Question
Sundew
My mom, in her infinite giving nature, bought me a sundew to add to my collection. It seems to be doing well aside from perhaps needing a touch more sunlight. My problem is that it seems someone picked up an identification tag that had fallen on the ground and randomly placed it with this sundew, as it claims to be a D. dichotoma. It definitely doesn't have the right leaf structure to match that claim, instead looking more (as my best guess) a spathulata. I'm hoping you guys might confirm or deny with your own guess so I know whether to put it outside for winter dormancy or to keep it indoors. Thanks!
AnswerHi Kristina,
It doesn't look anything like a temperate species. It's definitely a tropical species, so this keep this plant indoors. Drosera spatulata would be my first guess only because it's the most common of the rosette sundews. However, the plant was originally grown in poor lighting, which makes it difficult to definitively identify it. Plants tend to produce green spindly leaves when grown in low light.
Another possibility is Drosera aliciae, but this too is difficult to determine. I suggest growing the plant in very bright sunlight, such as in a sunny west or south window. Wait until you have a new set of leaves and more color in the plant. At that point you'll have a better chance for properly identifying it.
In any case, definitely treat it like a tropical sundew. For information on growing tropical sundews, read our care sheet on our main website:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets
Good growing!
Jacob Farin
