PetPitcher Forum - Some pygmy sundews pics....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindy (Post 3929)

Khoas, with the heat wave does your pygmies go dormant? And do you grow them in very deep pots? What is your mix? Thanks!

If I maintain a even water level through summer I find most of the pygmy don't go dormant. Since the roots can reach 20cm or more it is a good idea to try use the largest pot as possible. This also help keep the soil temperature more even. The largest pot I using at the moment is a 40cm x 40 cm square pot, I have one with paleacea ssp paleacea and another with nitidula x puchella. These pots have only been set up this season the plants are still small but are growing. The test will be the next 6 month.
As for potting mix for the natural hybrids and pulchella a mix of 50 / 50 of peat and sand is fine. For the majority a sander mix of 60 % or so is more suitable. For species such as paleacea ssp paleacea a much sandy mix of 70% sand and 30% peat is best, I seen photos of this sundew growing in pure silica sand. For most full sun is fine, but species such pulchella and many the erect species a little shade in the midday is good.
One thing I supect a fungus associtate with roots so try to set the pots up and keep damp about 1 month before planning to sow the gemmae. I have notices the gemmae seem germiate faster and estalish quicker on aged mix.