Growing Drosera Capensis in the tropics

[jiacheow]

Hi everyone, 

I’m from Malaysia, where the temperature is typically somewhere between around 28°C and 35°C. Over the past few months I started growing sundews on my balcony. I’m totally new to sundews but so far Drosera Capillaris “long arm”, drosera burmanii, and drosera nidiformis have been doing well. Drosera Paradoxa have been doing ok for a while too until it seems to enter dormancy due to lack of sunlight. However, one sundew that I have difficulty keeping alive has been the supposedly indestructible Drosera Capensis. I had multiple instances where a newly arrived plant will die within a few days right beside other sundews which are doing ok.

While browsing through forums, it appears that not many fellow CP growers in the tropics grow Drosera Capensis. I’ve also seen a few growers mention that Drosera Capensis doesn’t do well here, and it will often die back to its roots during hotter months. Which leads me to wonder - perhaps d.capensis’s ease of care and suitability to beginners only apply to growers in cooler regions? While it is a “subtropical” plant, it probably doesn’t do as well in the true tropics, especially when compared to heat loving plants like the petiolaris complex or burmanii.

Any thoughts and experiences on growing drosera Capensis in the tropics?

[Argo88]

Hi!! I can’t answer your question.. I only suggest you to grow Drosera capensis from seeds... in my experience, droseras grown from seeds are healthier and stronger, because they are acclimatated to your growing conditions yet;-)

[jiacheow]

12 hours ago, Argo88 said:

Hi!! I can’t answer your question.. I only suggest you to grow Drosera capensis from seeds... in my experience, droseras grown from seeds are healthier and stronger, because they are acclimatated to your growing conditions yet;-)

That’s interesting... I do think that shock due to change of environment is the reason, but my other sundews survive the process very well. If I give cape sundews a try again, I’ll get seeds. :)