Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 1/31/2011

Question
QUESTION: I'm trying again. I recently bought another drosera adelae at Lowes. Some of the leaves had dew on them. Now they're drying up like all the others I've had. I live in York, PA. The plant is at a south window with additional flourscent light, a corkscrew bulb as in your video. The room is about 60 degrees this time of year. I left in in its dome for the time being, since it appeared to be growing well in the store, with the lid partially open. I've got about 1" of water around the pot, rainwater. What else can I do? The last adelae I had, I cut back and put it in partial sunlight, but it dried up like all the rest.

ANSWER: Hi Craig,

I'm a bit confused.  I looked up your question from last June, and what I recommended then.  Did you cut that plant right to the soil surface?  You said it dried up like all the rest, but if all of the plant was cut off there would be no leaves to dry up.  You saw no new shoots after a month?  Did you keep the plant constantly wet?  What happened with the Drosera spatulata?  If you can send me a photo of your current plant that will help with a recommendation.

I've enclosed a photo of a D. adelae that sits in my kitchen window.  It's about two years old, and has been cut down to bare soil twice, the most recent being early last fall.


Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com


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

QUESTION: I cut the plant back to the soil surface. Its still in its original sphagnum. It is safe to transplant it? Does it need sunlight now and how long does it usually take to start growing leaves?   CG

ANSWER: Hi Craig,

It very much needs sun now.  That is what will help initiate the new growth.  Don't transplant until you have leaves around an inch long.  Depending on your light conditions and temperatures, it will take around a month to see new shoots.  They will start as little tiny green sprigs, then each successive batch of leaves gets bigger.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com

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

QUESTION: I cut back my adelae on 12 January. It hasn't started to sprout anything yet. Its in south window getting sunlight supplemented by flourescent 60watt bulb.Average temp about 60. Is that normal?

Answer
Hi Craig,

It definitely can be.  Three weeks to a month is usually when the new shoots begin.  What you'll see is little green sprigs beginning where the cut stems or any exposed roots where.  Once you see those green sprouts, the growth picks up nicely at that point.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com