Question
I have a couple of questions about watering the lovely Dewy Pine I purchased from you recently at the Open House.

According to Vol 2 if your DVD series, they don't like to be over-watered, but it isn't explicit on how dry a soil the Dewy Pine will tolerate and for how long.

Currently, I am slowly top watering until water just barely starts to come out the bottom of the pot into the tray. I wait until the tray under the pot has no sign of moisture before watering again.

Can I let the soil totally dry out and stay that way for a week or so during our hot and dry summer here in the Willamette Valley?

Also, can the plant be left outdoors during the winter, as long as the pot is not left in standing water?

Thanks for your time.

Bill

Answer
Hi Bill,

The short answer to your question is no.  You can't let them be totally dry.

Drosophyllum have no water storage mechanism such as cacti, so they send their roots down very deep in nature.  In smaller pots you just have to monitor them.  If their water tray is empty, and the sides of the pot look dry, time to water.  They will definitely start to wilt if too dry.  During the summer you can leave a small amount of water in their tray; no more than a half-inch.  In winter just water to run-off, then stop.  Generally speaking, they like damp soil, just not wet/waterlogged soil.  

Over the years so much has been written about not keeping Drosophyllum too wet, that most folks have ended up letting them get too dry.  More people have killed them from under-watering.  You just can't treat them like a sundew where they sit in water for long periods of time.  It's really much like regular houseplants.  You feel their soil, if dry to the touch, time to water.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com