Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 6/22/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello Jeff or Jacob

I am finding it difficult to identify the difference between Drosera Capensis broad leaf form and Drosera Capensis giant form. I bought some seed and some of the giant and broad forms may have been mixed up so some of them may have been mislabelled.

In the below photos the plant on the left is labelled the giant form, the one in the middle is also labelled the giant form even though it looks as though it could be the broad form. The one on the right is labelled the broad form and that could be correct. The right hand plant has an old flower below it. What forms are the three plants in the below link in your opinion.

http://www.advantagein.com/cp/Picture-8-9-11%20047-giant-giant-broad.jpg

In the below link there are four plants in the front row. Ignore the ones in the background. From left to right they are labelled giant, broad, broad and giant. However, the one on the far left looks like it could be the broad form. The one labelled giant on the right has a purple flower which is in front of it. What forms are the four plants in your opinion?

http://www.advantagein.com/cp/Picture-8-9-11%20043-giant-broad-broad-giant.jpg

Your help is appreciated
Regards Richard.

ANSWER: Hi Richard,

In the first set of three, the first plant on the left actually looks like the typical narrow-leaf form, but I will say it's fairly large.  The middle plant is definitely a broad-leaf form, but the unusually wide leaf petiole is similar to a plant I had a few years ago that I had other growers referring to as a "Giant" form.  We have many plants like the one on the right which almost looks like a hybrid between a narrow and broad-leaf form.  One anecdotal difference I've noticed between the narrow and broad-leaf forms is that narrow forms, including the "all-red" tend to be slow to form the side roots that come off of the stem as it elongates.  Broad-leaf forms do it more quickly, and the stems tend to elongate more quickly into the odd palm tree shape that forces you to cut it back or repot it deeper.

In the second photo the one on the far left is the same one I mentioned above that I've had described as "Giant".  The two middle ones look like typical broad-leaf forms.  The far-right picture looks like a narrow-leaf form, even though it's large.

Having said all this, with the exception of the red-form, the "Giant" designation seems iffy at best.  I know this has been a huge debate among Venus flytrap enthusiasts.  I found I finally had to concede some when I got my first B-52.  The plant was easily 20% larger than its typical cousins with one plant getting a full 2 inch trap on it.  I haven't as of yet seen such a clear difference in Cape Sundews called giants.

Good Growing!

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

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

QUESTION: Hello Jeff

Thanks for your answer. Sorry not to reply sooner. In the first set of photos at http://www.advantagein.com/cp/Picture-8-9-11%20047-giant-giant-broad.jpg the plant on the far left has leaves are up to 6 inches and the plant is about 6 inches high long unlike the one I was told was the narrow form which has leaves of about 3 inches long. Also the one that was said to be the narrow form has lighter more pink flowers while the one in far left of the above photo has darker purple flowers. Do you think it could be the giant form and if not why not? The plant came with some seeds that were marked as “giant form”

The above also applies to the plant in the far right of the photo at
http://www.advantagein.com/cp/Picture-8-9-11%20043-giant-broad-broad-giant.jpg
Based on the above info do you now think that there is a good chance that this could be the giant form?


Your help is appreciated
Regards Richard.

ANSWER: Hi Richard,

It could be.  It's just not what I've seen called "Giant Form" in the past, but that doesn't mean much.  It is a big plant, and very impressive.  I'd be curious to see them in a month if you pot them up in much larger pots and grow them out.  Broad-leaf forms have very big roots, and seem to get to their best size when they have lots of room.

Good Growing!

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


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

QUESTION: Hi Jeff

Thanks for the letter.

What size pot do you suggest for the giant form, broad form and red form? I have been using 95mm square pots that are 100mm deep.

Also, is out all right to pot them out now in winter? I also have some plants growen from root cuttings that are about an inch high to pot out.

Your help is appreciated
Regards Richard.

Answer
Hi Richard,

Something in the range of 127mm (5 inch) is nice for a larger Cape Sundew.  Taller pots are best since the roots tend to be long.  Winter is fine for transplanting.  Capes like the cooler conditions anyway.

Good Growing!

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