How Do I Harvest Gammae?

[Nepenthesis]

Just got two pots with pygmy drosera and they have gemmae. The nursery owner was the one who pointed it out... They're so small I can barely see them. How do I harvest them?

 

[Not a Number]

There are numerous methods:

- Take the pots out of the tray and let the dry out several hours to overnight. Place a piece of paper on a flat surface (table, floor). Gently turn the pots over and nudge the gemmae loose with the point of a pencil or something so they fall on the paper.
- Dip the tip of a toothpick in water and gently lift the gemmae off - they will stick to the toothpick
- Use a mouth aspirator (commonly called a "pooter" by entomologists and botanists), gently loosen the gemmae with toothpick or the point of a pencil and suck them into the aspirator bottle. Google is your friend if you are unfamiliar with a mouth aspirator.
- Pluck the gemmae off carefully one at a time with fine forceps. This method usually results in the most gemmae ending up flung around.

 

[Nepenthesis]

The toothpick method sounds the easiest. I'll try that, and if it fails, then I'll use the first method. Thanks!

 

[Nepenthesis]

Instead of starting a new thread, I'll just bump this one... So I got some pygmy sundews yesterday and I don't know much about them. One of them, D. patens, is producing weird little rose-like "petals" on it... What are they? Also, do they look like they have gemmae? I can't see anything...

 

[mcmcnair]

the rose petals are gemmae i believe.

 

[Nepenthesis]

the rose petals are gemmae i believe.

No, their gemmae are round like other gemmae.

 

[Whimgrinder]

I just use my tongue ;-)

 

[That One Guy]

Pine, it's gemmae.

 

[corky]

could they be going dormant?is it too hot or dry?they should fall off if gemmae i would of thought ,but they do look like gemmae

 

[hcarlton]

Some species have slightly different methods of gemmae release, so patens might be one of the odd ones. But yeah, the flat petal-shaped leaves are the gemmae, not all species have round gemmae. Quite a few have the flat kind, actually.

 

[Nepenthesis]

Hm... Okay, I'll try pulling them off I guess...

 

[Nepenthesis]

Holy fudgemuffins you guys were right, they are gemmae! I harvested them, about 40 total realistically, maybe more. How long can I store them for in the fridge?

 

[tommyr]

I hear a few weeks. Congrats!

 

[Gordon C. Snelling]

I wouldn't store them more than a couple of weeks. If much longer they will either go bad and mold or start to germinate.

 

[Wire Man]

I just use my tongue ;-)

Are you secretly an anteater that somehow types on a keyboard with your massive claws? I'm impressed.

 

[Maiden]

I like this pink color, very stunning!
I have to try this someday, i have only south african droseras.
Thanks for sharing.