Sundew

[IdahoOrchid]

I bought this sundew to help control fungus knats. If you look at the bottom of the plant you will see it took some time figuring out how to keep it happy. I had it in a glass dish that was too small and too open at the top. It got really desicated and I almost lost the plant. After I covered the top of the dish with a piece of plastic wrap it started recovering. Finally I found a nice container that was large enough. Once I put it in there it started putting out new growths like crazy and then a FLOWER!!!

If you look really carefully you will also see that it has trapped a couple of knats on its leaves.

Oh, when I repotted it I found three little seedlings at the base that I put in the smaller container. Also when I took the picture I noticed two additional seedlings growing with the older plant!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

That is so strange and cool!!! Neat. Is it hard to grow??

Cheers,
BD

[IdahoOrchid]

I am not an expert, but the main thing is HIGH humidity. Low light seems to be good too.

I actually wound up poking a few holes in the wrap for the smaller small container and put some paper punch holes in a plastic lid for the larger container. The scent from the dew is what attracts the knats into the containers I believe.

[smartie2000]

beautiful too
hmmm... A great idea to control those fruit flies everywhere

[Tindomul1of9]

Thats soo cool! What kind of substrate did you give it? Sphagnum?

[IdahoOrchid]

Thats soo cool! What kind of substrate did you give it? Sphagnum?

Yes, sphag sitting on water saturated lava.

I'll see if I can get a decent pic of the baby plants. Renee says, "Oh, they are sooooooooo cute!"

[dortyuz]

That looks like a healthy one

I am assuming you are only using RO water and no fertilizers, else will cause death even if it looks healthy at the moment.

Sundews are the best natural way to reduce the number of fungus gnats, and small pests. Drop a couple of Drosera Capensis plants here and there between your orchid collection, and see the most natural pest control.

sphagnum peat / perlite combination substrate works with nearly all common Sundews.

Cheers,

Burak.

[IdahoOrchid]

That looks like a healthy one

I am assuming you are only using RO water and no fertilizers, else will cause death even if it looks healthy at the moment.

Sundews are the best natural way to reduce the number of fungus gnats, and small pests. Drop a couple of Drosera Capensis plants here and there between your orchid collection, and see the most natural pest control.

sphagnum peat / perlite combination substrate works with nearly all common Sundews.

Cheers,

Burak.

Well, the top part is healthy anyway. Yes, I use RO and have not fertilized it at all. I wish I could leave the top of the containers more and catch more knats but the humidity is just not high enough otherwise.

[jtlqh]

Wow, very interesting. I want to get a bug eating plant too.

[Molly Taco]

That is so interesting looking. I wish I had something that would eat all of my Ants!!!
Cin