D. Capensis needs help!

[Cheng]

I got this from Allen about two months ago and it's simply appalling to see it's almost non-existence growth rate that it's showing. I put it under the hot sun without any shade together with my other sundews.

Even my D. Filiformis that I received from Allen at the same time is growing better than this one! Any tips? ):

[allenphoon]

1) reduce temperature as much as you can as capensis can only be weed if given low temperature(*hint-they origin from overseas with winter)
2)if they have dews, feed them with some food will do

[Cheng]

Tips duly noted. Thanks!

[strath76]

That is not a capensis. The margins of capensis are the same. By that I mean that the width of the leaf is the same. The plant above is more spoon shaped similar to intermedia.

I would suggest that if the filiformis is growing well place it near that but increase humidity. If there is no improvement after a week or two try repotting into a peat/sand mix.

[allenphoon]

Originally Posted by strath76

That is not a capensis. Teh margins of capensis are the same. By that I mean that the width of the leaf is the same. The plant above is more spoon shaped similar to intermedia.

I would suggest that if the filiformis is growing well place it near that but increase humidity. If there is no improvement after a week or two try repotting into a peat/sand mix.

i have some plant that look like that one, are they D.intermediate?

[strath76]

Both plants above look more like D. nidiformis to me. There are several species with similar leaf types. You will get natural variation due to growing conditions. A plant in optimal conditions will look different to a plant that is stressed. A couple of the other similar ones are anglica and to some extent cappilaris.

[Tarence]

They look like d.intermedia to me. But yes, as strath76 pointed out, plants under stress look a lil` diff from a happy one.

IMHO, for our weather, sundews can make do with just half day sun. Afternoon sun at its peak might be too hot for most sundews & they can actually do very well with just full morning sun ( 8 a.m. - 11a.m. + ) & bright area there after.

You`ll get more dew & the plant will look more "relaxed".

Only sarracenias can take whole day sun.

[strath76]

Intermedia is probably the most likely. I know there are few people growing them over there and there was also quite a bit of seed going around a few years ago. I haven't seen nidiformis mentioned too much on the forum.

Many forms of intermedia are swamp plants and can take water to the top of the pot during the growing season. You just need to make sure that the water in the tropics doesn't heat up too much and cook them. The method Tarence has mentioned of morning sun and afternoon shade should stop the overheating as would using a large container.

[Cheng]

Originally Posted by Tarence

They look like d.intermedia to me. But yes, as strath76 pointed out, plants under stress look a lil` diff from a happy one.

IMHO, for our weather, sundews can make do with just half day sun. Afternoon sun at its peak might be too hot for most sundews & they can actually do very well with just full morning sun ( 8 a.m. - 11a.m. + ) & bright area there after.

You`ll get more dew & the plant will look more "relaxed".

Only sarracenias can take whole day sun.

I'm pretty sure it's not D. Intermedia because I have one too and they look different in terms of size and leaf width. Besides, my Intermedia is doing a lot better than my Capensis ): Now that you mention it... I've been cooking my sundews together with my sarra... Thank you for the tips!

[Tarence]

Cheng, show us your alleged d.intermedia & we`ll confirm it for you. LOL.

Just to share, my sundews are stacked on a multi tier rack ( tier 2 & 3 from a 4-tier rack ) & protected from direct rain by layering a see-thru plastic on the tiers above it. VFTs are their close-by neighbours.

Sun is frm angled sunlite rcvd from about 9-11 +a.m.

Right on top of the rack are my sarracenias which are housed in planter boxes. They are the true sun-worshippers & assist to break the raindrops from hitting my more fragile sundews.

Some of us sundews growers are of the opinion that sundews in their original environment do not experience rains like in M`sia ie not so often & not so heavy. So their dew production is somewhat affected & this would "irritate" the plant in our climate. Every time it rains, their dew is washed off & they have to reproduce it.

I know of peeps who grow their sundews quite happily in the open so well, it`s up to the grower *smile* IMHO, sundews grow best protected from our heavy rains + a`noon sun.