Venus Flytrap growing

Argh, it’s winter an my plant is dying! What do I do?

Don’t panic, that’s what! Venus fly traps normally go into dormancy for the winter months and that is probably what it happening. During dormancy the plant will stop growth and some of the leaves may dye off, this is entirely normal.

What you shouldn’t do, is take your plants out of dormancy, they really don’t like it! Some experts claim to have more luck by avoiding the dormancy period, but most growers are better off putting their plants into dormancy as not doing it places your plant at risk. The best way to deal with dormancy is watch your plant, if it is late summer and your plant is growing more slowly and less traps are being formed then it’s likely your plant is heading into dormancy. If this is the case, then you should make sure your plant is moist, but not soaking with water. If possible you should place your plant in a chilly spot during the dormancy period.

If you live in a moderate climate (above freezing temperatures) and usually keep your plant inside, a simple way to place your plant into dormancy is to move it outside for the winter. The cooler temperatures outside will place your plant into a healthy dormancy.

If you live in a colder climate (below freezing temperatures) then place your plant in a cooler part of the house. Against a window in a cooler room works good, the window will hopefully keep the plant cool enough for dormancy to occur.

A more drastic solution which may work, is to place your plant inside sealed bag and stick it in your fridge for the winter. This is somewhat risky as your plant will enter into a total dormancy which is not a natural state for them. But this technique has had a lot of success for those who have tried it.

Whatever you do, don’t put your plant somewhere out of the sun apart from in the fridge. Refrigeration places your plant into total dormancy so it does not need to photosynthesise. However if you don’t cool the temperature down to zero and/or remove all light, the plant will still attempt to photosynthesise and will likely die.