Expert: Christopher Littrell - 7/19/2011

Question
Hello Christopher. My question for you today is concerning some Sundews that I have ordered from site called bugbitingplants.com.

http://www.bugbitingplants.com/index.php = actual site address

I ordered a kit that contains 6 sundews. Drosera Binata, Drosera Rotundifolia, Drosera Spathulata, Drosera Adelae, Drosera Aliciae, and Drosera Capensis. They are sending these plants bare-root to my home address. When they arrive at my house sometime next week, what should I do with the bare root plants? Should I instantly plant the bare-root plants into the soil I have used for my Venus flytrap and pitcher plant (100% Canadian sphagnum peat mix)? Or are there steps I need to take before I plant them to make sure they are situated the best?

As for the rest of my plants, both my sundews died because I think going 2-3 weeks without inadequate lighting was too much for them. And being in my terrarium possibly could have rotted their root system, as it was quite wet. My Venus flytrap and pitcher plant are doing quite well now that I followed your advice and have them outside soaking in the sun! The Venus flytrap has started to redden along the leaves, and slightly inside the trap of a few newer ones. As for the pitcher plant, it is also getting a red venation on the top of its pitchers, and I have another small one forming that is around 1/4" tall and completely red. Just thought you'd like to hear how your help has helped me!

Thanks so much for your previous advice that has helped me out so much! And also for your time to read and answer my newest question!

Answer
Hello Devon,

Since the plants are arriving bare root, they will hopefully be shipped in damp paper towels and some sphagnum wrapped around the roots to keep them moist. I have never ordered from bugbitingplants.com but have seen their site online.

Most of the Sundews you ordered are tropical and will need bright light all year round in relatively warm conditions, like indoors in a window. The Drosera rotundifolia is a temperate that will need to go dormant like the Venus Flytrap and Sarracenia. It will prefer full sun and will be fine in hot environments up to and over 90 degrees in temperature. Keep the tropical sundews in partial to full sun where they will receive very bright light all day. You can grow them outside in the growing season and indoors in winter, or grow them indoors all year long if you can provide enough window and/or artificial light for them. Drosera capensis and Drosera alicia will prefer cooler temperatures, below 80 degrees, or they can begin to die back, particularly D. alicia.

Just pot them all in moist sphagnum peat and perlite. Sundews like a lot of water, so keep them in in a tray of water like the Venus Flytrap gets, 1/4 the pot bottom in water. It probably was not so much the moisture as the stagnant water that killed the Sundews you had earlier. Sundews like water so long as it is clean.

Good work with your Venus Flytrap and Sarracenia.

Christopher