FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

So I’ve read both ways, and I’m about to have a decent amount of flytraps more than I did.At *least* 7 to go with my current 9 typical, and I had read about the refrigerator method on here, but I decided to look more into it now when I can potentially try to buy something else. I saw cold frames as a suggestion somewhere, but I would guess that with potentially below freezing weather (I googled my particular city and it listed it as 6a, I previously thought 6b, so :shrug: who knows) that wouldn’t work although we do lately a bit more often have milder winters. The internet seems divided on the refrigerator method although I see a lot of people here saying it’s fine.

Thoughts? I just want to know which direction I should be heading in. Buy something more or maybe several somethings more or stick with plan. I need to plan ahead so I can save money for whatever if needed.

Ftr I live in NE Ohio. My barn has zero windows, my garage has two, but they’re very far away from each other. The shelf I would have to stick plants on isn’t terrible I guess, but I certainly wouldn’t think it’s optimal. There are no spots under 50F in my house. I thought about trying to lower the temp if possible in my basement bathroom but I don’t think I’ll get there, and no windows.


I do though have an almost empty mini fridge (I can always find a reason to drink those couple bottles of champagne lol then completely empty). I can try sticking a thermostat inside and turn the temp up or down to see the range I’m working with. Obviously I would be unpotting and putting in ziplock baggies. I’ve yet to use any sprays on my plants but apparently I need an anti-fungal which is fine.

I have a long and deep crisper drawer at the bottom I can use, but is there any reason not to use the shelves? Especially if I can adjust the temperature a decent amount?


I always seem to see people say that this method would only work in the range of about ten plants, but I’m not at all sure why? I can almost definitely buy at least one (or maybe two) more minifridges by the beginning of October if I have too many plants. They have decent ones that seem to be about $100 which is totally worthwhile if I need it, but I’m trying to figure out if I need to buy things like that or just lay the bare root gently layering in the crisper drawer and maybe the bottom shelf if it’s allowed. Again I can play with the temp and see what the outer range is.

I’m not freaking out or anything, but I was going to save for the next few months to get one thing at a time to have everything I need for a grow tent, but after doing a little looking around I decided to see what I should get for winter instead.

As always on a disability budget that might require some time to be able to afford stuff.


I know it’s early but if I don’t have a solid plan this early I may spontaneously combust and then who, I ask you WHO, would you point and laugh at, hmmm? It’s in your best interest too, see?

Somewhat. I assume they’ll keep growing or taking energy from the plant if it’s in a too warm spot? I just have a bunch of questions up there and the light thing is news to me and definitely good news but I still gots my questions lol.

Thank you very much though

I always view fridge dormancy and shutting plants into a plastic bag for months, as an option of last resort due to the potential rot problems. If your garage or barn is above freezing but mostly below 10C then that would be my preferred option, they have some light to give them a photoperiod clue and ventilation to prevent rot.
Cold frames are good but can be problematic as they go from very cold to very hot very quickly, unless you can consistently moderate the swings, or temperature control it with soil warming cable or the like. If you have cold nights and sunny days, the quick swings in temperature can accentuate the freeze/thaw cycle on the plants and kill them.
Cheers
Steve

^^^Agreed. What USDA zone are you? You can just use an unheated garage or basement for dormancy.

Won’t the plant still freeze in the garage if it drops too low outside?

According to google I’m 6a for my particular city. I thought I was 6b. Anyhow our garage door is crooked so there’s a pretty large gap at the bottom for everything to get in. We also have had mice, but I don’t know if they’re still out there. I can try to clean off the shelf next to the window but my guess would be that some plants won’t fit there. And my barn has no windows like I said in the first post. I just knew that the one place that was for all my stuff and only gotten into by me is my fridge unfortunately. My mom has been super accommodating about this fast growing collection but she also uses that shelf/bench that I could try to fit them on for a lot of stuff.

I’m worried about it freezing for a long time too and then going back and forth because Ohio is the place where you can use your heat and your air in the same day. At least I could control the temp and no exposure was my thoughts and there’s like a mega thread about people here swearing by the fridge method.

Sorry I’m not trying to be argumentative but I thought I probably at least had the answer to where they would be protected from temp changes, rodents, and I wouldn’t have to have a huge ta do about space. I was just thinking I needed to double check that the thread here was still right and get some questions about how to do that the best way answered. I swear I thought I had been told about the fridge method when I first got here but I actually don’t know now.

Ok I looked at the bench and I would have up to the totes after I cleaned off the birdseed and stuff that’s to the left on there. This pic shows the light coming through the window. It’s overcast today but still really bright. I’m assuming I would just put them in there whenever they start getting dormant or we’re getting below 40F temperatures? I’m guessing the light will be much less in the winter but I’m guessing that’s okay. I would put my Sarracenia outside but I think I’m gonna get those puck lights and keep my drosera that’s coming with my new VFTs indoors if that’s okay.

Is there something else I can work on for next year because I’m pretty hooked on my plants, and I foresee myself getting more. I don’t mind saving up for a setup I could try to make indoors that would keep them cool and a light or two or whatever to keep them lighted but dimly. Or if you can think of anything else.

I can always put something in the backyard, but it would have to come down for spring and summer most likely because my mom would want the backyard back. I don’t mind putting something up and taking it down. The extra work or extra money I could put into something that could be more permanent when I move back with my partner would be very worth it.

I’m planning on getting some kind of setup like a greenhouse where I could set them to be watered when we went up to camp for the weekend. We only stay 2 days and nights and leave the 3rd day so I figured even if the timed water doesn’t exist or something, I can give them a bit extra so they don’t dry out. So any suggestions on what to start saving for would be welcome.

This isn’t just a hobby for me it’s a thing that helps keep me sane and mitigates my depression and stress from my current situation I’m in PT for. There’s a decent chance that it will never go away, but caring for these plants and learning more about them and watching something grow that I am caring for helps so much. So this is not a thing I mind saving a lot of money to put towards keeping them healthier or being able to have more.

Here’s a photo of the bench in the garage. I would have up to that pile of totes on the right side. I’m not sure how I would keep mice away. I don’t kill animals, even if they’re considered pests.

wcrosman wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 3:32 pm

Jade wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:07 am Won’t the plant still freeze in the garage if it drops too low outside?

I put mine (garage) in a cooler/ice chest with a heat mat and a thermostat. Heat turns on at 35f and off at 45f. Has worked extremely well the last two seasons. It can get well below freezing in my garage. Outside temps sometimes well below zero f.

So what do you need to hook up to have it recognize the temp to turn the heating pad on and off? I haven’t used my heating pad for anything yet but I’d probably need a much bigger one. Any recommendations for how to replicate your setup?

andynorth wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:55 pm I kept all of mine in my garage last year and nothing froze, even after our week of below freezing temps. I have used the fridge method in the past with great success. Next season they will all be inside my greenhouse that will be here this week.

What is your hardiness zone out of curiosity? So you had success with both, before the greenhouse can you say what was better for your plants, fridge or garage? Did you have a heating pad setup too just in case or just had them out on a shelf or something? Do you have little mice that get in there or no?

Jade wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:07 am Won’t the plant still freeze in the garage if it drops too low outside?

This winter dormancy video from a guy in Chicago might give you some tips:

Jade wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:07 am Won’t the plant still freeze in the garage if it drops too low outside?

Every garage is different, but, yes, they could.
If you have an attached garage, then there will likely be some insulation and some heat bleed through, and that may keep your garage above freezing. My garage has drafty aluminum roll up doors, but is fully insulated. Even when we had a week where it got down to single digits, my plants never froze. It did get cold enough that it killed my Drosophyllum, but it didn't freeze.
If it's attached, but not fully insulated, put them next to the interior wall, elevated off the slab. There should be enough heat bleed through that they'll be fine. If not, you can put a space heater in the area, just not blowing directly on the plants. If you have a basement, then the coolest corner will do as well as long as it gets and stays below ~50°F.
If you have an unheated, detached garage, then they will likely freeze, and you must take measures to prevent it from doing so. A makeshift tent with old sheets and a space heater might be enough.
And, before you ask, light isn't a major factor during dormancy because they're asleep. Here's a pic of my plants during dormancy in my garage.

