Need advice on my dewy pine predicament...

[icemansyr]

I've had a drosophyllum living quite happily outdoors for the last year on my balcony in the Sunset district of San Francisco. The last month or so we've been getting some pretty cool, foggy days here and now my dros isn't looking so good. The leaves aren't very dewy and it looks to be withering. I have a feeling it may be from too much cool, foggy weather and not enough sunny, dry weather. I questioned Peter from California Carnivores about it and he suggested placing something over the top of the plant to trap some more heat. I'm going to try that out today but wanted to know if anyone else had any other suggestions I could try if I'm not noticing any improvement???

[Brian Barnes]

Hi,
I think your problem may lie in too much humidity...
Drosophyllum LOVE hot, dry air and lower humidity, at least in my conditions. BE CAREFUL! Covering your plant will also raise the humidity, along with the heat index. Not good, in my opinion. If the soil is very wet, let it dry out some.
Happy Growing,
Brian.

[marcel]

Drosophyllum in its native habitat doesn't care for mist. As a matter of fact, it only grows in the zone that is still under the influence of sea mist. Low temperatures shouldn't be the problem either, they will survive easily a degree or 5 above zero (Celsius that is!) and on a sheltered spot even a degree or so below freezing.

Two questions:
1. did you keep watering during the mist? then it has had to much water.
2. Is the soil mix free draining? the water/mist has to be able to get away from the roots.

[icemansyr]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have my drosophyllum Slack potted with a terra cotta saucer underneath. Once all of the water in the shallow saucer has evaporated I will refill it by overhead watering. So yes...during the foggy weather I have been watering the plant when the saucer has become empty. The mix in the droso pot is a combination of peat moss, pumice and vermiculite (I think.) The outer, larger pot is 2/3 full of vermiculite and the rest is topped off with long-fibered sphagnum moss. Besides covering the droso I'm not sure what else to do. Bringing the plant indoors probably woulnd't work because it wouldn't receive enough light in the window. So I'm not really sure what else to do?

[gardenofeden]

vermiculite is very water retentive, I would not use it in a mix for Drosophyllum, too wet. a well drained mix composed mostly of sand and perlite/pumice with a small amount peat would be better.

I would also add that I have found vermiculite to be mildly toxic to many CPs including Utricularia, Sarracenia and Drosera

[icemansyr]

Thanks for the input. Just so you're clear...the vermiculite is not in the same pot as the Dros. It's actually the main medium in the outer pot that the Dros was 'slack potted' into. I've cut back on the watering for this plant but haven't seen much improvement. I have a feeling it got a little too much water at one point when the weather here was extra cool and foggy. Do you think it would be wise to repot it into a large pot consisting most of sand with a small amount of peat...5:1 ratio perhaps?

[gardenofeden]

never repot a Drosophyllum, they do not like disturbance. the aim of Slack potting is that the roots enter the big pot from the small one, so if it is still young and not likely to have roots into the outer pot I would replace the medium in the outer pot with a better drained one as suggested...

a good tip is to treat the plant like a succulent, not a CP, so well drained compost, sunny position, never stand in water, water when dry approx 1-2x a week in summer, every 2-3 weeks in winter. I never Slack pot, just water sparingly...

[icemansyr]

I'll have to try just switching out the soil medium in the outer pot then. Hopefully it does the trick...thanks!