The hibernation of the carnivorous plant? Did you know that plants like the carnivorous also hibernate. Not yet? Then read all about it in our blog.
The growing season is nearing its end. It's getting colder outside, the sun is burning less brightly, and the insects are going back into their holes. What does this mean for carnivorous plants? In this blog, I'll tell you more about hibernation, what it entails, and how to best care for carnivorous plants during the winter.
Summary
Most carnivorous plants enter hibernation starting in the fall. This means that they no longer make new traps, in addition, the old traps will slowly die. Fortunately, this is quite normal! So don't be alarmed when your Trumpet Cup Plant starts to turn brown. This is all part of the natural cycle of the plant. In autumn and winter there is less sunlight and it gets colder outside. As a result, there are few, if any, insects to be found and therefore no food for carnivorous plants. Enough reasons to take a long rest! Some carnivorous plants then go into a severe hibernation. When the weather gets warmer in the spring, the plants will grow again.
How long does the hibernation last?
Hibernation usually starts in the fall. When the sun is less bright and it gets colder. This is often around the end of September beginning of October. Hibernation usually ends when spring begins. When the weather gets warmer and sunnier. This is often around April.
What carnivorous plants go into hibernation?
Because there is much less sunlight in the fall and winter and temperatures drop significantly, all carnivorous plants will react differently. Species such as the Venus Flytrap, Trumpet Cup Plant and some Sundew species (such as the Rotundifolia and Binata) go into a severe hibernation. This means that the plant stops creating new traps and the old traps slowly die. It looks like the plant has died, but fortunately this is quite normal. In the spring, the plant will create new traps again. Tropical carnivorous plant species do not go into a severe winter rest. However, they will produce few or no new traps during the winter period. However, the plant will still look very lively. Take the Nepenthes (Cup plant). In winter, the Nepenthes actually makes no more new cups. The leaves of the plant will remain nice and green and fresh.
Care during winter dormancy.
The care during the winter dormancy is quite easy, but you have to know it. Here we will explain the care for each plant group.
The Trumpet Cup Plant (Sarracenia) and Venus Flytrap (Dionaea Muscipula):
Both the Trumpet cup plant and Venus flytrap keep and a strict winter rest. An important tip, always try to mimic natural conditions. Think to yourself, what is it like outside? If you already have your Trumpet Cup Plant or Venus Flytrap outside, then you hardly need to do anything in terms of care. Nature takes care of this herself. However, it is important that you make sure that the soil is not too dry, for example when there is very little rain. When you have kept the Trumpet Cup Plant or Venus Flytrap inside all year, it is not advisable to put the plant outside in one go in the autumn. The temperature difference can be great, so the plant cannot adapt quickly enough. If you have one of these species inside, the following care is best during the winter period. Move the plant to a colder room in the house. For example, in a garage. Make sure the plant is near a window so it can still get light. The species may still be left in a layer of water. At the beginning of the dormant period you will notice that the traps become brown/black. You may cut off these traps. There comes a point during the dormancy period when the plant has no more traps and everything is cut off. Fortunately, this is not serious, but rather quite normal.
Light: A place with light, the plant still needs light in the winter.
Water: The plant can still stand with its feet in the water.
Nutrition: Do not feed the plant during hibernation.
Other: Remove the old and dead traps.
The sundew (Drosera)
Our Drosera's are tropical species. There are also hardy Drosera's such as the Binata or Rotundifolia. In winter, the Drosera will continue to bloom. However, the Drosera does not grow hard in the winter. You do not need to move the Drosera to a colder room in the winter. The Drosera can stay nicely in front of the window. Again, you may remove the dead stems. This way you can prevent mold.
Light: A light spot in front of the window.
Water: The plant can still stand with the feet in the water.
Nutrition: Do not feed the plant during hibernation.
Other: Remove the old and dead traps.
The pitcher plant (Nepenthes)
The Beaker plant is a tropical plant and does not maintain a strict winter rest. The leaves will not die as with the Trumpet Cup Plant. However, the cups of the Nepenthes will dry and turn brown. From this moment on the Nepenthes goes into hibernation. The pitcher plant will grow little to none during the winter rest. The plant will also not produce new pitchers. The old cups will die. These can be cut off. This way the plant does not have to spend any more energy on the old cups.
Light: A place with partly direct and partly indirect light (divided over the day).
Water: The plant may get a splash of water every day.
Nutrition: Do not feed the plant during its winter rest.
Other: Remove the old and dead traps.
The butterwort (Pinguicula)
Our Pinguiculas are tropical species. There are also hardy Pinguiculas, but these are not available in our webshop. In winter, the tropical Pinguicula will continue to bloom. However, the Pinguicula does not grow very fast in the winter. You do not need to move the Pinguicula to a colder room in the winter. The Drosera may stay nicely in front of the window. Light: A place with light, the plant still needs light in winter.
Water: Give the plant 1 or 2 times a week water. (The soil should not dry up).
Nutrition: Do not feed the plant during hibernation.
Other: Remove the old and dead leaves.