That’s…pretty much it. They must be kept in non-porous pots and trays (glass or plastic), water TDS must be below 50 ppm and keep water in the tray constantly. They will even bloom with gorgeous little flowers. No fertilizer ever, just bugs.
I can’t emphasize enough a sunny spot. This window faces southwest and so it gets 8 hours of direct sun. This helps with growth and also makes the mucus shine which seems to attract the bugs.
Don’t listen to OP. This a gateway plant. Before you know it you’ll have an artifical bog with automated RO systems and misters. Stay strong.
Although cape sundew are relatively agnostic to humidity , I have to admit that I am currently considering upgrading my RO system …
hahaha see! All kidding aside as long as you have an RO system you’re probably fine. I went for years making a gallon or so at a time with a sink adapter and collecting rainwater, but my background is in water and control systems, so I got bored and took it to far.
If you DO go for a full bog, I recommend those concrete mixing tubs you can get at home depot, and some bulk head fittings from amazon. A few things to watch out for are:
- Sizing plumbing to avoid siphoning/annoying gurgling
- slime mold/algae abatement.
I have all my “residents” in individual pots with sphagnum, so there’s quite a lot of water, and lots of room for algae growth. I’m in the process of replacing one of the bays (the mixing bins I mentioned) with an artificial media I can grow a living moss bed across (no sunlight to the liquid phase means no algae), but I’ve noticed that does encourage slime molds. It also encourages fungus gnats but it being a carnivorious plant bed… that hasnt been an issue.
Hey man it’s just a taste to take the edge off!
This is what I browse this sub for, thank you.
Likewise ! I hope it helps. I got this one from California Carnivores, I’d recommend them if you can’t find one locally.
nice! good to know! whatever you do, don’t treat the surface with hydrogen peroxide, or put a layer of fine gravel over the soil. that could diminish your fungus gnat harvest.
Yup, I’ve tried all the traditional gnat remedies but even if I eradicate them they always find a way back, so I decided to lean into it.
maybe you’ll drive them to population collapse due to exhausting the resources of their environment!
That’s always the dream, then I leave the screen door open one time and they find a way back in!
Can I ask why they need to be plastic pots and trays? I have mine in a glass tray and they aren’t doing well so this could help.
Glass is fine too. They’re very sensitive to mineral buildup so terracotta , stone, etc will harm them over time.
I’ve thought about doing that so thanks for the tip!
I have mine in a terra cotta pot in a plastic tray and it’s doing great. Are you only watering with distilled water? Tap water will kill it over time. It also needs to stay wet at all times, and it needs lots of sun
I am, and I have them under a grow light but their leaves have been turning black. I think I’m just frying it with the direct sun that comes through the window, but I’ve blocked that so hopefully they turn around.
I’m not sure what else could be turning the leaves that black color before they even mature, but if you had any tips that’d be great. Hopefully closing the blinds on that window are all I need to do.
They can take the sun, I’d look at your water. Distilled or reverse osmosis water only, TDS should be below 50. You can get a cheap TDS meter for under $20 if you’re not sure.
I’d stay away from terracotta long term but if it’s working for you, play ball.
Why no terra cotta? It’s pretty high quality and isn’t leaching minerals or anything.
It does leach minerals over time. Sundew seem to be less picky than some other carnivores in this respect, I’m just passing on what works for me. The worst possible outcome of choosing the wrong material is ya kill a $14 plant so it’s pretty low stakes.
Well I’ve got several large drosera and a ruby red flytrap in the same pot that have all been doing well for a long time. It’s a high quality pot that’s wide and shallow
I’ve seen a pot like that was a prefilled carnivorous garden, and the inside of the pot was glazed.
I was thinking about doing this and then I see this post. Good timing. It definitely beats having those unsightly yellow traps in half the pots…
By a mile. Plus, and this may be significant to my mental health provider, I kinda enjoy watching their pathetic struggles against an onslaught of booger covered arms. I have issues.
Oh dear! Although I’m starting to feel the same way after they nibbled some of my precious seedling roots
Good. I can feel your anger. I am defenseless. Take your weapon! Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!