Question
QUESTION: I just received yesterday in the mail a cape sundew. it looked pretty good as far as i could tell with 1-2 dead leaves, that i had removed. In shipping it was wrapped in a moist paper towel. The root was long and dark brown

I washed with hot water a used plastic small pot, added organic peat moss(was going to add perlite but unfortunately the only one i had wasn't organic/un-enriched, so i just used the peat moss)

I put the plant in, misted the base of it with a little distilled water, and put the pot in a bowl with some distilled water.

I put it outside last night, but unfortunately the sun wasn't out it was too late in the day and a few clouds were out.

I came out this morning(the sun was out and shining on the plant, it hasn't been long though) and the tips of all the plants leaves were black and withering. another leaf had died which i removed.
this would be the first time its seen sun since it was mailed out, but i don't want it to die.

Am i doing anything wrong? is there anything i can do to prevent it from dying?

ANSWER: Hi Perry,

You need to give plants some transition time after shipping.  Keep it a bit shady for about a week, then gradually move it to full sun.  D. capensis likes it a bit cooler, and I know the Midwest has been having very hot weather.  If your temps are above 90, maybe consider having the plant indoors in a window if your house is air conditioned.  If it stays outside try to position your plant so it has an Eastern exposure.  This will give it morning sun, but not the hot afternoon sun.

What was the brand of peat moss you used?  Was it in a small bag or in bale?

Good Growing!

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

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

QUESTION: The peat moss is majestic earth organic sphagnum peat moss. It's a bale i guess, considering it is in a big square like package.

And about the sun thing, I live in a 3rd story apartment. I have 2 balconies. I found out today, that 1 of them doesn't really get any sunlight at all. And the other only gets a few hours of morning sunlight. I don't have many windows either.

Are there any other ways I could give it the light it needs? I'd love to have it on this specific counter-top in the apartment anyways. I was reading a little bit about using a fluorescent 40 watt bulb for this kind of plant? would it be alright as an all indoor plant? Any information you could give me on stuff like that I'd appreciate.

Answer
Hi Perry,

You can keep the plant outside for the summer, but once the weather starts getting cold you will need to bring it in.  Cape Sundews have only very mild winters in nature.  It would be equivalent to USDA zone 9, like central California.

They do very well under fluorescent lights.  For a single plant a fluorescent desk lamp can work as well as compact fluorescent lights.  A two-tube shoplight fixture is ideal.  We have a detailed section on using artificial light in our volume #2 DVD:  http://www.cobraplant.com/dvd/volume2

Good Growing!

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