When are Gemmae Ripe?

[unstuckintime]

Hey!

So, my D. nitidula x pulchella made gemmae once this year...and they all died, not one even sprouted. I think it was a combination of putting them in a pot with a top layer of sand, AND, maybe, I harvesting them too early.
The plant is making gemmae again now, giving me a second chance I guess, and I'm wondering now... how does one tell that the gemmae are indeed ripe and ready? Any suggestions? Do they plump up, or turn a certain color? That second one was a joke, but in all honesty, I haven't been able to find anything on how to tell they are ready.
The prepared pot is tall, and the medium is roughly 2:1:1 sand:peat:vermiculite, with no extra layer of sand on the top, watered using the tray method, getting about fourteen hours of "light" a day from CFs in my terrarium.

Many thanks!
CJ

[Brian Barnes]

Hey CJ,

In my experience, when gemmae are ready for harvest, they'll usually "spring" or easily fall out whenever the crowns of the plants are teased, say with a toothpick or forceps. It will actually appear that your plant is "spring loaded" so to speak! Simply hold the pot sideways over a piece of paper (I like using white paper plates) and collect them while teasing the crowns. Make sure you get them all to avoid them smothering and possibly killing the plant, which may occur if the gemmae are left there and not removed.
If you have to tease the crowns too much, or pluck them out with forceps, then they are not quite ready yet. The gemmae of some species may take on a slight reddish hue as well when ready...

All of my Pygmy Drosera grow well in a straight 3/4 sand, 1/4 peat mix. without a top layer of sand.


Happy Growing,

Brian.

[unstuckintime]

Hey! Thanks for getting back so quickly, and for the advice! I don't know how I did it last year, luck I suppose. Perhaps I should go about this with a more scientific method, and take a few gemmae out of the crown every week and see when they start striking. They fall out easily now, but there is very little of that "spring loaded pop" that is so often described of this family.
Thanks again!

[Dave Evans]

I don't know what to tell you, other than don't harvest them until they look ripe... The gemmae in the top photo at this page have been on the plant for a little too long and some of the baby plantlets have started growing:

www.rci.rutgers.edu/~dpevans/Drosera/Gemmae_Vacuum.htm

[taz6122]

That's a great idea Dave. Glad you shared that with us.

[Brian Barnes]

Hey Dave,

That is cool... Just like a specimen jar for insect collecting! Great concept. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Happy Growing,

Brian.

[stevestewart]

Great idea Dave!

A grower could label the teabag prior to aspirating the gemmae and not have to be concerned about mixing the species up. I use a similar tool for small insect collection.

Take care,
Steven Stewart