ChefDean wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2024 11:30 am

Jade wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:07 am Won’t the plant still freeze in the garage if it drops too low outside?

Every garage is different, but, yes, they could.
If you have an attached garage, then there will likely be some insulation and some heat bleed through, and that may keep your garage above freezing. My garage has drafty aluminum roll up doors, but is fully insulated. Even when we had a week where it got down to single digits, my plants never froze. It did get cold enough that it killed my Drosophyllum, but it didn't freeze.
If it's attached, but not fully insulated, put them next to the interior wall, elevated off the slab. There should be enough heat bleed through that they'll be fine. If not, you can put a space heater in the area, just not blowing directly on the plants. If you have a basement, then the coolest corner will do as well as long as it gets and stays below ~50°F.
If you have an unheated, detached garage, then they will likely freeze, and you must take measures to prevent it from doing so. A makeshift tent with old sheets and a space heater might be enough.
And, before you ask, light isn't a major factor during dormancy because they're asleep. Here's a pic of my plants during dormancy in my garage.
20230926_112735.jpg

It’s a detached old garage with no insulation. I’m gonna ask about the space heater, but everyone in my immediate family went through a fire before I was born and lost their entire house and their pets.

I actually asked my mom about this and the heating pad because it didn’t even occur to me that that’d be a thing that would be an issue until just now, and strictly no to the space heater and most likely not the heating pad unless I could find a way to rig a smoke alarm out there that would sound in the house. Did I mention she broke her back jumping out a window? Even into my 20s she made me stand at the stove when I was making stuff and never leave it for even a second. She’s slightly relaxed on that but really nothing else. I have to have my grow lights off while sleeping in the same room even though the Sansei ones I have only get very slightly warm. It’s frustrating, but I guess if I had lived through all that I’d be paranoid about fire too.

I could put layers of boards or something across pallets and do the makeshift tent, but I wouldn’t be able to give it any heat. I’m guessing that makes it a dead in the water idea? As ever 1 steps forward and 2 steps back.

After some of the PT hopefully starts working a little and they maybe feel like I can do once a week and the new specialist makes sure this benign tumor on my pituitary isn’t growing and can treat the underlying issues, I’ll likely be moving back with my partner. It’s just right now I have multiple sources for a ride (I don’t have my license anymore, but I’m going to start putting money towards getting it back which would help me with getting home faster as long as I could afford a beater). Just when I’m living with my partner, I have a lot less options for rides to my ten million doctors, and the most important one is in Cleveland right now which is a bit of a drive.

He had a great car, but someone hit him and totaled it, and the one after had a bunch of problems a few months later so he didn’t have reliable transportation for that many visits, and he finally had to take from a policy to get another car. He got it last month so I’m not jinxing it by saying how it runs. We both have incredibly bad luck with vehicles generally. The one that got totaled was the exception that proves the rule or whatever. Anyhow when I’m there I’ll have a huge backyard to play with (although unfortunately no outdoor enclosures at all). Think my next big goal will be a greenhouse. 1 long or two tall perhaps. And if the neighbor ever takes down the tree I’ll have fulll sun everywhere except against the house. And old greenhouse looking block windows for a small part of the kitchen that would be great for acclimation. Also no worries about things like space heaters besides the utility bill. But yeah that’s a lot of information no one probably needs sorry. Didn’t mean to go on.


*Back to square one….unless I can afford to get a greenhouse now and afford alll the necessary equipment to just get through winter. I’m not sure what all I’d need, and I’d obviously want a smaller one. I will be able to say next week how many plants I would be working with exactly.

Although if I can’t, and I have to have some type of heater or heating pad with the garage setup it looks like I may be stuck with the refrigerator method this year, and next year I could start trying to put together a proper greenhouse either here or more likely at partners house so I don’t need to worry about moving anything but plants when I go there.

I’ll see too if that Chicago dude has any advice I’m not thinking of.

Sorry, I totally didn’t think about the fire paranoia because I was just thinking about getting them space in the garage in general.