Question
Plants
I purchase My Cape Sundews from Home Depot about 7 weeks ago. Develop
When I received them, they were not producing dew and some of the leaves tips had begun to brown but they did have the red tentacles. I keep them in a window for a month, and spray then with distilled water.
Then I place them in a terrarium 2?6攂y 2?by 1? I have them under a 250 watt Metal-halide lamp and a 100 watt High Pressure Sodium lamp with a fan blowing on the lamp fixtures. They have been in the terrarium for a week. The old leaves are beginning to die off new grouth is apparent but it turns brown at the tips before it can develop the red tentacles. Two days ago I palce them in a container and fill it with an inch of distilled water. Can you give me some advice?
Thank You
Gilbert
AnswerHi Gilbert,
Thanks for the photo. That always helps.
Most of what you are experiencing here is caused from the transition out of the cubes these poor plants are sold in. If you are going to grow them under your lights, make sure they are about 12-15 inches away from the Metal Halide until you get an idea how warm it will be for them. Cape sundews want it bright (ours are in full sun during the summer), but do better in cooler temperatures. If you're closer than that, it could be why new growth is burning. For now, cut off any of those bad leaves; you can't save those. Just leave the crown intact. Keep them wet and give them a couple weeks to see how they look. They are fairly fast growing, so you should see red, sticky leaves in a few days if they like what your are doing. Also, make sure your terrarium is partially open. 100% humidity will cause you more problems with mold, and Cape's are not normally in conditions that humid all them time even in nature.
For more information on growing tropical sundews watch volume #2 of the "Grow Carnivorous Plants" DVD series: http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38&products_id=256
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
