibernacula)

• Temperate sundews like Drosera Binata and Drosera Filiformis, as well as temperate butterworts, will die back to a single winter bud (called a hibernicula)
• 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

• Temperate butterworts such as Pinguicula Grandiflora follow the same pattern

Mexican Butterworts: Winter Rosettes and Flowering

• 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 and its hybrids, which only die back slightly, most will produce tight rosettes with tiny non-carnivorous leaves—making them appear around ¼ of their actual size
• Most mexican butterworts flower in late winter to early spring, even while in the dormant, succulent state. Carnivorous leaves return around October to November, but some species take longer and only start regrowing in December
• Overwinter outdoor plants on a north-facing windowsill until the last frost. While dormant, water sparingly—keep soil damp but never soggy or dry

Albany Pitcher Plants: Minimal Growth Until Spring

• Albany pitcher plants tend to die back slightly
• New growth in the form of non-carnivorous leaves appears first in spring, followed by the larger thumb-like pitchers during summer

Bladderworts in Winter: Only Leaves, No Flowers

• Most terrestrial bladderworts we have for sale flower in summer
• During winter, only the green leaves are visible

Buying Plants from Cultivo During Winter Dormancy

• 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
• Between April and September, temperate plants are sold as dormant rhizomes (underground bulbs or roots) with tiny traps and trimmed pitchers. Naturally, this will cause the plant to appear smaller overall

Why We Ship Dormant Plants in Winter

• 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 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 better when repotted at the end of dormancy—August to mid-September. With optimal care, new growth begins around September to October
• Shipping during winter dormancy reduces transplant shock and helps plants settle into their new environment with less disturbance