2010-10-30 Pygmy Drosera

If you recall, last December I posted a picture of a minuscule plant called a pygmy Drosera, or pygmy sundew. As promised these tiny little things have grown from the size of a pinhead in December to a full sized 1 inch across by May. Over the summer, they caught thousands of little gnats and even an occasional fly.

Fall is their time for asexual reproduction when each plant spews forth about 25 gemmae from its apex. Gemmae are essentially modified leaves that root automatically when they hit the ground. Last year I had a total of 7 quarter sized plants that each produced 25 gemmae. As my Mth111 students SHOULD be able to tell you, their growth is exponential with growth factor approximately 26, so P(t)=7(26)^t. So, I'm going to have WAY more plants than I can handle. If you want any gemmae, just let me know!

They're easy to grow in a greenhouse or outside/inside if they have full sun all year long. If you're growing them outside/inside, give them an open southern window in the winter and put them outside in the summer. Good amounts of sun produce good amounts of dew and darkness kills them. They don't repot well since their roots are thinner than a human hair and as long. Never fertilize (they catch their own). Handle with care and sow them right away after you receive them. Sow them on the surface, not buried at all. I used a toothpick and tweezers combo to sow. Use a pot that is at least 3 inches deep, preferably 5in-6in deep. The potting soil is an equal mix of peat and pumice. Always set the pots in a saucer full of water, preferably rain water. Always water from the bottom. If you live somewhere that is VERY hot during the summer, less than full sun is a good idea. In the winter, keep the gemmae above 55F for good growth and in subsequent years, keep the adults above 35F. Generally avoid letting the rain fall on them. They eventually get tall as they age, reaching a massive 5-7 inches like bizarre miniature palm trees.

If you want more info, please click here.

Drosera barbigera: Sow 1.5in apart. Supposedly gets tall eventually, but are modest 1 inch sized after 1 year. The gemmae are the little granular bumps in the center.


Drosera callistos: Sow 1in apart. Very cute! I have 40 tiny plants comfortably in a 6in across pot. Dark orange flowers in early summer.


Drosera dichrosepala: Sow 1in apart. Almost 2 inches tall!


Drosera omissa x pulchella: Sow 1.5in apart. A very strong grower. Larger diameter, almost 2 inches across. Great bloomer: pink flowers all summer long!


Drosera omissa: Sow 1.5in apart. Good grower, not as strong as the hybrid, though. About 1-1.5in in diameter. Also has pink flowers all summer long.


Drosera paleacea ssp trichocaulis: Sow 0.5in to 0.75in apart. Very tiny! You could probably fit 100 plants in a 6in pot. The tiny mosses are taller than the sundews.


Drosera scorpioides: Sow 2in apart. The huge one! Almost 4in tall after 1 year. Like miniature palm trees. Fantastic at catching gnats. White flowers. 4 plants in a 4 inch pot comfortably.


In addition, I just got a big Boophane disticha. I have some small ones from Telos Rare Bulbs, but couldn't wait... Neat South African bulb that eventually forms an enormous fan of twisty leaves.


My old Haemanthus albiflos from Bovees Nursery is blooming. Had this thing for 2 years now. I tested it in light freezing weather last year: the leaves freeze solid! but then recover completely when they thaw. PS: Bovees is having a big plant sale this November!