Expert: Christopher Littrell - 4/28/2009

Question
I have 2 questions for you today sir. My sundew (drosera
capensis) was purchased in a death cube and i replanted it
using all the requirements (proper soil mix and distilled
water etc..). The plant is doing well in the full sun and
has started producing new leaves, so the old leaves which
were starting to shrink and turn brown i pinched off. The
flower stalk (not blossomed yet) is quite large and the new
leaves are not quite full grown. Will pinching the old
leaves off hurt the plant? ive heard i should cut off the
flower so the plant can use the energy to make new leaves,
but i want it to flower at the same time..will letting the
flower stay and blosom kill the plant?

Answer
Hello Gary,

Removing old growth will not harm the plant, however; wait until the leaves dry out and brown back and only cut off the brown sections. Greenery still provides the plant with photosynthesis.

The myth that a flowering carnivorous plant will die is simply that, a myth produced by growers that did not grow the plant in proper sunlight and in proper soil, water, or other conditions favorable to a flowering carnivorous plant. Most of those myths surround the Venus Flytrap as it is a full sun plant that weakens after being allowed to flower if it is not grown in strong light. I have a Flytrap that I have grown indoors for several years without difficulty and have had it flower several times without problem. It is capable of such flowering simply due to the fact that I provide the plant with all the light I can even though it is indoors.

Having placed your D. capansis out in full sun, it should do well and will not weaken after flowering. You should actually be the proud parent of thousands of tiny sundews in a few months should you sow the tiny seeds that the parent will invariably produce.

Christopher