Question
Drosera Prolifera
I bought this plant about a month ago from you guys in Portland at the Garden Show. I live in Hillsboro. It is in a North/West window with no direct sun but bright light, and distilled water in a tray at all times. I don't know what I am doing wrong as it does not look as good as when I bought it, lost all its dew. Is it getting too much/not enough sun? Daytime temperature is around 69-70 and nighttime temperature is between 65 and 68. I see it has new shoots coming up, but worry that it is dying because no dew. I have a south-facing garden window I could put it in, but that will get full direct sun all day when it is not so cloudy like it is now and I think I remember you said it should not get full direct sun all day, correct me if I am wrong. I also have a cape sundew in the same window that is doing great for 2 years. I have enclosed a picture.
AnswerHi Pat,
Move your D. prolifera to the window where the Cape sundew is living. It definitely needs more sun. The pale green with poorly formed tentacles is a dead give away, and we don't want you to have dead, dead with your plant.
Indoors in windows in the Northwest, it's rarely too sunny. Glass blocks 80% of UV light, so it's not as intense as full sun outdoors. If during the summer it looks like it's getting too warm (as in heat, not just light exposure) position the plant so other plants block the light a little. That is usually all it takes for this species.
In reality, Drosera prolifera is not a shade plant; it grows in open forests in Northern Queensland, Australia. A location like that is still sunnier than a typical Northwest windowsill. It's just not as sunny as an open sphagnum bog where a plant like Drosera rotundifolia might grow here in Oregon.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
