FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hi all,
So all of my Sarrs and VFTs are dormant and living in the garage for the winter. Temps are 45 to 55 °F. However, the only lighting comes from windows in the garage door and it's pretty dim. I've read that dormant plants don't need much light and can even get through dormancy with little to none at all. This makes sense given that some plants actually sit in a dark refrigerator for the winter.
There's a lot of differing advice online, some of it a bit contradictory. Since this is my first dormancy I thought I'd ask the experts.
Should I use some artificial lighting for a few hours a day to get these guys through the winter? Would any light bulb be ok, or should it be a grow light?

My 1st year I placed my plants in a unheated building in a window. I did not see any bad effects.

What hardness zone are you in?

I'm in Prescott, AZ. The map says 8b to 9a.

As long as it normally stays below 45, they will not need light. If the temperature climbs above that for any period of time, they will attempt to restart photosynthesis and will require lights.

Thanks, all! Looks like I'm on the right track.

Gary wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:58 am I'm in Prescott, AZ. The map says 8b to 9a.

Okay, that's pretty warm. If you're really worried about it, you could just leave them outside and only bring them in if you get an unusual cold snap. Should be no big deal as long as you don't forget.

if he is 8b he should be fine out in the open outside.

After drilling a bit deeper, I found that the micro-climate around here (5000 ft elevation) is actually a 6a/6b. We get below freezing most nights starting in October.

I'm worried that a light bulb won't be much of a help because it lacks all the necessary light wavelengths, and neither would I spend a lot of money on a grow light. If your plant is receiving some light, it will be fine. It will take cues from the elongating or shortening photoperiods and begin to grow as the day grows longer. However, once it begins to grow, you must provide it with as much sunlight as you can because otherwise the photons will become etiolated.