Question
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I recently recieved a Spathulata 'Fraiser Island form' that was mostly brown and felt sort of like cotton but the soil was still pretty wet and it had a clear plastic cup over it so I figured due to shipping. I live in Grandview, Texas and need to know the best way to care for this little guy. I also got a regular Spathulata that is doing fine it just has a little brown softness going on on what appears to be bottom layer. Neither are producing dew. I'm not sure of the soil it was sent in but I am assuming that it is a 50/50 of peat moss and perlite since that is what they recommend, and I am using only Distilled water. The lighting I regret to say was 70 watt UV or regular household lights so I put them in the windowsill today (Jan.3) but will have to remove them at night since it drops to the 40's. If I where to use 2 T12 fluorescent bulbs would it be ok to use 3' bulbs and if so what should the wattage be. Also could I put a Nepenthes Maxima under this lighting as well? Also I removed plastic cups from shipping but put plastic bags back over them to humidify is this good or bad? Thanks for your help.
AnswerHi Joe,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think this plant is dead. The Fraser Island form of D. spatulata is a true tropical, and it looks like it may of frozen during shipping. Clip away any brown leaves, and see if any green still is present in the crown of the plant. If there is, it may recover. If after a week in bright, warm conditions you see no new growth, it's gone. In any case, contact the nursery you got it from immediately to see about a replacement.
It's not surprising that the typical D. spatulata fared better. They can often handle a light freeze.
Keep your plants in the window as long as it doesn't freeze there. Both of these sundew species need full sun, and cool nights are not a problem. Our greenhouse where we grow both of these plants is in the 40's and 50's at night.
T-12 fluorescent lights work fine. Just get your plants within 2-3 inches of the tubes. 40 watt tubes like found in standard two tube shoplights are the most cost effective.
The Nepenthes maxima should do great under a two-tube shoplight unit.
Just open up bags/cups a little bit at a time over a week to harden them off. After your plants get acclimated to your window or light set-up they will be fine with no cover. You may see some leaves/pitchers dry out, but that is normal. Just cut those off. New ones will grow.
Since it sounds like you are just getting into the hobby, definitely consider our volume #2 and #3 DVDs. These will give you a complete hands on course on growing tropical carnivorous plants, and help you to avoid the common pitfalls so many new growers face. http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=38&zenid=05083ae26eb7cb38a...
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
