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Post by silenicus on Nov 6, 2013 20:32:26 GMT
I have a D. graminifolia in a terrarium with H. minor and two Nepenthes. The other plants are all doing well. The sundew is putting out new leaves on a regular basis, but is not putting out "dew." Temp is 65-75. Humidity 60-100, sometimes down to 50, usually around 70. Light is two T-5 bulbs-one a plant bulb, the other broad spectrum. I keep it sitting in a bowl of water. I tried watering from the top, keeping it wet like a Nepenthes but that didn't seem to help or hurt. Since it can't eat bugs, I use a very dilute foliar fertilizer that I bought from Cal. Carnivores.
Any ideas on how I might get this guy to start excreting some dew so he can sparkle and eat?
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Post by silenicus on Nov 9, 2013 15:50:20 GMT
I moved it to a cooler room, 60-70F. I also increased the light. I added two t-8 broad spectrum lights to the two t-5s. We'll see what happens.
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Post by Not a Number on Nov 10, 2013 0:10:36 GMT
These do better in tropical highland conditions. Keeping the root temperatures down and a nightly temperature drop seem to make them happier. Humidity doesn't seem to be that much of an issue.
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Post by silenicus on Nov 13, 2013 20:16:38 GMT
I was putting ice packs in the tank at night. Lately the tank gets down to 60 at night and warms up to 65-70 during the day depending on weather. Should I try to get it lower?
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Post by sykosarah on Nov 13, 2013 20:35:46 GMT
I would not risk overdoing it. CP are slow to recover sometimes. Give it at least a week.
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Post by silenicus on Nov 22, 2013 1:42:06 GMT
It's responding to the new conditions. The leaves are getting dewy and sticky. It's latest leaf is unfolding more quickly than previous leaves.
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Post by Fernando Rivadavia on Jan 1, 2014 1:38:15 GMT
Hello, I'm not sure I can help with cultivation tips, but in order to cultivate this plant it is important to know if it is truly D.graminifolia or the similar D.spiralis. These grow in very different habitats and were initially published as two species nearly 200 years go, joined under D.graminifolia about 100 years ago, and then re-split a year ago. I can send you a pdf copy of last year's paper if you shoot me your email address. But here's a nice summary: carnivorousockhom.blogspot.com/2012/12/re-establishment-of-drosera-spiralis.htmlD.graminifolia is a narrow endemic and is unfortunately very difficult to grow in comparison to D.spiralis. And be on the lookout in 2014 for the publication of a 3rd species from this group, discovered only a month ago. It actually looks somewhat like D.regia and competes with it for the title of the largest sundew in the world. Here's a pic of me holding one: Happy 2014 to all! Fernando Rivadavia
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Post by Fernando Rivadavia on Jan 1, 2014 23:29:15 GMT
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Post by Apoplast on Jan 2, 2014 4:07:29 GMT
Hello Fernando - Welcome to ICPS forum! It's great to add another CP expert interacting here. Your input will complement that of several other world class CP folks whose posts I have enjoyed reading on this forum. Thanks for posting the links, I will certainly check them out. I am already looking forward to the description of the new species you in the photo you posted above. To tell the truth, I've not been to interested in South American Drosera to this point, but that beauty could certainly change my opinions. The size is impressive alone, but the inflorescence looks like it is fantastic! The I hope you will let us know here when the paper comes out formally describing it.
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Post by Fernando Rivadavia on Jan 3, 2014 17:59:52 GMT
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Post by Apoplast on Jan 4, 2014 4:49:05 GMT
Hello Fernando - Muito grato! That's a nice summery of the complex.
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Post by Dave Evans on Jan 17, 2014 1:22:26 GMT
Wow Fernando, I don't think I've ever seen such a paniculate scape on a Drosera before. What you even call it, its not really a scape with that many branches is it?
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Post by sykosarah on Jan 17, 2014 21:34:59 GMT
Fernando, that is quite the specimen.
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Post by silenicus on May 17, 2014 17:49:38 GMT
Thought I would come back and report what happened. First, I haven't identified my plant yet. It was called D. graminifolia spiralis when I bought it.
I am happy to report that it appears to be thriving. It is constantly putting out new leaves. Its leaves sparkle with dew and are covered with the remains of minute insects.
It lives in a 20 gallon tall aquarium which it shares with an N. talangensis, a pot of H. minor and a pot of U. nephophylla. There is about 2-4 inches of water in the aquarium. The pots containing the plants sit on inverted pots that keep them above the water. There is a waterfall to increase humidity. The waterfall consists of a bowl sitting on an inverted pot. A small submersible pump pumps water up to the bowl. A fogger sits in the bowl. It is turned on at night to increase humidity. The room has a window heater/air conditioner that is set on 75 (heat and air) during the day and 62 air only at night. 62 is it's lowest setting. I put two freezer packs in the water every night. The tank is half covered with glass and lit with 3 t-8 lights. A ceiling fan keeps the air in the tank fresh. Its effect can be observed by watching the fog at night.
This is not the ideal setup according to what I have read. But all the plants seem to be doing well. The N. has pitchers, the U. flowers constantly, H. is growing slowly but unmistakably. I already described how the D. is doing.
I thank everyone for their help and input.
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Post by Fernando Rivadavia on Jun 24, 2014 3:34:57 GMT
First, I haven't identified my plant yet. It was called D. graminifolia spiralis when I bought it. This means that it is probably D.spiralis - as well as the fact that D.graminifolia is harder to cultivate and thus rarer in cultivation. Best Wishes, Fernando Rivadavia
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