Question
QUESTION: I live in Oklahoma, and have a drosera adelae growing in a south window in a peat/perlite mixture using distilled water. I have had the plant for a while and it looked good all winter and spring but now it's leaves have a dried burnt look to them even bough they get only a little direct light. This look has spread to my other three pots of adelae next to this one. When I cut the plants back to the soil, it seemed to go away. What is happening and do I need to cut this plant back too? Thank you for your help.

ANSWER: Hi Jonathan,

Take a look at a couple things.  First, is the plant exposed to any air flow from AC?  Cold, dry air would cause this appearance.  Also, have you accidentally let the plant dry out, even once, at any time?  I find that D. adelae doesn't tolerate dry soil at all, unlike plants like D. capensis and D. binata complex will to some degree.  Also, it is very normal for Drosera adelae to form skirts or layers of dead leaves over time as the plant grows.  As long as the leaves growing in the crown of the plant look dewy, the plant is pretty normal.

You definitely can cut the plant back.  I do it when they just start to look so scrappy that I don't like it.  It will restore a better appearance, and cause multiple shoots.

You mentioned that this appearance (a photo would help me here :) spread.  Have you taken a hand lens and looked for aphids?  On D. adelae they can hide in the crown, and you often don't see them, just the damage.  Aphid damage looks crinkled leaves and you often see little white exoskeletons around the crown of the plants.  You can treat with Bayer Rose and Flower spray.  Spray just the crown of the plant.  Here's a link to our insecticide podcast:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbRCdJ8ZNF0

Hope this helps.

Good Growing!

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

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Drosera Adelae   QUESTION: here is the photo

Answer
Hi Jonathan,

It looks like your sundew may have Spider Mites.  Spider mites become a problem when there are long periods of warm, dry conditions.  Cutting the plant back may be the only good option here since they are a very tough pest to get rid of.  You may need to find a way to increase the local humidity around the plant since dry conditions are what encourage Spider Mites.  Try using a pebble tray under the plants.  (This will help D. adelae in general.)  Also, check and see if you have the mites on any other houseplants.  They could be the source. That mottled appearance is often the sign of mite damage.  To see them you have to look under the leaves, and you'll see very tiny mites moving around with little webs.

The only insecticide I know that is very good with mites is Permethrin.  Even with that you have to apply at recommended intervals to kill hatchlings.  You can also put the plant in and aquarium and put a No-pest strip in with it.  That will kill the mites in about 3 days.

Let me know how it goes.

Good Growing!

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