Godolphin Greenhouses
Carnivore
How close is the light to the plant? Do you keep the plant pot sitting in water or water as the substrate dries out?
Drosera capensis
- Thread starter shelilla
- Start date
rabbitpie
Sprout
The light sits about 16 - 20 inches away from the plant, watering is done when the top of the substrate begins to get dry, it's been about every 2-3 days. The pot is well draining.
Looks not too bad. Maybe not very dewy. You could try feeding it. Peat/perlite may be better when you repot. Put the pot in a little dish with a cm of water.
rabbitpie
Sprout
As far as feeding it, what do you recommend? It appears to be catching fungus gnats fine on its own, should I still supplement further?
Would repotting be recommended in the spring or when it's outgrowing it's pot?
I'm sorry about the list of questions, I hope it isn't too much of a bother.
If you see dew you can feed it.
No need to repot until it gets really leggy and growth slows down.
No need to repot until it gets really leggy and growth slows down.
Les serres de Paolo Inc.
Carnivorous Plant Addict
I started to put them in large quantity into the market early this year. The thing I could see is a problem with the air/humidity. Here some pictures and one also showing with flowers stalk so it should not be a problem having them flowering but something is stressing the plant. My best bet would be to simply put it in a transparent bag, inflate it and close it well. It should get back it’s dew in 2 weeks or more.
My Drosera are in water tray system. Should never miss water or they will loose their dew. The substrate I use for this plant is peat moss and perlite.
My Drosera are in water tray system. Should never miss water or they will loose their dew. The substrate I use for this plant is peat moss and perlite.
rabbitpie
Sprout
Ah, you know what, there is a vent near the shelving where it lives, I'm guessing that's the culprit! I will move it to a humidity dome for the time being to recover and maybe consider a different spot for my CPs, I wonder if this vent is what killed my pinguilas, though they were struggling as is.
Your Droseras are so beautiful! But yes, I think this vent may be stressing my CPs out, despite having a humidifier nearby. I will start using a watering tray once it's recovered, thank you!
^^^ this is good advice, I bet will correct your issue. Humidity is not your issue, I grow those Drosera here outdoors, sticky as you ever seen in the middle of a blazing summer drought.
By the way, Welcome to the forum! I have some other sub tropical sundew seeds free if you would like to try.
rabbitpie
Sprout
I don't think it's the light that is the problem, I have a Drosera dichotoma 'Giant' that is loving/obsessed with the light output (though at 75%, but closer to the fixture) maintains its dew with no problems:
I also have LED grow lights so they don't get as hot as traditional lights.
The struggling Drosera is still on the struggle bus, but I believe it's on its way to recovery, judging by the new growth. It's also trying to flower again, so now I want to pose the question of if I should leave the pedicle to grow or remove it to reduce stress?
Bonus baby Drosera pic for plant tax:
I would cut the flower stem. Let it flower another time when it's stronger.
If Drosera capensis ‘Alba’ wasn’t enough of a mutant already!
It just underwent an unwanted forced winter dormancy outdoors and is likely why the first new leaves are misshapen.
It just underwent an unwanted forced winter dormancy outdoors and is likely why the first new leaves are misshapen.
Olivera
Carnivorous Plant Addict
Cutie.
kcskou
Plant
First time growing capensis here!
Am I looking at an emerging flower stalk? I have just fed it for the first time two weeks ago. This little guy only has like 7 or 8 “active” (green and dewy) leaves, and it is already trying to flower?!
I should cut it off now if I want it to spend the energy to grow bigger and more leaves right?
Am I looking at an emerging flower stalk? I have just fed it for the first time two weeks ago. This little guy only has like 7 or 8 “active” (green and dewy) leaves, and it is already trying to flower?!
I should cut it off now if I want it to spend the energy to grow bigger and more leaves right?
If you don't want seeds or flowers, just cut it off.
kcskou
Plant
I do want both seeds and flowers just for the experience, but don’t want the plant to decline after flowering - I will cut it and let it try again when it is bigger. Thanks for the quick response!
I think the capensis can handle flowering.
Sundew
Sprout
I agree with Lloyd. Your capensis looks large enough to flower without any negative effects on the plant.
If you still prefer to cut the flower stalk, you can let it get a bit longer (maybe longer than 6 cm) and then cut it off. You can then place the flower stalk in a test tube of distilled water (or on soil) and it will form new plants.
If you still prefer to cut the flower stalk, you can let it get a bit longer (maybe longer than 6 cm) and then cut it off. You can then place the flower stalk in a test tube of distilled water (or on soil) and it will form new plants.
kcskou
Plant
Will keep that in mind next time - already snipped it off. I know capensis is one of the “weeds” in the CP world, but this was my only Drosera so I couldn’t bring myself to be rough with it
I’ve already managed to make it lose more than half of its leaves (dead leaves not in photo, already removed) by potting it in the wrong substrate (it was a mix for my pings and I didn’t know better at the time - 78% perlite 22% vermiculite and a bit of dolomitic lime - yup, I shouldn’t have added any calcium and I should have a lot more peat in it) and letting it dry out too thoroughly. Now it sits in a water tray and has bounced back quite impressively even in the wrong substrate.
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