Please help me revive my Drosera Capensis

[Kittykotka3713]

Hi all, I had what was just a few months ago a very healthy-looking plant, catching little bugs on its own and looking vibrant. I’m not sure why it has lately started to look sickly, but I have a few guesses: we have radiator heating so it’s not controllable and it will get too hot then dip to cool and keep doing that all day indoors in the winter. Also, it has sprouted a few flowers about a year ago and we let one get very long before finding out we should cut it off before it zaps too much energy away from the plant’s growth. I guess it’s also dry indoors. We use distilled water and leave it in a sunny but not overly sunny location. Can it be saved??

 

[hcarlton]

Repot into new soil because it's having root issues, increase lighting, and then give it time in a location that's not sitting right by the radiator; dry air they don't care about so long as everything else is appropriate, but nothing alive likes constant up-and-down temperature extremes. And healthy plants are not impacted in any significant way by flowering, that's a myth.

 

[Shadowtski]

When I have a Sundew go into a death spiral, I pull it out of the pot, rinse off the old media from the roots, and check it for bugs.
Then I repot in fresh media, (50/50 Peat/Perlite Mix) in a freshly washed pot.
I bag or dome it for a month to let it get acclimated to its new pot and media and set it in bright light but out of direct sunlight.
After a month, I uncover it and start moving it back into its normal spot.
You can rush things and maybe skip a step or two if you're an advanced grower but the plant will appreciate slow gradual changes, giving it time to adjust.
Just my 02 cents worth.

 

[Kittykotka3713]

Repot into new soil because it's having root issues, increase lighting, and then give it time in a location that's not sitting right by the radiator; dry air they don't care about so long as everything else is appropriate, but nothing alive likes constant up-and-down temperature extremes. And healthy plants are not impacted in any significant way by flowering, that's a myth.

Thank you! It wasn’t right by the radiator but yes, unfortunately, the temp fluctuates too much. I appreciate the advice about new soil and lighting. Interesting to know that the plants affecting its health is a myth!

 

[Kittykotka3713]

When I have a Sundew go into a death spiral, I pull it out of the pot, rinse off the old media from the roots, and check it for bugs.
Then I repot in fresh media, (50/50 Peat/Perlite Mix) in a freshly washed pot.
I bag or dome it for a month to let it get acclimated to its new pot and media and set it in bright light but out of direct sunlight.
After a month, I uncover it and start moving it back into its normal spot.
You can rush things and maybe skip a step or two if you're an advanced grower but the plant will appreciate slow gradual changes, giving it time to adjust.
Just my 02 cents worth.

Thank you very much, I will try to repot it! What kind of dome would be good? Like a glass cloche?

 

[Shadowtski]

I use a clear disposable Solo cup.
They are available from 6 - 20 ounces and can be bought at your local food store.
Alternately, fast food beverage glasses are available free everywhere, you just have to pull one out of the trash and wash it.
Just my 02 cents worth.

 

[Kittykotka3713]

I use a clear disposable Solo cup.
They are available from 6 - 20 ounces and can be bought at your local food store.
Alternately, fast food beverage glasses are available free everywhere, you just have to pull one out of the trash and wash it.
Just my 02 cents worth.

Great ideas - thank you! I will try this over the weekend and hope repotting and covering helps.

 

[bluemax]

And healthy plants are not impacted in any significant way by flowering, that's a myth.

To be clear, we are talking Drosera capensis here. They seem to be able to bloom indefinitely without any loss of vitality. This is not so for all Drosera species.

 

[hcarlton]

It applies to every species I've flowered so far. A healthy plant is not harmed by blooming, even annuals (which if fed well enough just keep going until they peter out from old age). An unhealthy or borderline plant that starts stress-blooming is a separate category.