Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 9/26/2011

Question
QUESTION: i got my plants under artificial light 6 40 watt cool white lights i got a fork leaf there its 8 inches from the leaf can a cape sundew go there or is the lighting to bright my forkleaf looks good and i want to add a cape sundew thanks

ANSWER: Yes, your Cape sundew can grow under those lights.  However, place the plant closer to the edge to avoid overheating it with the lights.  

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

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

QUESTION: i ordered the redleaf cape sundew because it likes it hotter does this cape need to be on the edge to prevent overheating to or does that only apply to the regular cape sundew

Answer
Our recommendations regarding temperature tolerances are based on how the average grower cares for their plants.  In this case, it would be growing plants in a windowsill.  In that regard, red leaf Cape sundews fare better in much warmer windows than the typical form.  At our nursery, we actually try to grow the plants in "average home conditions."  That way each plant that leaves our nursery will have a much easier time acclimating to their new home.  However, if you're using a large bank of artificial lights on a very long day (14+ hours), then you're going beyond what we would term the "average grower."  

In your case, you will need to monitor your plant.  I can't say for sure if your plant will be happy in your conditions because we have never attempted to grow plants in that type of manner.  If you see much smaller leaves than normal or a significant drop in dew production, that would be an indication that the overall temperatures are slightly too warm for the sundew.