32 replies to this topic

[Nepenthesfreak]

I live in New England, USA and it gets really cold up here in the winter, pretty much below freezing all the time and occasionally below 0 degrees F. Could I wait until fall, let the photoperiod gently bring them into dormancy, then bring them inside to my basement windowsill which is in the low 60s usually? Would this temp be too high?

[maxposwillo]

i would keep them outdoors and cover them with 6 inches of mulch whenever the tempature drops below 20 degress F.

[Nepenthesfreak]

whenever it's below 20F? Well, that's pretty much all the time. The thing is I can't really mulch my VFTs the whole winter because they need light. I have an unfinished part of my basement where it gets down to.... maybe the 40s in winter. But no windowsills there. Maybe it gets colder then the 60s in the finished part of the basement, I'll just have to check when it's winter. If all else fails, put em in the fridge!

[Alexis]

In theory, if you keep them constantly under 6C (ie in the fridge), they can't photosynthesise so it's irrelevant whether they have light or not.

[jimscott]

Do you have an unheated attic with a window sill? I just tote my buckets of minibog plants to the attic and place them at the window sill. Temps get cold but don't freeze, drawing some heat from the apartment, even though overnight lows are in the single digits (F). When February arrives, one by one, the plants begin waking up, responding to the natural increase in photoperiod and slight increase in temp.

[David Ahrens]

I keep my VFT's in the fridge. They keep their green colour alright.

[Macca]

Personally i would say if you don't live smack bang on the equator and it feels cold during winter and temps stay around 24C with the odd dip and rise everyknow and again your plants will do fine with a natual dormancy.

[LJ]

Macca

I've only just read this or I would have commented sooner, I feel the need to emphasize that this is your personal opinion about dormancy and goes against the grain of popular belief. As Sheila and also myself have said the best temps for dormancy is under 10 degrees C/ 50 degrees farenheight. There is a world of difference between under 10 C and 24 C.

As I've already explained dormancy is also determined by photoperiod as well as temperature, even if your plants respond to the reduced photoperiod it seems unlikely that they will get a proper dormancy because of the temperature being so high. A mild dormancy is not the same as a proper dormancy and to keep vfts in top health they need a proper dormancy. You seem to disagree and in the other thread after feeling like I couldnt convince you I left it saying to just monitor them and see how it goes.

I dont think vfts will get a natural dormancy at 24 C and I dont think its wise to end a thread with those comments as it sends out the wrong message. Needing cold temps for a good dormancy is an accepted popular belief, its accepted and popular for a very good reason!!  

[diva]

     oh no here we go again, this debate has caused alot of problems in the past so if people can induce dormancy at 24c or even skip it with no ill effects let them get on with it LJ but like you i'm under the firm illusion that plants need natural cues and a nice cold winter.

[LJ]

I dont want this to end up in another long debate either!! I think what needs to be said has been said and that should be the end of it hopefully. Macca - if you want to discuss this further you're welcome to send me a pm about it  

Heather

[jimscott]

The best way to resolve the issue is try to mimic the conditions that North Carolina has.

[diva]

jimscott, on 19th June 2008 - 16:49 PM, said:

The best way to resolve the issue is try to mimic the conditions that North Carolina has.

or to just leave everybody believing they're right as already stated that way we won't get a repeat of the unpleasentry's that happened last time this was aired!

off subject; nige i see what you mean

[Macca]

I've just been informed  that vft's need temperatures of below 10C for a good dormancy but above 0C. So basically a cool, but not freezing, winter.

My thoughts about dormancy are just my opinion and thus i have realised were not the correct information.

You have to realise i come from Queensland, Australia and so winter to me isn't the same as you people in the northern hemisphere.

I'm never going to get temps below 10C for extended periods of time


Personally i'm confused about  fridge dormancy as comments like this confuse me and i don't know whats right or wrong!

Quote

Throwing plants in the fridge is not dormancy, more a sort of suspended animation. They don't get the necessary cues from environmental changes.

And to make it even more confusing i hear they have to be dormant before they go in the fridge? Hows that possible in a place that has 60% humidity during the day even in the middle of winter and temps still get up to 26C?

Please note that it's best if your plants are dormant already before you put them in the fridge according to this site

http://gold.mylarges...s/CP/page2.html

but i thought the whole reason you put them in the fridge is because they aern't capable of going dormant naurally where you live? I'm confused!

Edited by Macca, 21 June 2008 - 05:44 AM.

[jimfoxy]

No need to get in a lather about it, Chris. Some people are blunt on this forum, but that's just the way some people are; no offense meant. The question of dormancy with VFTs is tricky and something different people have very different opinions about. The biggest problem is that few people have done thorough scientific experiments into the matter over a number of years.

I would certainly be inclined to trust the comments from any of your fellow Australians in Queensland - you could try PMing them directly to get more info, maybe, if you know of any or see any posting on this forum. Do you know of a CP society near you who you could get advice from?

You are absolutely right in thinking it will be hard for you to grow VFTs where you are in Queensland due to the tropical climate. I just had a quick look and few books mention dealing with dormancy when cultivating in higher temperature climates. 'Growing Carnivorous Plants' by Barry Rice is a good all-rounder and he mentions that even Darwin couldn't grow Dionaea!

However, your conditions are a blessing if you want to look at far more interesting () and fascinating CPs like lowland Nepenthes - you just need a little space. I can't grow them very well at all without constant supervision in a heated greenhouse and an overdraft to pay for the Winter heating bill! Other CPs that would do well in your climate include some Drosera, Utricularia and Pinguicula; all fascinating plants in themselves.

Edited by jimfoxy, 20 June 2008 - 08:26 AM.

[Alexis]

Fridge dormancy is possible, but if you put them straight in then they will just go into suspended animation.

I would keep them in the shade somewhere outside in November and put them in the fridge 5pm to 8am.

Then stick them in the fridge permanently for December, January, February.