Drosera lanata x (aff. petiolaris x ordensis)

Care instructions

How we grow petiole Drosera?
In-vitro plants are acclimated in a Grow Chamber with controlled temperatures and humidity. This indoor setup ensure an easy adaptation to extra-vitro condition, guaranteeing the best conditions for plants in this delicate stage. All plants available at the Diflora shop have been acclimatized for at least 3 months. After this first step the plant is brought outside, under direct sunlight with the classic tray system as watering method and so, keeping always some amount of water in the tray. As with the majority of carnivorous plants, we use distilled water produced by our reverse osmosis system.

Lighting:
Petiolaris complex sundews love lots of direct light! In full sunlight they will develop their incredible colours at their best!

Watering:
In their natural environment during the summer it rains very often: an excess of water is not a problem if they are well exposed to the sun, generally it is advisable to keep a few centimetres of water in a tall saucer. It is important to use only distilled water or alternatively all waters that have an extremely low mineral salt content. For example rainwater or all condensation water (air conditioner, dehumidifier). It’s important that the conductivity measures below 50 micro-Siemens.
Winters in those regions are relatively dry, with the approach of the cold season it is mandatory to gradually reduce the water supply. At this stage, the plant will begin to retreat into a form of vegetative rest that does not involve hibernacula: slowly, as the cold temperatures approach and the water level drops, they will slow down their growth, forming a “rosette” of leaves without a trap and hairy appearance.

Substrate:
While 50% peat and 50% perlite is fine as a general substrate, we recommend the Drosera substrate we have developed and tested for optimal growth of this genus.

Seasonally and temperature:
Petiolaris sundews grown in a temperate climate area that is a real challenge: by following a few small and easy rules we can grow these beautiful carnivorous plants at their best even in our cold and wet winters. As already mentioned, Drosera petiolaris does not tolerate excess water and humidity in the cold months. These conditions would easily lead to fungal attacks that would quickly compromise the health of the plant. At the end of the summer you should gradually reduce the water supply until the soil is dry (not dry!) and water from below whenever necessary in order to maintain a slight degree of moisture in the substrate. If you live in areas where winter temperatures fall below 10-15°c it is advisable to have an indoor terrarium with a good air circulation rate to avoid the accumulation of moisture that is deleterious to this sundew. Minimum temperatures should not fall below 18 degrees. At this stage the plant will slowly start to produce thicker, shorter and shorter leaves without functioning traps until it reaches the appearance of a “rosette”, totally slowing down its metabolism until spring. This resting condition is necessary to allow the plant to follow its natural cycle. It is therefore inadvisable to allow petiolate sundews to vegetate all year round. Spring is a somewhat delicate period for petiolate sundews, as in nature it coincides with the exponential increase in rainfall, which occurs at the same time as temperatures rise. In order to simulate this period correctly and avoid mould attacks, the Petiole Sundews must be “woken up” gradually. To do this, it is advisable to gradually increase the water supply: as the humidity and water content in the soil increase, the Round-leaved sundew will begin to wake up. When outside temperatures allow this (> 18 degrees) you can place the pots outside in full sun using the classic cultivation system used for Dionaea, Sarracenia and subtropical sundews.

Additional info:
For more cultivation information visit our care guides or use our plant care support by writing to ilpigliamosche@diflora.it