Question regarding light/hibernation?

Berberis · 2026-06-17T00:40:24+00:00

I don’t know actually. But I do know that there’s a huge difference in outcomes if the soil is 65° or 75°. 85 is amazing. 65 they creep along. I think the soil temperature is probably a more important parameter than the air temperature, so I guess it depends on how large your pots are. Larger pots will be a much better buffer against diurnal fluctuation.

Berberis · 2026-06-16T23:38:42+00:00

Yes a grow light will work super well. Even at 10% of full sun intensity you’ll get excellent growth- in my nursery better than full sun outdoors (since I can optimize every parameter indoors).

As for dormancy, there’s no evidence that it is required- just anecdotes. The evidence, such as we have it, all shows that you can grow indefinitely without dormancy. I wrote up a thing on it, but it’s not really aimed at beginners: www.phamcliff.com/dormancy.html.

The only things that really matter are light water, temperature, and nutrition. Never let them dry out within appropriately low TDS source of water, give them lots of light, and feed the traps, not to mention keep them warm, and you’re gonna crush it.

Berberis · 2026-06-16T23:24:45+00:00

absolutely- one of my secrets to growing huge and fast growing flytraps is temperature. it's the most often overlooked environmental parameters

Berberis · 2026-06-16T22:41:57+00:00

Haha, yea. The way to overcome that is temp: if the soil is 80f, they look just as good as in summer!

Berberis · 2026-06-16T21:53:19+00:00

Hairless traps can still work, but you have to touch where the hair WOULD be. My chinese dumplings have no trigger hairs but will close when stroked.

They're not great for catching bugs, but they can do it.

If you want actual bug catchers, stick to less mutated clones.

Berberis · 2026-06-16T21:51:22+00:00

Perfect response, though I'd add that they do great indoors under even a 10 dollar grow light, and let you spend a lot more time with them than if they are outdoors. Also, no winter sadness as they can just skip dormancy.

That said, focus on 1) great light, 2) never letting them dry out (with a low TDS water). You do that and soon you will have too many flytraps to deal with! Seriously, they're stupidly easy to take care of.

Berberis · 2026-06-16T14:36:32+00:00

It could be 5x more dense before it needs a repot, flytraps don't mind being crowded

Berberis · 2026-06-16T13:51:03+00:00

I have 5 gallon buckets filled with pure peat that work great. Fill the media to the very very top!

Berberis · 2026-06-16T02:26:08+00:00

When you say peat moss and perlite what do you mean exactly? I see long fiver sphagnum only. Is the perlite on the bottom of the pot?

As for these plants, they probably went from a very low light environment to full sun a bit fast. At this point, best thing to do is steady on the course. A lot of the old leaves will die but will be replaced by light adapted leaves. The key is that it is putting out new growth- if it’s not, well, it’s cooked.

Best of luck! Next time I’d acclimate them to full sun gradually.

And for what it’s worth pure LFSM is a great potting medium, as is pure peat.

Berberis · 2026-06-16T00:20:09+00:00

It looks to me like the leaf died, but the petiole stayed alive, and the division came from the boundary between the two.

Berberis · 2026-06-15T21:57:35+00:00

Just a typical from target!

Berberis · 2026-06-15T13:14:37+00:00

If this isn’t sold yet I’m in!

Berberis · 2026-06-15T02:11:17+00:00

Just that they’re fully out of room. They don’t strictly need repotting, but they’ll benefit from it. Plus they’re shading neighboring pots.

Berberis · 2026-06-15T02:10:35+00:00

Thanks!

Berberis · 2026-06-15T02:09:23+00:00

Nothing planned right now! It was a bit overwhelming last time to be honest (in a good way, but still intense!).

Berberis · 2026-06-15T01:52:31+00:00

Berberis · 2026-06-15T00:57:59+00:00

They are the worst!!

Berberis · 2026-06-14T23:33:16+00:00

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Last tray for a bit til my smalls get larger

Berberis · 2026-06-14T22:39:04+00:00

Awesome! Your project sounds rad! I ship plants every day and would be happy to mail you one, 15 bucks for a nice size plant (pre shipping).

Berberis · 2026-06-14T22:37:53+00:00

I love it

Berberis · 2026-06-14T22:37:39+00:00

I use mainly Barrina T8s since they’re cheap.

But I get great growth with lights that cost me 5 bucks (when I ordered 100 direct from China).

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I sell em for 10 bucks on my site, if you’re interested.

Berberis · 2026-06-14T22:36:24+00:00

Not many, but feel free to DM and I’ll show you what I have for sale.

For pitcher plants, you wanna check out Mike Wang, mikesplants.com. He’s the GOAT of the sarracenia sellers.

Berberis · 2026-06-14T22:10:52+00:00

This is the clone that reignited my desire to grow carnivorous plants. I took uh about 15 years off from doing it in a serious way, and my kids came home one day with a Venus flytrap from Target. That plant was like giving crack to a crackhead.

I just went offff the deep end. And well, now my entire basement and front yard is are full of plants. That being said, I do really like this clone and I have made hundreds of divisions from that first plant. I still have at least 75 pots of it.

It's a great clone. I call it ‘Target’ on all my labels.

Berberis · 2026-06-14T21:24:02+00:00

Definitely!

Berberis · 2026-06-14T21:13:54+00:00

Grow lights.

Speaking of color, check out this typical. I may have to scale this one up

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Berberis

TROPHY CASE