Thanks for your response, too, Scot. I have read your blog, particularly your extended post about dormancy. Good reading!
I did have a thought while perusing your reply. I thought I remembered reading somewhere that colder temps play a part in triggering dormancy for Sarracenia, but reduced light is what keeps them there. In other words, it was my understanding that a few cold nights (with the reduced photo period) began dormancy, but warm snaps during winter don't necessarily break or interrupt a plants hibernation. Instead, it is the increase in daylight hours in the spring that wake up these sleeping beauties. If this is true, then a letting plants "feel" a few cold nights in the fall would get them to sleep, and then a cooler window sill should be fine to keep them dormant.
Thoughts? I might have just made all of that up subconsciously. :S
I believe it is a combination of light and cold..you need both to start, and to end dormancy..
it was my understanding that a few cold nights (with the reduced photo period) began dormancy,
It's a lot more than "a few"!
Humans have a 24 hour wake/sleep cycle..
plants have a year-long growing/dormancy cycle..
Dormancy is triggered by 4 months of slowly decreasing photoperiod, and slowly decreasing temps..
Light levels begin to decrease in late June, Summer Solstice,
and temps gradually decrease through all of September and October..
For Sarrs and VFT's, they are usually fully dormant by the beginning of November..
but they *need* those several months to slowly go dormant..it's not a quick process..
The process of "going dormant" happens through the entire months of July, August, September and October..
With September and October probably being the most important months..
So it could be considered a 4-month process (for light decreasing)..
but its certainty a 2-month process at the minimum. (for both light and temp decreasing)
It takes a lot more than "a few days" of cool temps to do it..
If this is true, then a letting plants "feel" a few cold nights in the fall would get them to sleep, and then a cooler window sill should be fine to keep them dormant.
No, wrong..because:
1. As I said, it takes much more than a few cold nights to trigger dormancy..
2. increased light in the Spring is a factor for coming out dormancy, but its not the *only* factor..warm temps play a part too..
Think of spring bulbs..daffodils, crocus, etc..Many years they can pop up "early"..What triggers an early appearance?
early warm temps..not the light.
One or two warm days in January wont do it..it takes at least a week or two..
but bulbs can sprout in February, or April, depending on if the Spring warmth is "early" or "late"..
So temp is definitely a factor, in addition to light..
I believe both are equally important..
If you did this:
If this is true, then a letting plants "feel" a few cold nights in the fall would get them to sleep, and then a cooler window sill should be fine to keep them dormant.
They wouldnt go dormant at all..because its not enough time to trigger dormancy.
and if they *were* dormant, say from being outside Aug-Sep-Oct, then warm temps indoors could bring them out of dormancy far too early..
Plants need that yearly cycle..
Spring - temps slowly and gradually increase and light slowly and gradually increases, brings plants of dormancy..the process takes months.
Summer - Plants are actively growing.
Autumn - temps slowly and gradually decrease and light slowly and gradually decreases, puts plants into dormancy..the process takes months.
Winter - Cool temps and low light keep plants dormant..
There are no shortcuts.
plants are designed to work under this year-long cycle..
Scot