Suggestions for Overwintering Sarracenia leucophylla in Zone 7

[Happypaphy7]

Well, I have hybrids.
I understand that they are hardy in the southern states along the Gulf of Mexico. I have also read that with proper winter protection, they can overwinter outside in zone 6.
Can anyone verify this? I bought three over the summer and one of them is this dark red plant, which is just too pretty to lose!
I plan on covering the entire plant (pot in water) with triple layers of clear plastic or double layers of bubble wrap.
The thing is I don't really get direct sun in the growing area for them, so there's no worries about heat buildup inside the plastic coverings, but then these plants naturally grow in the full sun. First winter with them and so many questions.

 

[Happypaphy7]

 

[Happypaphy7]

I also wanted to get dark wine colored Sarracenia flava and green flava as I understand that they are hardier coming from further up north, but then, I wanted to wait until I see how they fare over the winter before adding more.

 

[Happypaphy7]

Peekaboo!! Almost every time I checked on them during the warmer months, there was either a fly or a wasp. Once in, they can never leave

 

[swamprad]

I’ve grown them in zone 7b in a large pot sitting half submerged in a pond unprotected year round for many years with absolutely no problem. Even during years when we got below zero or when the temps stayed below freezing for over a week. I have leucophylla, flava, purpurea, and some hybrids. A few years ago we got switched from 7b to 8a, but interestingly we’ve had several unusually severe winters since then.

 

[Aaron888]

I live in SC zone 7 and I have mine outside year round no protection and they do fine. However they really really want full sun. Here is my growing area for my pitcher plants, sundews,butter worts and venus flytraps

 

[Happypaphy7]

Thank you very much for the replies!! I feel much better about my plants now.
Also, I just doublechecked the hardiness zone for Berlin and it says 8a. I wear three months ago it said 7a!
I wonder if the global warming increased the overall temperature and they had to recalculate the data recently.
Still, I don't get any direct sun in the winter since the sun hangs lower and even what little direct afternoon sun light I would have gets blocked by the taller building across the street from me. What a shame because some sun would definitely help with temperature moderation.
Also, I'm very interested in finding out how they fare next growing season assuming that eveything goes well and they would survive the winter under my care. I'm aware they need full sun all day. I bought them as already well-grown little plants. For the red variety, it did grow on large and healthy growth with a large trap (is that the name for the "head" part?), but due to not enough sun (I get about 2-4 hours of sun in the afternoon), it stayed green and white, and the red color never kicked in. It was still pretty to look at and attracted lots of flying insects.

 

[Happypaphy7]

I’ve grown them in zone 7b in a large pot sitting half submerged in a pond unprotected year round for many years with absolutely no problem. Even during years when we got below zero or when the temps stayed below freezing for over a week. I have leucophylla, flava, purpurea, and some hybrids. A few years ago we got switched from 7b to 8a, but interestingly we’ve had several unusually severe winters since then.

Wow~ good to know! They survived the winter outside without protection in zone 7b and 8a!

I was surprised to read about purpurea. They can withstand extreme cold. Unfortunately, I don't find them attractive. I like their flowers but not the plants. I want more leucophylla (or hybrids of it) and flava eventually.

Again, thank you very much for sharing your experience!

 

[BrucherT]

I was recently given some Darlingtonia seed... anyone advise on that in Chicago, now Zone 6.

 

[Happypaphy7]

I was recently given some Darlingtonia seed... anyone advise on that in Chicago, now Zone 6.

https://www.carnivorousplants.org/grow/guides/Darlingtonia

It is not specific to your region, but I thought it has lots of good info regarding that species.

 

[Aaron888]

I grow Darlingtonia but can't say they thrive. I had tried for years growing them and always lost them in the summer when it warmed up. I made a system that recirculates cold water on the roots and now I have had them for about 4 years but once it gets any size to it (about 12" in height) the main growth dies and the runners grow. Rinse and repeat I think the hot southern summers are just too much for it. I am hoping the the mass will get strong enough to get past the 12" mark instead of a bunch of small side runners 3 - 6".

 

[Happypaphy7]

In the article I shared above also points that out, that the summer heat is why people usually fail with this species.
I guess without special cooling system, they are only meant for Pacific Northwest or The Rockys where the temperature remains relatively cool in the summer.

 

[Cody]

I had a couple hundred sarracenia outside in in-ground bogs in michigan, zone 5/6. The only issues I ever had were with anything that had oreophila in it. Vft never wintered very well here either.

 

[Happypaphy7]

I had a couple hundred sarracenia outside in in-ground bogs in michigan, zone 5/6. The only issues I ever had were with anything that had oreophila in it. Vft never wintered very well here either.

Thank you for your input!
It is interesting because Vft is from North Carolina and Sarracenia is from much further south, yet the result is surprising!

 

[Aaron888]

I had a couple hundred sarracenia outside in in-ground bogs in michigan, zone 5/6. The only issues I ever had were with anything that had oreophila in it. Vft never wintered very well here either.

My bog is up at waist level like a table. One reason I did this is because I fixed a drain in it using a sink drain. I then cut a piece of PVC pipe that in the summer I put in the drain and the length of the pipe dictates the water level (as an over flow). In the winter I pull the pipe out of the drain and the bog drains. I have learned that VFTS and even the Sarracenia (and other plants - sudews etc...) over winter much much better with dryer surroundings in the winter. Since I did that my VFTS sail through winters and I probably have well over 1000 now.

 

[Aaron888]

I had a couple hundred sarracenia outside in in-ground bogs in michigan, zone 5/6. The only issues I ever had were with anything that had oreophila in it. Vft never wintered very well here either.

My bog is up at waist level like a table. One reason I did this is because I fixed a drain in it using a sink drain. I then cut a piece of PVC pipe that in the summer I put in the drain and the length of the pipe dictates the water level (as an over flow). In the winter I pull the pipe out of the drain and the bog drains. I have learned that VFTS and even the Sarracenia (and other plants - sudews etc...) over winter much much better with dryer surroundings in the winter. Since I did that my VFTS sail through winters and I probably have well over 1000 now. However, I am in zone 7 so I don't know if that would help in zone 5/6