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Carnivorous Plants/wierd root from Drosera Adalae

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Expert: - 2/27/2008


Question
Hi this is going to be very hard to describe but i'll try my best. I've seen 2 types of adalae's, 1 where the leaves grow like a fern, and the other where the leaves grow from the base or at a certain point on the stem.  I have the second one. My adult plant, from where the leaves come out, theres about a 1 inch gap of stem from the ground.  When I looked closely at the point where all the leaves grow out from, I noticed 2 very large root-like things growing out from it.  Both of it are about 3-4 times the size of a normal root and are growing towards the ground, but are not touching it yet.  I've had sundews for over 2 yrs and I have never seen this before.  Any idea what it is, and what it's for?

Answer
Hello Matt,

If there is one thing to know about Drosera adelaes is that they can always surprise you. It sounds like the plant has a growth of tissue that will become rootlike growths, possibly also growing leaves after intitial root growth. I have seen Drosera adelae split their growth crowns, seemingly die and regenerate only to decline slowly after a year of growth, and produce odd growths from random points that eventually become roots and new plantlets. One Drosera adelae can become dozens in a few months in this way.

It sounds like your plant is just fine... look forward to seeing more of them soon.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

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Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

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