Question
QUESTION: i recently got 2 alice sundews from your nursery about 3 weeks ago, and they just aren't doin' very well.  of the two plants, only a small portion of one of them is ever dewy.  i have they in an east window, right next to a spoonleaf sundew, and the spoonleaf is SUPER dewy right now.  do the two plants require much difference in conditions?   the sundew almost over crowded its pot, so i pulled about 20 tiny little plants out of the clump, and started a little sundew gardein in an 8x8 container.  they are very small, any hints on how to ensure they grow to fill that container? i've got them in a 1/2 1/2 mix of perlite and peat moss.  keep them wet,and i've got a 40 watt UV bulb about 8 inches above them. (along with a lance leaf that i recently broke apart and gave to my brother, sis and mom).  also, any suggestions on the lanceleaf?  since i repotted the double plant to a HUGE pot, it has only sprouted short (yet dewy) leaves?  am i getting it too much light?  i know they turn a little red and dont grow big wide leaves if they have LOTS of sun.  

again, as always, thanks for the expert advice, my green thumb (and my plants) appreciate all that your nursery does for us with the special hobby.

Darren Schlechter of SD

ANSWER: Hi Darren,

The secret to growing Alice sundews is cool nights.  They come from the coastal mountains of South Africa, so they appreciate cooler temperatures than the spoon leaf sundew, which is native to Asia and Australia.  If the temperature is too warm, they tend to reduce their dew production.

After repotting any sundew, you'll see them look pretty awful for a about a month.  It usually takes them that long to recover from the shock of having their roots disturbed.  So give your plant time.  The main plant might remain looking decrepit, but it'll likely focus its energy on sending out runners.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin



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

QUESTION: wow, yet again another gem of advice.  
i actually gave the big plant to my mom, she has a HUGE sunny south window in the living room (which her nep sanguenia is enjoying with explosive growing results).  so i took one of the 'off shoots' that had potential.  i'm sure it'll start flexing its growing muscles soon. it has been about 2-3 weeks since repotting.  

My other question is this.  My nep mulensis x lowii ......  i'm guessing i need the cool nights and sunny days to make this little guy pitcher?  patience is pretty good, but i'm being tested with this project.  would repotting help? or just plenty of patience.....  i've had it in a south window for the last year.  last summer it popped out a few pitchers, but it is still so small.  i put it outside last week to enjoy the 70-75 degree sunny spring south dakota days, and 50 degree nights, good or bad move?

Answer
It usually takes sundews a good month to recover from transplanting, so give the adelae a bit more time.

The muluensis x lowii is an enigma for us.  They like cool nights, lots of light and a good deal of humidity.  Some growers were successful in growing this plant in an unheated terrarium for the extra humidity.  We have another batch in our greenhouse, and we set our misters on for 5 minutes every 2 hours.  So far we've been getting some very decent growth on them.  In general, this hybrid grows very slowly and won't reach the large size of other Nepenthes.  So try growing it in a terrarium instead.  I'd avoid putting it outdoors since the humidity fluctuates too much in South Dakota.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin