Question
I am growing a Drosera Adalae and it is my first carnivorous plant. I have put some rocks in my water tray just for decoration and to balance the pot. However, I am wondering if the minerals from the rocks will damage the plant. The rocks are mostly non developed quarts and micah. Just rocks that I have found in the ground. I am using the soil that my plant came in. I have a 23 watt fourescent on my plant for about 10-12 hours a day and it is in a east-north-east facing window sill that gets about 3-4 hours of morning sunlight per day. I am near Roseburg, OR and am at about 4,000 to 5,000 feet elevation. I don't know how to attach a picture but my plant seems to be healthy. It doesn't have much dew if any and it is growing very fast with many new leaves. Thank you for your help!

Answer
Hi Sterling,

Your growing conditions sound fine.  Those types of rocks should be fine.  Quartz is inert, and mica doesn't break down very fast.  The main rock to avoid is limestone, and Oregon doesn't have much limestone.  For more information on growing D. adelae and other tropical sundews visit our caresheet pages:  http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=26  Also consider our DVD, "Grow Carnivorous Plants" volume #2.  http://www.cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38&products_id=...

Good Growing!

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