If your Venus flytrap's traps are shrinking and turning black as the days get shorter, don't panic. Your plant is most likely getting ready for its winter rest, called dormancy. This guide explains what dormancy is, which flytraps should go through it, and how to make it easy.
What is Venus flytrap dormancy?
Dormancy is a winter rest. In the wild, flytraps grow in the Carolinas, where winters are cool and the days get short. The plant slows down, makes small low leaves, and lets many of its traps die back. In spring it wakes up and puts out fresh, bigger traps.
The key thing to know is that dormancy is triggered by day length (also called photoperiod). When the plant starts getting only about 8–12 hours of light a day, which is a winter-length day, it knows it's time to rest. Cooler temperatures help it settle in.
Which flytraps should go dormant?
Outdoor and windowsill plants: yes, it's recommended
If your flytrap lives outside or on a windowsill, it feels the natural shorter days of fall. For these plants, a winter dormancy is the healthy, natural thing to do, and it's recommended. A good rest helps them come back strong in spring.
Plants under grow lights: no, let them keep growing
If you grow your flytrap indoors under a grow light on a 14–16 hour schedule, it never gets the short-day signal, so it doesn't need a dormancy. It can keep growing year-round.
Please don't force a grow-light plant into dormancy. Moving a flytrap from 14–16 hours of light straight into a cool, dark spot is a sudden shock, and it can kill the plant. Keep it on its regular light schedule and normal care.
When does dormancy happen?
For outdoor and windowsill plants, dormancy usually runs from about late fall to early spring. You'll notice growth slowing as the days shorten, and new growth picking up again as the days get longer and warmer.
How to give your flytrap a good dormancy
- Keep it cool. Around 35–50°F is ideal. Short cold snaps are fine; outdoor flytraps handle dips to about 25°F.
- Keep the light. A resting flytrap still wants as much sun as it can get. Leave it in its sunny spot.
- Keep the soil damp, not soaking. Keep using distilled, rain, or RO water, but let the tray get nearly dry between top-ups instead of keeping it full.
- Trim the dead leaves. Snip off fully black leaves with clean scissors to help prevent mold. Leave any green leaves alone.
- Protect it from hard freezes. If you get a hard freeze, move the plant to a covered spot such as an unheated garage for the coldest nights, then bring it back out when it warms up.
- No fertilizer, and no need to feed. Your plant is resting.
Dormancy in Southern California
Southern California's mild winters make dormancy easy. For most outdoor flytraps here, normal winter weather and shorter days take care of it. Just leave your plant in full sun with the tray method and let nature do the rest. Keep an eye on the forecast for the occasional frosty night and give it some cover if needed.
What a dormant flytrap looks like
A dormant flytrap can look a little sad, and that's okay. Common signs include:
- Small traps held low to the soil
- Many traps turning black and dying back
- Very slow or no new growth
Not sure if it's dormant or dead? Gently check the center of the plant. If the bulb at the base is firm and white, your flytrap is alive and resting. For more on black traps, see our full Venus Flytrap Care Guide for Beginners.
Waking up in spring
As the days get longer and warmer, your flytrap will start pushing out new, larger traps. Clean up any remaining dead leaves, go back to keeping the tray topped up, and enjoy the spring growth. Early spring, just before strong growth starts, is also a good time to repot into fresh peat and perlite.
Ordering flytraps in winter
Every plant we ship arrives potted, so it can go right into its new spot. During cold months, add a shipping heat pack to your order to help protect your plant in transit. Looking for a new flytrap? Try 'Mammoth' for big traps, 'Typical' for a classic easy grower, or 'Dente' for its tooth-like trap edges. You can browse them all in our Venus Flytrap collection.
Venus flytrap dormancy FAQ
Does my Venus flytrap have to go dormant?
Not always. Dormancy is recommended for flytraps grown outdoors or on a windowsill, since they feel the natural short days of winter. Flytraps grown under grow lights on a 14–16 hour schedule can keep growing year-round.
Can I put my indoor grow-light flytrap in a cool, dark place for winter?
Please don't. A sudden move from 14–16 hours of light into a cool, dark spot can kill the plant. Keep it on its normal light schedule.
What temperature is best for dormancy?
Around 35–50°F is ideal. Outdoor flytraps can handle short dips to about 25°F, but protect them during hard freezes.
Should I cut off the black leaves?
Yes, trim fully black, dead leaves with clean scissors to help prevent mold. Leave green leaves on the plant.