1st time venus fly trap keeper: I have a couple quick questions about my VFTs & their teranium this winter.?

Question

I'm a first time carnivorous plant keeper and, although I've done quite a bit of reading before I brought the plants home, I'm still alittle unsure of myself...
I have two venus fly traps in a teranium made of a 2.5 gallon tank with a glass lid. I use a 50/50 mixture of peat moss and sand as their substrate. I keep the terrianium on a shelf in a room with a window so they remain in a partly sunny area for about 7-9 hours a day.
I lightly mist the teranium once a week, between mistings I never open the lid. Every two weeks I cut off any black stems or leafs I see when I mist them. Once a month I feed them each a small cricket I bought at the petstore.
I've only had them about a month, however I'm very attached to them (I'm quite proud that they have already grown quite abit since I brought them home).
In my readings I've noticed it says you're supposed to force them into hybernation by cutting them down to the root and putting them in the fridge.
Should I do this? and if so, When?
ty

my specific questions:
1) I read that smaller VFTs can skip a hibernation and it won't hurt them, is that true? I really don't want to hibernate them as I'd miss them during the winter.
2) If I must hibernate them for their own good then I will do it, however when should I do it? It has been about 50 degrees outside this past week (I live in the midwestern US) however I keep my apartment at about 70 degrees.
3) tips on putting them into hibernation without killing them? I'm worried I'll do it wrong and they'll die: I read that you should cut them down to only the healthiest stems and roots, wrap them cellophane wrap, is that true?
4) tips on keeping them in hibernation during the winter~should I keep them in the fridge, at what temperature do they need to be?
5) tips on taking them out of hibernation when spring comes~when do I take them out of hibernation, how do I replant them, how long does it take for them to come back to life?
6) should I get them fresh substrate in the spring?
ty

Answer 1

1) I read that smaller VFTs can skip a hibernation and it won't hurt them, is that true? I really don't want to hibernate them as I'd miss them during the winter.
1. No, they need to hibernate in order to reemerge next spring.

2) If I must hibernate them for their own good then I will do it, however when should I do it? It has been about 50 degrees outside this past week (I live in the midwestern US) however I keep my apartment at about 70 degrees.
2. Put the terrarium outside in a full shade spot until temps reach 20 degrees. If your temps never go below 20 then you can just keep them outside. If they drop lower then you can move them into a garage or garden shed. If you have neither then you can move them to the refridgerator. When temps rise above 20 then move them back outside until spring.

3) tips on putting them into hibernation without killing them? I'm worried I'll do it wrong and they'll die: I read that you should cut them down to only the healthiest stems and roots, wrap them cellophane wrap, is that true?
3. you don't have to wrap them in anything. They will die back naturally as they go into hibernation.

4) tips on keeping them in hibernation during the winter~should I keep them in the fridge, at what temperature do they need to be?
4. They can handle temps as low as 20 degrees. Refer to answer #2.

5) tips on taking them out of hibernation when spring comes~when do I take them out of hibernation, how do I replant them, how long does it take for them to come back to life?
5. Refer to #2

6) should I get them fresh substrate in the spring?
6. Not necessarily, they only need to be repotted every couple of years. I use 50/50 peat and perlite, but sand should be fine.
ty


Hope this helps

Good Luck

Answer 2

I also have a Venus Fly seize and it does a similar subject. do now not hardship now not something is incorrect. The Venus flytrap actually sucks each and all the food and supplements out of the fly, leaving in easy terms the exoskeleton of the fly. Oh and don't pay attention to the individuals above me approximately feeding it cat meals and Ants, the plant wont touch the Cat meals however the Ants will kill the plant. desire this facilitates :}