Roridula gorgonias

Care instructions

How we grow Roridula gorgonias?
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 the soil moist at all times. As with the majority of carnivorous plants, we use distilled water produced by our reverse osmosis system.

Lighting:
Roridula in the wild grows on knolls along with other small shrubby plants that do not produce shade or shelter from direct light. Consequently they have adapted by benefiting from light as well. Probably its trapping strategy involves a mix of providing shade and shelter to insects and tricking them by reflecting light off leaves that will make the droplets look like a water source.

Watering:
This proto carnivorous plant is more resistant than classical carnivorous plants to any minerals dissolved in the water, however, it is always a good idea to use demineralized or rainwater such as it gets from rainfall in its natural habitat. In addition, it has been noted that the plant is stressed if watered with groundwater. In the summer time always leave a few inches of water in the saucer but top up only once dry. This is because it does not like water stagnation living in environments with sandy soil.

Substrate:
In nature Roridula gorgonias grows on environments characterized by sandy and extremely draining soil consequently it would be appropriate to create the same environment in pots. A mix of 40% acidic blond sphagnum peat and 60% perlite is a good compromise between acidity and drainage. If you have inert quartz sand the best mix might be a mix of equal parts peat, perlite and sand. It is advisable to use tall pots and increase the size as the plant grows.

Seasonality and temperature:
Plants of the genus Roridula belong to a sub-tropical climate and do not require vegetative rest , however if well sheltered they turn out to be relatively tolerant of low temperatures as long as they are not below 10°C for excessively prolonged periods. Also in their natural environment there is summer-winter alternation, however winters in their climate are milder than our Mediterranean winters.
In winter it is best to protect Roridula from frost by storing the pot inside a cold greenhouse or under a porch but not in the house. When temperatures begin to drop Roridula will slow down its metabolism and consequently its growth.During this period it does not need copious watering but it is still advisable to keep the substrate moist with occasional watering. In the absence of the host insect, it is a good rule of thumb during this period to clean the plant of excess prey as during the decomposition of these insects Roridula could be easily attacked by fungi.

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