Expert: Christopher Littrell - 2/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: Well my last plant is completely dead.
So i purchased a new one today, 2/19/08
It has white spots on it, where the dew should be, I've seen that most in google images have red dew not white dew.
Just a small concern for now,
I was reading other questions saying you can chop off the leaves and let it start new again, but I havent ever done that before...
So my real questions are
Why does my Lance leafed Sundew have white dew instead of red dew. (purchased from lowes again)
and
What is the fastest way of reviving the sundew,
should i keep it in the cubical for two weeks or should i chop off the leaves and water it and wait a month for new leaves to grow?

ANSWER: Hello Kain,

You really will not need to do anything drastic like chop off the leaves. The plant sounds fine for now, so place it in a position where it will remain in temperatures over 60 degrees, but below 90 degrees, with partial sun, mostly from several hours of good strong morning sunlight. Be careful of the humdity dome as it can overheat the plant if it gets too much sun in a particular position.

The humidity dome can be removed slowly by punching 1/4 inch holes in it every three days, perhaps 6 holes each time, until it looks like Swiss cheese and no longer holds in humidity by the end of the second week. By that time you should be able to remove the dome and let the plant live open pot.

In strong, but diluted or partial sunlight, the plant should develop coloration. Drosera adelae tend to produce purplish red leaves when in strong light. Be careful not to give the plant too much sun as this can burn its leaves. The tentacles and leaves of many species of sundew can produce red coloration in strong light, however a few do not produce red coloration. The dew itself does not change color, but the underlying tentacle and gland can, making the dew appear red.

Good luck with your second try,

Christopher

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the advice, but now I'm confused on how I can make 1/4 inch holes in a plastic lid. Do I use power tools, and have the plant still in there or what, I don't want to cause the plant to go into a humidity shock like my last one.
I guess power tools will have to do the trick....
I don't know much about tools, I'm more of the computer kind of person. haha, sorry for the novice questions.

Answer
Hello Kain,

The plastic lid should be rather thin. A sharp knife or ice pick might help.. but be careful and always use with adult supervision.

You could also just brace the lid up a quarter inch every three days with a pencil and some tape. Every three days, the top should be braced up slightly higher until the top no longer holds in humidity and the plant can be taken out after two weeks.

Christopher