5 replies to this topic

[flycatchers]

Hi
My first ever Drosophyllum which I grew from seed this spring is now tending to go a bit limp
I have it in a large water lily basket in a mix of peat & sand. So far it has done very well and put on quite a bit of growth. I have been careful not to over water it and does not stand in a water tray. It is in full sun (not that there is much of that lately).
There is not as much dew on the leaves and the leaves unfurling are tending to droop over rather than going straight up. There is lots of new growth appearing at the base thought. Does this plant reduce growing &  look a little  past its best as we come to late summer, or is it more serious?

cheers

bill

[BillP]

Hi Bill,

If the leaves are limp (rather than still turgid but happening to be growing downwards) then it isn't getting enough water - either because the roots are dying or because you aren't watering it enough!

In the first case it is going to die whatever you do.

In the second case it could die unless you water it more.

Various threads have claimed that Drosophyllum grows fine on the tray system. There are a couple of apparently healthy specimens in the Princess Of Wales Conservatory at Kew which are in sopping compost with all the other CPs.

(also) Bill

[Rogier]

The main key is that Drosophyllum needs as much as direct sun as possible. When provided it is no problem to grow them in permanent 1-2 cm of water. (considered the pot is +/- 20 cm tall, or slack-potted)
In winter they need to be kept as dry as possible without drying out the plant, as this is the most difficult time (especially december)

Succes!

[vic brown]

I agree it sounds like it's too dry. Occasionally I don't give my plants enough water and they droop a little. They usually recover very quickly when given a good drink though.

Vic

[flycatchers]

BillP said:

Hi Bill,

If the leaves are limp (rather than still turgid but happening to be growing downwards) then it isn't getting enough water - either because the roots are dying or because you aren't watering it enough!

In the first case it is going to die whatever you do.

In the second case it could die unless you water it more.

(also) Bill

Alas it must have been the roots are dieing as it collapsed completely today :cry:

I have a second smaller plant that is still looking good. But so was this larger one until it went limp overnight.
Both were growing steadily from seed germinated this spring, and had caught vast numbers of flying insects. They were quite close together so could that theory of not growing them together be correct? Or am I doing something else wrong? As winter approaches I want to keep my remaining plant alive & well. Any ideas what could have caused the demise? The compost had been wet, but not soggy. With plenty of full sun all day.

cheers

bill

[Richard]

Your problem may have been caused by using a water lily basket. This would have allowed the compost to dry out very rapidly and once peat becomes dry it doesn't re absorb water very well. You could have been regularly watering your plant, but it may have just been flooding down the sides of the pot without getting to the rootball.
I grow Drosophyllum in large clay pots. I don't bother with slack potting or anything like that, I just place the large (6-8") pot in the water tray. I have never experienced any problems growing the plant this way, and it does seem to thrive for me. During the winter I keep it bareley moist. This plant does require huge amounts of sunlight though. Something I am unable to provide it with so after a year or two, my plants look far too straggly and I have to start again.