Question
I have two scorpiodes which I have had for two months now and for the first month and a half they were awesome. I keep them in a windowsill(west)all morning(6 plus hours when its sunny or just bright light all day when not) and then in afternoon the plant goes out on the porch in the sun(or just bright light if not sunny) for the rest of the day. I live in Washington and we have had more sun than usual this year. My problem is that i've noticed that there is always new growth on top, but the bottom growth is dying quickly leaving only a stem with dead leaves on it.This sundew is far from dead, but is this normal or what am I oing wrong, all scorpiodes I have seen have many layers of beautiful leaves.............not mine. What can I do for it?.  thanks ......SCOTT CLARK

Answer
Hi Scott,

Your plant is just fine.  As D. scorpiodes ages they always look like this.  We have found however, that they seem to live about 2 years then often die.  Be sure to collect gemmae this fall and sow them to get more plants.  The gemmae will form in the center of the plant and look like little green bb's.  Take a pencil and gently knock them off when they seem well developed.  When ready they fall off very easy.  Simply put these on some new pots with typical sundew media and keep them wet.  They will start growing rather quickly.  Sow them right away since they are not seeds, but little embryonic plants.  They don't last very long.

Good Growing!

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