Here's my experience with the "Giant" form/variety. Since these grow closer to sea level they are supposed to be easier to grow.
Cold stratified seed for two month in the refrigerator on New Zealand long fibre sphagnum moss. Germinated on same bagged in pots under 24 hour lighting. All six seeds germinated (no longer have record of dates). After 1-2 months growing under lights plants were moved outdoors (mid-June as I recall, beginning of summer - Northern Hemisphere - coastal Los Angeles). Plants were fed bits of freeze-dried bloodworm when possible. The plants never had more than two functional trap leaves at any time.
Over the course of the summer one plant died. In mid-late fall they stopped growing and formed sort of a small green bud in the center. They're supposed to die down to the roots?. The pot was bagged and placed in the refrigerator - maybe late-Oct-mid Nov?. Plants were checked weekly however two of the largest plants were seen to slowly blacken and wither away - dying to the roots?.
Mid-late spring the plants that remained with some green started to show growth again. The plants were hardened off (humidity gradually lowered) under lights over a period of 1-2 weeks then placed outdoors in constant partial shade. The plants grew more slowly - they were sort of runts to begin with. Leaves seldom had dew on them making it difficult to feed them regularly. Plants did not equal the size of the largest the year before.
Once again growth stopped, leaving a green central bud. The pot was placed in an airtight container an placed in the refrigerator and again monitored weekly. Again the largest and smallest plants withered away, mold/fungus started growing on them. Treated with Neem oil. I placed the container in the freezer for one month, remaining plant continued to show a green bud. After one month plant was returned to the refrigerator and by mid-late spring signs of growth from the remaining plant. Hardened off under lights, and move back outdoors. The plant grew very slowly for a month or two than died.
Cold stratified seed for two month in the refrigerator on New Zealand long fibre sphagnum moss. Germinated on same bagged in pots under 24 hour lighting. All six seeds germinated (no longer have record of dates). After 1-2 months growing under lights plants were moved outdoors (mid-June as I recall, beginning of summer - Northern Hemisphere - coastal Los Angeles). Plants were fed bits of freeze-dried bloodworm when possible. The plants never had more than two functional trap leaves at any time.
Over the course of the summer one plant died. In mid-late fall they stopped growing and formed sort of a small green bud in the center. They're supposed to die down to the roots?. The pot was bagged and placed in the refrigerator - maybe late-Oct-mid Nov?. Plants were checked weekly however two of the largest plants were seen to slowly blacken and wither away - dying to the roots?.
Mid-late spring the plants that remained with some green started to show growth again. The plants were hardened off (humidity gradually lowered) under lights over a period of 1-2 weeks then placed outdoors in constant partial shade. The plants grew more slowly - they were sort of runts to begin with. Leaves seldom had dew on them making it difficult to feed them regularly. Plants did not equal the size of the largest the year before.
Once again growth stopped, leaving a green central bud. The pot was placed in an airtight container an placed in the refrigerator and again monitored weekly. Again the largest and smallest plants withered away, mold/fungus started growing on them. Treated with Neem oil. I placed the container in the freezer for one month, remaining plant continued to show a green bud. After one month plant was returned to the refrigerator and by mid-late spring signs of growth from the remaining plant. Hardened off under lights, and move back outdoors. The plant grew very slowly for a month or two than died.