Question

Drosera Binata   QUESTION: Hi my name is David,

I just bought a Drosera Binata sundew from CaliforniaCarnivores. At first it had some dew on the leaves but after giving it roughly 6 hours of direct sunlight in about 90-95 degrees, it started losing its dew and all the leaves were turning brown slowly. I have kept the soil moist and kept it in a half cut 2 liters soda bottle with about 1 inch of distilled water. Over the course of 2 weeks, all the leaves turned brown except 1-2. First Dew is lost then each of the sundew leaves turned brown at the tip down slowly if that helps describe whats happening to it. Even the new growing sundew leave turned brown. Im not sure if it's roots are rotting cause i watered it at least once a day maybe twice because its been out all day or that i left it in the sun too long. Is it possible to revive the plant? i mean i have not seen it grow new leaves for 2 weeks. Had this plant for about a month. I emailed californiaCarnivores and they said its entering dormancy but i really doubt it because its not even november yet (dormancy starts november around thanksgiving i believe). Sorry if the picture isnt clear enough.

For the picture: 2 leaves to the right, has their RIGHT fork browning with no dew. Left leaf has barely any dew and its started browning at the tip

ANSWER: Hi David,

The binata complex can certainly be grown in full sun, and we have several mother plants that we grow outdoors.  Binata dichotoma is the most winter hardy of the bunch, and our mother plant grows exclusively outdoors throughout the year.

While we recommend growing these plants in full sun, you always have to consider how a nursery is growing their plants.  If the nursery had been growing their plants in a greenhouse or in lower light conditions, then you'll need to acclimate the plant to direct sunlight.  Of course, if you purchase plants from our nursery, you can always be assured that the plants will be acclimated to the conditions that we recommend in our care sheets.  I suspect your plant initially experienced some leaf burn because of the sudden exposure to full sun.  

Where you might be having a problem is using a humidity dome (soda bottle).  Under no circumstance do we ever recommend using a humidity dome in full sun.  The temperatures will quickly rise to very high levels and bake your plant.  This might be the case for you, especially if your outdoor temperatures are in the 90s.  It can quickly get over 100 under the humidity dome in this situation.  At these high temperatures, the plant will shut down, which means you won't see any new growth.  

Sundews also don't need humidity domes.  Keep in mind that California Carnivores and our nursery don't grow them under humidity domes.  Plants will produce the sugary dew when the lighting, soil moisture and temperature are at optimal levels.  In your case, I suspect the temperatures are too warm.

So I don't think dormancy is a factor.  Rather, I think that the plant is too warm under the humidity dome.  It thinks it's in the hottest parts of summer, so to protect itself from drying out, it'll stop producing new leaves.

Your plant is still alive as long as leaves are green.  If the root system shuts down completely, the leaves will quickly turn black.  So there's a chance you can revive the plant.  For now, grow it without the humidity dome.  Keep the plant in a saucer of standing water with the water level about half way up the pot. Place your plant indoors in a very bright south window.  This will protect your plant from excessive heat and encourage it to produce new leaves.  

For more information about growing tropical sundews, read our care sheet online:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

For more information about the role of humidity in growing carnivorous plants, visit our photo gallery:
http://www.cobraplant.com/gallery

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks!!! I have been keeping it indoors recently, by the window where it isnt as hot and sunny. I only have tried using a dome for one day but took it off. What i meant by the half cut soda bottle was that i used the bottom part of the soda bottle as a saucer, so i fill up the soda bottle with distilled water and place the pot in it to keep the soil wet. I just want to ask a quick question, is it ok to leave it in about 1-2 inches of water for a long period of time? im afraid watering it daily and having it in water for a long time will cause the roots to rot. And how long will it take to regrow leaves? i've been researching about it and left it inside the house for a week. No signs of leaves growing. Also some slight additional information about my D. Binata is that.. at the base of the few surviving leaf stems are slightly black, not sure if it's a sign that the plant is going to turn black.

Answer
All of the binata subspecies will grow fine in standing water.  They're bog plants and grow alongside running water, so they're accustomed to lots of water.  We grow these plants in standing water at our nursery.  

It's difficult to say how long it'll take for your plant to rebound from it's experience.  Of the binata subspecies, binata sssp. binata, which is what you have, tends to prefer slightly cooler conditions.  At least that's what we've observed at our nursery.  Sometimes we lose this plant during the hottest parts of summer. Only time will tell if your plant will make it back.

Multifida is the most tolerant to heat.  It thrives in hot sunny weather.  Dichotoma likes it sunny and mild.  It'll grow fine if the days are hot, but nights should be cool.

Make sure to read our care sheets on tropical sundews:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

Good growing!
Jacob Farin