Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 12/12/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi guys,

Can you tell me that is going on with my Pygmy Sundews?
Some are perfectly fine while some have all there leaves closed.
I did no fertilize them recently so I don't know what's going on.
I have them growing under a 2 tube 40 Wat florescent shop light with my other carnivorous plants.
I do not have them in any type of covered structure.
I use my tap water, but it works with my carnivorous plants.
(not high in minerals)

Thanks again, Jake

ANSWER: Hi Jake,

My first suspect is your tap water.  Most of the mid-west has limestone bedrock, so the water tends to have a high calcium content.  Hard water damage comes on slowly, and outer leaf damage is often how you first see it as the minerals begin to build-up.  Try switching to distilled water and see what happens.

Good Growing!

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

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

QUESTION: Hi Jeff,

I was debating wether or not to get a TDS meatier.
But science you told me that my water maybe hard, I went ahead
and bought one.
I got it today and guess what, it said 146
Can I dilute my water?

Answer
Hi Jake,

At 146ppm your water is without a doubt the problem.  At some point all of your sundews are going to start showing signs of hard water damage.

There's no way to dilute the water, but you have many options here.  First would be to collect rainwater or to melt snow.  Natural precipitation has no minerals.  Many grocery stores have machines that you can purchase water from for less than 50 cents a gallon if you bring your own containers.  The machines use reverse osmosis to purify the water.  Distilled water is around 89 cents a gallon.  Another option would be a ZeroWater filter.  This is the only filter pitcher that removes all the minerals from the water.  Here's a link:  http://www.zerowater.com/  We liked our ZeroWater pitcher so much we bought the water machine dispenser, even though we use reverse osmosis for the nursery.  There's also quite a few reverse osmosis systems out there, but they tend to be more expensive short-term, but cheaper long-term.  You would need to do an internet search for what might work for you.

Good Growing!

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