Question
QUESTION: my spoon leaf sundews have looked great all summer. i noticed one showing a bit of apparent discoloring where the fresh growth emerges.  is this aphid damage?  i had some spray so i gave it a light treatment, trying not to get much on the sundews.  then i followed the spray with a misting of pure rainwater to wash off any pesticide from the sundew and to take care of the aphids or nymphs or whatever.   any other suggestions?

ANSWER: Hi Darren,

That's a pretty good treatment.  You may just need to do a repeat spraying a week later depending upon what kind of insecticide you used.  We get very good luck and minimal plant damage when using a systemic such as acephate.  This goes under the brand name Orthene, and is sold by Ortho as Ortho systemic insect killer.  I try to spray just the crown of the plants when possible.  They may stop producing dew for awhile, but soon recover.  Just avoid insecticidal soaps.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com

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

QUESTION: The ortho Systemic Inscect killer is exactly what i used.  No lucky guessing there, that is what u guys recommend. I set up a sundew haven about 2 months ago.  All were teenie tiny, half the diameter of a dime. now I've got a 6x12inch pot full of nickel sized sundews (probably about 50 plants all together)  can't wait to see what it looks like in 2 more months!  The great thing, the mother plant that i harvested the sprouts from is growing like crazy after i thinned it out a bit.  looks like i'll have some more harvesting to do soon.  thank you again for all the fantastic advice.  my follow up question...  as the sundew flowers dry up, what is the best way to plant those seeds?  one flower at a time for a thick bunch, or spread them equally for a sundew carpet?  user preference? or is there a method preferred by the babies?

Answer
Hi Darren,

Definitely spread the seeds out.  I usually roll the seedpod between my fingers over a piece of white paper and let the seeds fall out.  You can then scatter them over some wet peat moss.  They germinate in about 3 weeks.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com