[b said:
Quote[/b] (BigCarnivourKid @ Dec. 07 2003,10:09)]Cynic,
I think the shock of moving plants in and out of the house can't be much worse than that of whacking the leaves off and placing it in a ziplock bag in the fridge, which is what some people do.
Actually, thats NOT the way most people do the fridge method! (or at least..they shouldnt be doing it that way!)
for anywhere where the winters are too harsh and cold, the trick is to leave your plants outdoors ALL season, right up through October and into November! give them a solid month or two of cooling temps and cold crisp autumn weather..
then, by November when the temps begin to turn TOO cold the plants are already naturally dormant on their own!
*then* they get their leaves cut off and put in the fridge!
and they are already fast asleep at that point..
and since they are already fully dormant, cutting off all the leaves does them no harm at all..
then the fridge maintains a cold temp just *above* freezing, which is far warmer and less harsh than the outdoor temps and snow and ice..
So the fridge isnt used to *induce* dormancy..it should be used to *maintain* dormancy once the plants have already gone dormant naturally outdoors!
just wanted to clear that up..
yes, taking a growing plant that was used to 70-80 degrees, and is still in full growth-mode, and suddenly sticking it in the fridge would be bad!
which is why IMO its bad to grow VFTs and Sarracenia indoors, if you can avoid it..nature is far better at inducing and keeping dormancy..
only use the fridge if your winter conditions are much colder or much warmer than the Carolinas..but AFTER thay are already dormant!
Scot