D. cistiflora question

[silenicus]

I'm on my second D. cistiflora. The first one was dormant when I bought it and never came up. I may have gotten it too hot or too dry. I'm really not sure. My current specimen is dying back. Can anyone give me some advice on how to keep it alive and well through its dormant period. Many Thanks.

[hcarlton]

The soil should never dry out completely, always have a slight amount of moisture in it. Not too much, as the plant can rot easily, but a small amount. Temperatures should of course be kept warm, and the dormant pot can easily take temps to the 90's, and in fall, slowly return moisture to the pot until it's very moist again. Regrowth should resume shortly after.

[Not a Number]

I'm on my second growing season with this species - coming up on my third dormancy season. I let them dry out completely moving the pots into a shady area where they don't get direct sun. Exactly the same as I treat Drosera trinervia which I've had for 7 growing seasons.

D. cistilflora will tolerate some moisture in the media. I wouldn't add more water to the tray than can be completely absorbed by the pot within a few minutes and probably no more than once a week or more like once every two weeks. Depending on your conditions.

[silenicus]

I let the pot dry out completely. I kept it outdoors on the porch in a shady spot. Temperatures were frequently in the 90s, occasionally in the 100s.

[Not a Number]

Most of my cultivation starting points came from these two pages (the original site is down, archive.org backups)and my own experience growing D. trinervia
web.archive.org/web/20080623175157/http://carnivorousplants.homestead.com/D_cistiflora_cultivationPhil.html
web.archive.org/web/20110917045943/http://carnivorousplants.homestead.com/D_cistiflora_cultivation1.html

My summer/fall temperatures will on occasion will get in the 80s and very rarely into the 90s. The second page linked above says this:

Temperatures are somewhat dependent on their altitude, but the temperatures I have seen described are between 41° to 68° (5° and 20° C) with occasional lows to 32° (0° C).

What size pots are you using? The roots are fairly long. I wouldn't use anything less than a 6 inch deep pot with a mature plant. A larger pot will keep the soil temperatures more constant - taking longer to heat up and consequently longer to cool off.

I'm currently repotting my "highland" Drosera (D. regia, D. glabripes, etc.) into large deep pots like 1 gallon nursery stock pots. My D. cistilflora are in 7 1/2 inch deep pots made from drinking cups but will probably go into 1 gallon pots after they go dormant this year.

[silenicus]

I need to study the links some more, but I think that there are some things I should try. I'll keep it inside this year. Sounds like it might be too hot around here, the South Central U.S.

It's a small plant in a 4 inch pot. Would it be ok to repot it this time of year? Should I use super thrive?

Thanks for the help.

[Not a Number]

If you can repot it without breaking up the soil otherwise I would wait until it is dormant. This species isn't too happy about root disturbance.

As for Superthive? I have no idea. I've never used it.