Question
Drosera - setup
Hello!
I bought a Drosera (cannot specify species, but attached please find a photo of the plant and growing environment) 9 days ago. It arrived with all its dew, and in full bloom (with little pink flowers which wither within a day). I set it in a dish with water and stones (so the water just touches the pot (+/- half a centimeter)), near a mist-fountain (a fountain which uses ultrasound to create fog). It has one other water-dish (green in the picture) and one dish with moss (to purify the air and increase humidity). It does get indirect sunlight, but the conditions are mostly shade (I read they tolerated the shade). The temperature has been about 28C, the climate zone is continental (eastern Europe - Bulgaria). Just for comparison, I also bought a nepenthes, it is in indirect sunlight and similar conditions (except for the mist-fountain), and it is doing quite well.
The problem is that 4 days ago it stopped blooming (there are still buds, but they're not opening), and 3 days back it stopped producing mucus (dew). Moreover, the leaves started drooping, and even the new ones have blackened tips (I'm not sure if this is mould or them drying out). I've watered the plant twice, with spring water (to avoid lime/other minerals), and for most of the time its pot has been sitting slightly in water.
I understand droseras need a bit of time to acclimatise, but I'm also wary of plants being under-/over-watered, so I decided to ask before it's too late.
AnswerHi Petra,
Thanks for sending the photo. That always helps. Your plant is a Cape Sundew, Drosera capensis. They are a native of South Africa.
Your problem is a simple one. It needs more light, a lot more light. 95% of sundews are full sun plants. The source that told you they tolerate shade is either inaccurate, or something they said may be out of context. The only sundew you might encounter commercially that isn't a full sun plant, Drosera adelae, that is somewhat shade tolerant, still likes some direct sun. You should have your plant in a window that gets no less than 4 hours of direct sun on a sunny day. The extra humidity you're providing is nice, but not vital. Sundews manufacture their mucilage from photosynthesis, not humidity. Light is the important factor here.
Your water may also be causing you some issues. Spring water can have just as many minerals as tap water. If it is bottled spring water, I guarantee it does. Use either rainwater, distilled water, or water purified by reverse osmosis. Find out what the total dissolve solids of your tap water is. If it is 50 mg/L or 50ppm or less it will be fine to use. Also avoid any carbon filters commonly sold for home faucets. They won't remove minerals. Be sure also that your soil on the plant is wet at all times. It should never dry out. It is almost impossible to over water this sundew.
Here's a link to some little seen photo of D. capensis in its native habitat: http://icps.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=africa&action=display&thread=3269
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
