D. spatulata flowering

[shawnintland]

Help! My D. spatulata is sending up flower stalks and I am wondering if I should trim them before they open so that, like D. burmaii they don't set the plant back, or if they react differently? Looks like I only have a day or two to decide so would love feedback as soon as possible! This is the 'Pink flowered" variety from Athena and it's about 1 1/2" in diameter and has about 35 leaves right now. I'm also wondering if they will self pollenate from the single plant? Any knowledgable instructions welcomed!
Thanks,
Shawn

[arvin555]

Shawn, someone told me that almost all plants do slightly get reduced growth, etc. from flowering. On the other hand some plants don't really get affected much. For what it's worth all my Spatulatas are flowering, 4 of them, and some have multiple flowers. I let them flower because I like the seeds, and I do not see any problem with their health.

I am not sure what you call the technique of pollenating the flowers that bloom with whatever is blooming, regardless if it's the same plant or the other. But technically they can be self pollenating I understand, I've even used a toothpick to get pollen from a flower and pollenate the same flower. I have a few seeds for my trouble.

As of now I have 3 flowerstalks blooming in different stages, no obvious problems with the main plant. Plus Spatulatas I understand are not annuals anyway.

Still after all that I said, I hope the drosera experts in the forum will also comment.

TTFN
Arvin

[TS]

Hi Shawn, don't have to worry too much on the flower, spatulata flower freely, flowering actually don't effect too much on the plant growth. It normally self pollinate. Just ignore the plant, let nature handle it.

[strath76]

Flowering wont set the spatulata back. The flowers do self pollinate and the only problem you may have with this is that they tend to spread through all pots that are near them. If you don't mind having spatulata's in all your pots then just leave them, otherwise you will need to remove them prior to the seed pods opening.

[shawnintland]

Thanks everyone!
Shawn

[arvin555]

Shawn,

What I do is that when I know that all the flowers of that stalk is already dried and brown, I just cut them off and put them in a small container for further drying. Then I just shake them and all the seeds will come out.

Because of the generosity of my spatulatas, I am going to try to make a shallow minibog and sow the seeds in them and see if I can populate it with spatulatas first, then maybe I can transfer some VFTs, etc. in the future

I love spatulatas so I wouldn't mind if they are found all over my garden. We can just sell or give some off if they get too many.

By the way how old are your flowering Spatulatas again?

TTFN
Arvin