Question
my sundew
my drosera adelae was wilting because i put it outside because i know you guys dont like terraiums. i got it from lowes. i live in elgin, illinois. so when i saw my plant wilted i thought it was dead so i cut it back to the soil, thinking that it will sprout from the side. it is planted in a seed growing mix and i kept the soil wet with bottled water. now it is on my desk with my desk lamp over it. so does it still have a chance to live?"
AnswerHi John,
Cutting back a Drosera adelae that you got in one of those cubes was the right thing to do. That will allow newer, stronger growth to emerge. It takes about a month to see new growth. Make sure the pot is sitting in water and is in bright light. If your desk lamp is fluorescent, it will work. If it's halogen or incandescent, it won't. Keep it on a timer for about 14 hours a day.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news now, but you need to transplant it again. Any commercial potting mix will contain some fertilizer, plus the mix you used contains vermiculite which makes the mix alkaline, and D. adelae is very sensitive to fertilizer. Transplant it to a mix of 1/2 peat moss to 1/2 perlite, or buy a bag of premixed soil from a carnivorous plant seller. Since you got the plant at Lowe's, they also carry bags of dried sphagnum moss, that will work too.
Detailed care for Drosera adelae and other tropical sundews along with information on use of artificial light can be found in our DVD, "Grow Carnivorous Plants volume 2". http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38&products_id=256&...
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
