How to Care for Venus Fly Trap in Winter

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You don’t know how to take care of your Venus flytraps this winter? When they begin their dormancy, it is fussy about how to care for them.

However, worry no more and learn how to care for them during the winter months properly.

Find out about proper watering, lighting, temperature, fertilization, and frost protection for Venus flytraps during the dormant season.

In this article, we will talk through tips for taking care of them during the winter to ensure they stay healthy and thrive.

Make sure to follow the information to help them survive.

Why Venus Flytraps Undergo Dormancy?

Venus flytraps are native to the coastal plain of North and South Carolina, where they experience cool winters.

During the winter months, the plant goes through a dormant period and does not require as much care as they do during the growing season.

However, they still need proper care to make them survive longer.

Venus flytraps must undergo dormancy for three to four months to make their lifespan longer.

If the plant doesn’t undergo dormancy, it will die eventually.

Here’s why they undergo dormancy:

  • During winter, they get less sunlight or energy, which will seriously trouble them in supporting themselves to survive.
  • It is hard to transport water through the roots when it is freezing. Water may be at freezing or near freezing point.
  • Almost no bugs in winter can supplement them with nutrients to grow healthy.

The plant will be dormant after experiencing cold weather of less than 45°F (7°C) for at least three months.

Areas with perfect temperatures to support their dormancy, such as winter, are great, but there are methods you can use to achieve indoor and outdoor dormancy.

Although the plant can live for more years without dormancy, it will weaken the plant and die.

To ensure your plant stays healthy, ensure it undergoes dormancy every year.

How to Care for Venus Fly Trap in Winter

Here are some points for taking care of them during the winter:

Reduce Watering

During the winter, Venus flytraps are not actively growing; therefore, they don’t need more water.

Water the plant only enough to keep the soil slightly moist.

Drain any excess water from the pot to prevent the roots from sitting in standing water.

When the plant stands long in the water, it will cause fungus and rot to start.

Overwatering the plant during winter is the leading cause of their death.

● Refrain from using the tray method in watering your plant during winter.
● Water the plant by hand to avoid overwatering.
● Use distilled or rainwater to water your plants, as tap water contains minerals that can harm them.
● Leave the water to dry out slowly but ensure that the soil is still moist before your next watering.
● Water the plant every 10 to 14 days.

Provide Indirect Sunlight

Venus flytraps need plenty of sunlight during the growing season, but they should be protected from direct sunlight during the winter to prevent the leaves from getting burnt.

If your area has the right temperature, which is 45°F to 30°C or 5°C to -5°C you don’t need to do anything.

However, if it goes higher, you must place it in the right place that provides the right temperature.

If it goes lower, you must give some artificial lights to support its dormancy.

Although a bit of sunlight won’t harm them, they don’t need it as they don’t undergo photosynthesis.

But a little light exposure helps them to stay dormant and exit dormancy when the climate starts to warm up, making days longer.

● Place your plant in an area that obtains light but not directly under sunlight.
● If you put it indoors, you must provide them light using LED lights.
● If you decide to put the plants indoors, you can place them on an unheated porch, basement, or garage.

Keep the Plant Cool

Venus flytraps prefer cool temperatures, around 50°F and 35°F, during winter.

Avoid placing the plant in a location that gets too warm to support its dormancy period.

If you are in a region where the temperature outdoors doesn’t drop below 30°F, you don’t need to move the plant into the garage or basement.

You can leave them outdoors through the dormancy period.

● Let the leaves turn black and die. The plant is only resting. No need to panic and throw them away.
● Ensure that the plant has adequate moisture all the time.

Do Not Fertilize Your Venus Flytraps

The plant does not need much fertilizer during the winter.

You can put fertilizer during the growing season, but it is not recommended in dormancy.

The nutrients in fertilizers may kill them during dormancy as they build up in the soil. Since your plant is inactive, it doesn’t need fertilizer at all.

Venus flytraps are sensitive to nutrients, and any related components harm them.

They usually thrive more in nutrition-less soil and receive pure water.

Fertilizing the plant is challenging; if you are a beginner, refrain from attempting to fertilize them on your own.

Instead, ask for a pro on how to fertilize your plant to avoid harming them.

Protect the Plant from Freezing Temperatures

Venus flytraps can withstand overnight frost down to 20°F or (-7°C), but if the temperature stays the same, you must protect them.

If the temperature rises during the day, you don’t have to worry about them. Always ensure that their soil doesn’t dry out.

If you live in a region with freezing winters, you may need to take extra care of your plant to provide it with some form of frost protection.

● Cover your plant with a tarp.
● Or move them to an unheated enclosed spot.
● Uncover your plant once the temperature rises.

If you are in an area that has prolonged freezing temperatures, you should:

● Mulch the container of your plant to avoid frost burn.
● Maintain soil moisture to survive prolonged freezing temperatures.

Frost burn is a dehydration condition for plants caused by prolonged freezing periods.

Other Necessary Methods to Care for Your Venus Flytraps in Winter:

● Do not feed the plant during winter or dormancy. Feeding them inactive during these times can cause leaf loss and stress.
● Remove excessive dried leaves when necessary. Trimming your plant while dormant is fine.
● If your plant seems dead, wait to stop caring for them until the dormancy ends. When spring comes, you’ll see whether it is dead or not.
● You can repot your plant at the end of dormancy; it is adequate to let it grow healthy during spring.
Grow your plant outdoors for the best way to enter and exit dormancy when the season changes naturally.

Conclusion

In caring for a Venus flytrap during the winter, it is important to provide the plant with proper lighting, watering, cool, humid temperature, and moist but well-draining soil to thrive.

It is vital to provide the plant with these conditions to prevent wilting or dying of the leaves.

Additionally, be sure to use distilled or rainwater for watering, as tap water can contain minerals that can harm the plant.

Taking care of Venus flytraps during winter can be challenging. However, following these guidelines can help your Venus flytrap thrive during the winter months.

We hope that the guide helps you take care of them during winter!

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