Question
I have been considering growing wooly sundews for a couple of weeks now and I've decided I would buy one. I live in Phoenix and I have a terrarium, so I'm sure heat and humidity will be provided. I do want to know though: Do they need a summer dormancy like most other Australian sundews?; Would two 100w fluorescent bulbs provide enough light?; If I plan to grow one in a 4-inch pot, what should the water level be at and should it fluctuate with the seasons?; Finally, what wooly sundews would be good for people who begin to grow them? I really want to grow D. falconeri but I've heard that it's sort of a challenging plant.

Hope you don't mind answering all these questions!,
Demetri

Answer
Hi Demetri,

Yes, woolly sundews are challenging because they have a narrow range of growing conditions.  They simply don't like cold temperatures.  As a result, we no longer carry the woollies.  We couldn't keep our greenhouse warm enough for them at our nursery in Oregon.

Your set up seems appropriate.  Keep the water level no higher than an inch during the summer months.  In winter, when you see the plant revert to its woolly resting state, keep the soil moist, but not sitting in water.  I also recommend using a mix of 1 part peat moss and 2 parts perlite (or silica sand).  

Of the woollies that I've grown, Drosera paradoxa and Drosera petiolaris were the most adaptable.  In fact, I have a pot of Drosera paradoxa that is still growing after 4 years.  However, Drosera falconeri seems to have a very narrow growing range.  They don't tolerate cool temperatures (below 60癋) very well and tend to rot quickly if the soil is too wet.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin