Bell Jars

[Netjer 4]

First proper post here, so apologies if this isn't the best place for this!

I've recently gotten into CP, having picked up my VFT from a local gardening center, shortly followed by my sarracenia purpurea and drosera filiformis from Triffid Nurseries. I'm in a first floor flat so unfortunately no garden for a greenhouse and not really enough room for a terrarium, so all three are growing on a West-facing windowsill in individual pots, sitting in trays filled with rainwater. It isn't the sunniest windowsill ever, so it's been suggested that I could try placing glass bell jars over them to make the most of the sunlight they do get.

Has anyone here tried using bell jars like this before or seen it tried? Could it be beneficial? if so, are there any things to be careful of in terms of size and ventilation (I've seen some come with adjustable vents).

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Edited April 24 by Netjer

[Alexis 177]

The bell jar will cut out the amount of light because it'll have to travel through an extra pane of glass. You'll also increase the chance of problems because of the stagnant air.

 

I'd keep them as they are.

[Netjer 4]

Thanks for the response Alexis. I hadn't considered the risk of problems from stagnant air - I think I'll leave them as they are!

[David Ahrens 59]

You can try growing a VFT in a flat but I can tell you now that it just won't work. They just won't get cold enough during the night and during the winter.

[David Ahrens 59]

Incidently, a good way to make a bell jar is to cut the bottom off of a demijohn. You need to file a line about an inch from the bottom with a file. Tie a string soaked in methylated spirit around the line . Set alight to the string and rotate the jar to get it nice and hot. Then plunge the demijohn into cold water and the line will fracture. Finish off the edges of the cut jar with sandpaper and hey presto, a nice bell jar.

[Alexis 177]

Back in the day I had a few VFTs on a windowsill and they did well. I had to move them to a relative's greenhouse in winter for dormancy though 

[David Ahrens 59]

I've tried and tried and tried, and bloody well tried to grow VFT's in a flat and I can't do it.

[Bluedog0628 7]

@Netjer Would it be possible to have a window box attached to the outside of the window? Don't know if you're renting or owning the flat or if the lease allows it but it's worth looking into...

[David Ahrens 59]

Not possible, I live on a ground floor flat.

[Bluedog0628 7]

David, my comment was aimed mainly at the original poster (Netjer) who lives in a first floor flat so a window box could be possible... Your situation is quite different so this solution won't work for you. The only thing I can think of is the fridge method for winter dormancy but I have no personal experience so can't really advise... I'm sure somebody on the forum would be able to help with that though.

[Paul.m 2]

I have put  vft in fridge over winter all survived ok, only problem I had was from missus wanting to know why fridge was full of pots.

[David Ahrens 59]

I've tried the fridge over the Winter, it didn't work for me.

[Netjer 4]

On 4/11/2018 at 12:47 PM, Bluedog0628 said:

@Netjer Would it be possible to have a window box attached to the outside of the window? Don't know if you're renting or owning the flat or if the lease allows it but it's worth looking into...

Thanks for the responses everyone - some really useful stuff here. :)

Bluedog0628 - the idea had crossed my mind, however my landlord has said no to installing a water butt (even just a free-standing one) as it's apparently a health and safety risk, so I can't see a window box being allowed unfortunately.

 

As it is, I've just put all three plants in the sunniest windowsill I've got and they seem to be doing well - the drosera has really shot up and is catching flies like there's no tomorrow, the sarracenia has put out a couple of new pitchers and the VFT is a new trap every week or so and has put out three flower stems (I know a lot of people don't allow them to flower, but I kind of just want to let it do what it wants this year and if it makes it to next year I'll trim off flowers to see what sort of difference I get).