Question

hen & chick   Allexperts,

I recently repotted my Hen and chick sundew.  It hasn't fully recovered.  Its is a bit dew less.   Is there anything I could do to help the plant recover and produce dew again?  I have a picture of the plant.  Would putting the plant in a open fish bowl work? Thank you again.

Plant Info:Water= distilled
Temp= 68-70 degrees.
light = 40 watt tubes.

Sincerely,

Weylin

Answer
Hi Weylin,

Looks like your plant needs to be closer to the lights.  Drosera prolifera gets a nice red color on the tentacles when grown in adequate light.  Your temperatures are perfect.  Slightly elevated humidity, like you would get from having it in a fish bowl, could be helpful, but try getting it closer to the lights first.  Give it at least two weeks to see how it does.  The best crop I've ever had of these plants was when I had them on fluorescent light shelves in a basement.  They were not in covers, but long trays, so there was good ambient humidity.

In general this plant needs consistent conditions.  They tend to be very sensitive to change such as being moved around, or big temperature swings.  That's why by basement crop did so well is that is a very stable environment for temperatures.


Good Growing!

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