I don't think their dormancy needs to be as severe as some people on here think, like keeping the plant in a fridge all winter.
To clarify, "the fridge method" has nothing to do with giving a VFT a "severe" dormancy..
it actually has to do with giving it a normal, "mild" dormancy!
For many of us, we have three choices for winter VFT and Sarracenia dormancy:
1. leave it outside..no good, nearly guaranteed death, because it is FAR too cold and *much* colder than their native habitat.
2. leave it indoors on a windowsill, in a heated room..no good, far too warm.
3. The fridge..just right, a balmy and pleasant 35 degrees, absolutely perfect for dormancy.
(choices 1 and 2 actually arent real choices at all! the plants will die..choice 3 is the only real option)
It must be noted that the fridge is used because its much *warmer* than outside!
nothing whatsoever to do with "severe"..in fact, the fridge is considered very mild to those of us who live in Zone 6 or colder..
compared to our outdoor winter climate.
some people are experimenting with outdoor dormancy in zones 6, 5 and colder..it has been done, but its risky..
plants can (and do) still die if its an unusually cold winter..(the fridge is actually much safer)
for outdoor dormancy to work for those of us in the "great white north" the plants need to be in a bog in the ground, with *heavy* mulching..
it can work, but for those of us who only keep plants in pots or "mini bogs", that kind of dormancy isnt practical..the fridge (or a similar cool location)
is much easier..its actually very easy, and works very well..provided the plants are grown outdoors spring, summer and fall..
its a tried and true method..can be a bit of hassle, but for many of us, its the only option..
If you live in a climate where you can keep your VFTs and Sarrs outdoors all year long, and have to do nothing
at all about dormancy, consider yourself very lucky..
Scot