Pygmy Sundew Care Timeline

[2LAP]

Hello all

I've read a few things on the pygmy sundews and have been a little confused. Any chance that someone could post details of how you care for these little sundews at different times of the year in the UK?

Thanks, this would be really appreciated.

[Ellis]

Hey 2LAP. I'll leave a month by month guide to some of the more advanced growers but I can offer a rough seasonal guide!

I grow my plants indoors from October until April. They are cool growers but most dislike an extended frost.

Mid-April I place them outdoors again under some shading initially (to harden up) until the following October again.

Pygmies are basically a summer sensitive species so deal with dormancy as it happens to a species. This is only my second year with them and I lost a few individuals last summer but am hoping to lose none this year following some of the excellent advice of CP2k, Tamlin and Seandew. Look up their posts on pygmy dormancy for more.

Hope this is helpful

[2LAP]

Hay Ellis,

Thats great and the kind of info I'm after. Its reading lots of posts and the books that have confused me; particularly when there is an international aspect to them.

Given that the plants are 'summer sensitive' why take them outside where they are subjected to higher heat and sunlight?

[Sean Spence]

Firstly, not all pygmy Drosera are Summer sensitive and not all of them go dormant in Summer.

Generally, it doesn't matter which country you live in- the US, UK or Australia, the plants should be grown in the same way. Although I live in Australia, the information I present is also applicable to growers in other countries.

The following information details the growth cycle of some of the more sensitive species which do go dormant in Summer. (eg- D. barbigera, miniata, sewelliae, echinoblastus, closterostigma, citrina and others)

These pygmy Drosera have a number of growth phases throughout the year. In Autumn the plants slow down in growth, cease forming leaves and instead begin to produce gemmae. At this stage all species can be grown in a water tray without any ill effects.

Once gemmae production has ceased- generally some time in Winter, the plants begin to produce leaves again. Once again, the pots can remain in the water tray at this time. Growth at this time of the year is slow until the temps warm up and the daylength increases in Spring.

As Spring approaches, the growth rate increases and most species will begin to form flowers. Flowering can affect the growth of some species, but it is usually worth letting the plants flower for the sheer beauty of the flowers.

As Summer approaches you will probably notice that many species will cease producing leaves and the stipule buds in the centre of the plants will increase in size. At this stage it is a good idea to remove the pot from the water tray and let it dry out until it is just moist.

From this time until early Autumn when the temps drop, the plants are only watered every few days. The top of the potting mix of my plants generally remains dry and crispy throughout this period. To water I place the pots in a water tray (about an inch of water) for a period of around 10 minutes until the pot becomes noticably heavier. I do not allow the pots to be immersed long enough for the moisture to reach the surface. This procedure is repeated throughout the hotter months until the plants begin their next phase of growth.

At the end of Summer the plants will break dormancy and a rapid growth spurt will occur. The pots can now be placed back into the water trays. I have found that some species can even flower for a second time during this period. This growth period will continue until the gemmae production begins again in Autumn.

There are many species and hybrids which will grow happily throughout Summer and won't go dormant. These species can remain in the watertray all year (eg- D. pulchella, pygmaea, occidentalis, nitidula sp. nitidula, scorpioides, mannii and others)

If you have any questions or need any clarification on any of the above information please feel free to ask. As I said, even though this is the way I grow my plants in southern Australia, plants in the UK can/should be grown in a similar way to ensure success.

Sean.

[2LAP]

Thanks Sean,

This brings together lots that I have read and is very comprehensive. Its is really appreciated!!!

[Bob H]

That's a useful discourse Sean, thanks from me too :-)

[Ellis]

Yeah thanks Sean for filling in the gaps of my relatively newbie knowledge.

However, can I ask you whether you put all your pygmies through the reduced watering summer schedule or only those that you consider/are summer dormant species?

Secondly, do you wait for those plants to go dormant or do you induce it by this action?

Much appreciated.

[2LAP]

Hay All,

In addition to Ellis' questions...

- Are pygmies suitable for indoor windowsill growing?

- Which windowsill?

- Are there any special conditions required for windowsill growing?

[Rob-Rah]

There's also a general online article by Bestcarnivorousplants here:

http://www.bestcarnivorousplants.com/cultivation_pygmies.htm

[Sean Spence]

I only put the so called 'sensitive' species through the drier conditions during Summer. All others are left in the water tray with my other Drosera species. Interestingly, the species which I grow drier were the ones that looked the healthiest this Summer.

I usually wait until the plants begin to show signs of dormancy before I dry them out. These signs are basically the stipule bud increasing in size and the cessation of leaf production.

Pygmies will happily grow on a windowsill. They really love alot of light so a south facing window would be best, particularly during Winter. Be careful in Summer as it may get too hot on a south facing window (it does here in Australia, I don't know about Europe or the US). In this case you could grow them on an east or west facing window during hot periods. I would grow plants on a windowsill exactly the same as I would in the greenhouse.

[2LAP]

Thanks Rob and Sean.

In veiw of your responses I'll move my pigmys to a window with more direct sun. I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes on. ;)

[Ellis]

Thanks Sean!