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Carnivorous Plants/Drosera Filiformis
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Question
First I want to thank you guys for a great website and for all the information. I purchased some plants from you guys and they are all doing great, and the quality was more than I expected from mail order. I am having a problem with one of the plants and I hope we can save it. It is the Drosera Filiformis Red, when I received it it was about 10 inches long and most of the stems were in good shape. I put it with all the other indoor plants with 100w compact floresent bulbs about 6 inches away from the tops. The branches started to turn brown and the new ones were coming in shorter. I cut the dead branches off but as soon as it is completely unrolled it dies, lucky there are new ones still growing. I tried moving the plant lower and higher but the same result. I tried moving the plant to a place that had softer lights, there is 5 24w floresent tubes, with some of my other sundews that I had that were doing good. but I am still getting the same result, the new branches as they grow in they are shorter than the older ones. I have it in the pot that you shipped in which and the water level about 1 to 1 1/2 inches. The water quality is good, I have a filtration systems that goes to a softner then to a 3 cartridge system then to reverse osmosis unit. I know it is overkill but it is also our drinking water which is how I justified it to my wife. I have your ebook and the second dvd but I just can't figure this one out. All of my other sundews are doing great so any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
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Thank You'
Rick
Hi Rick,
Thanks for sending the photo. That always helps.
You're going to hate my answer. It needs more light, a lot more. Drosera filiformis, all varieties, need strong sunlight. The light green color on the all-red variety is a dead giveaway. For growing them strictly under artificial light it needs to be very bright. Putting this plant outdoors for the summer is often a good option, but if you don't have an outdoor area, combining a bright window with an overhead fluorescent light can be a good option. Part of the problem with a species like this is the thin leaves. They are adapted to living in very sunny conditions, as where many rosetted sundews have broader leaves and often have to compete with some other vegetation. During the winter we had this species under a 1,000 watt metal halide.
Here's a link to some photos of them in their native Florida habitat: http://www.sarracenia.com/trips/fl022010.html
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
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Answers by Expert:
Sarracenia Northwest
Expertise
If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!
Experience
With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again.
Education/Credentials
Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.
No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.
Just the straight facts from guys who grow and propagate
thousands of carnivorous plants each year.
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PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR QUESTION: We no longer answer how-to questions (i.e. How do I propagate...?; How do I grow...?). Instead, we help growers by diagnosing a specific plant problem and offering solutions (i.e. Why is my sundew not producing dew?; Is now a good time to divide my Sarracenia?; Why are the traps turning black?; What's a good substitute for perlite?; Why didn't my seeds germinate?; Can you identify this carnivorous plant for me?) For general plant care, please read our care sheets on our main website: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets For business questions: http://www.cobraplant.com/contact |
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