How to care for a sundew: raising a “charming killer”

Rosyanka (Drosera) - a representative of the Rosyankov family. A predatory plant can be found in almost any part of the world (except perhaps Antarctica), therefore it is not known for certain which continent is its homeland. To see the perennial in nature, it is not necessary to go to Africa, Australia or America: sundew is found in some regions of Russia. For example, in Siberia or the Far East, a predator peacefully coexists with cranberries.

The plant loves marshy soils. Since they are poor and cannot give the flower the necessary substances, then the sundew in the process of evolution learned to get “food” for itself in another way - catching insects. The "habit" has not been eradicated even by domesticated predators, as can be seen by growing an exotic plant on the windowsill.

How to recognize a plant

In this unusual plant, it is hard to guess a predator. The sundew is completely unlike a trap in the classical sense, as, for example, a venus flytrap resembling a trap. The appearance of sundews depends on the variety, but all specimens have a common feature: thin villi with shiny "dew" are a sticky liquid with which hunting occurs. This is an identification mark of a carnivorous plant. But not a single droplet consists of a sundew.

• Leaves. The leaves of the plant are thin petiolate or sessile. They are always covered with hairs. On the villi are glands that produce an enzyme to attract insects. The length of the leaves depends on the variety: the leaves can be miniature - only 5 mm, and can reach a length of 50 cm.
• Flowers. A sundew blooms in spring. Flowers rise on long stems above leaf traps so that insects can pollinate them without getting into a trap. The flowers are pink, cream, purple. They have a double perianth and a corolla, consisting of four to eight petals. Flowers are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences.
• Fetus. The formation of the fetus occurs after the plant fades. The fruit is a box containing protein seeds.

The sundew has a weakly expressed root system. Because of this, she cannot extract all the necessary substances from the soil, even if they are there in abundance. In the process of evolution, the plant became carnivorous.

Hunting process

Of interest is not so much the appearance of the sundew as the hunting process of this carnivorous plant.Catching and digesting the insect, the sundew gets the substances necessary for growth and development.

The flower gives off sticky droplets similar to dew. The insect sits on a leaf to quench thirst and sticks. The victim makes an attempt to get out. "Dew" has a paralytic effect, so the insect becomes lethargic. The predator plant even responds to subtle vibrations that the prey creates, and the leaf gradually folds. The irritation of one tentacle activates the neighboring, etc. After about an hour or two, all the villi are bent, they tightly press the prey to the sheet plate. The leaf itself becomes concave.

When the process of digesting the insect begins, the "hunter" secretes digestive juice. Under its influence, the victim's proteins are broken down into simple compounds that the plant can absorb. Digestion lasts several days - a lot depends on the size of the insect. A meal can last a week. Different varieties of sundews can catch different insects: some only hunt for “trifles” (mosquitoes, fruit flies), while others can eat a butterfly or dragonfly.

Having dealt with the "lunch", the sundew unfolds its leaves and again highlights the droplets. The waiting period for a new victim begins. The predator doesn’t eat as often as other carnivorous plants, because, in fact, it hunts passively - it waits for “dew” to attract insects. But even rare “snacks” allow the flower to get all the necessary substances.

Common species

There are not many species of sundew - about 150. Plants in nature can be found in tropical zones and in latitudes with a temperate climate. Tropical varieties are mainly grown on window sills. Florists appreciate their bright color and the fact that they do not need a cold wintering. Features of common varieties of sundew are presented in the table.

Table - Varieties of sundew and their features

In the reviews, flower growers recommend starting acquaintance with carnivorous plants from the Cape sundew. She is unpretentious, easy to please her. An additional bonus is that the plant blooms beautifully.

Sundew care: what to consider

Growing a predator house is easy. Especially if you chose a Cape sundew: this variety is famous for its ability to adapt to any conditions. The main difficulty is to create a suitable microclimate.

How to care for sundew after purchase? Choose a suitable place for it, adjust the temperature in the house, optimize watering and observe the new “pet”. If you make a mistake in leaving, the sundew will give a signal - droplets on the cilia will disappear.

Lighting

In nature, the sundew is constantly shaded due to its small growth. Be guided by this rule, choosing a place for the "pet". The ideal option is a western or eastern window. Lighting should be adequate, but not direct sunlight.In the spring-summer period, the predator needs 14 hours of light, in the autumn-winter period - eight hours. To provide the plant with light, you can use a lamp.

Temperature

The microclimate must be created taking into account the plant variety. African sundews in the summer will be comfortable at + 30 ° C, while the "Europeans" enough + 18 ° C. In winter, you need to lower the temperature in the room: cooling will only benefit the predator. The optimal performance for the winter period is 7-12 ° C. There are varieties that can even withstand small frosts, but still it is not worth it to lower the temperature below + 2 ° C.

Air humidity

Dewdrop in nature grows in swamps, so high humidity is the first thing that a grower should take care of. Ideally, the indicator should not fall below 70%. This can be achieved in the following ways:

• humidifier;
• wet expanded clay in the pan;
• water tanks around.

Spraying is permissible only in the distance, otherwise you may damage the cilia and leaves. If the air is dry, then the pot is covered with moistened sphagnum moss.

Watering

Watering the sundew in the hot months should be plentiful. Watering is carried out approximately once every three days. It can be watered by dipping the pot in water. In winter, watering is reduced to once a week, or even less. It is important not to overfill the sundew, but it is also impossible to allow drying out. The substrate should be slightly moist all the time, therefore, between the irrigations, the soil is sprayed from the spray gun.

Feeding

Dewdrop is a carnivorous plant. The predator receives all the basic substances from insects. The main thing is that only they sit on the leaves of the sundew. You can buy a "pet" of insects in a pet store. In the warm season, put the plant on the balcony: there is prey. Dewdrop should receive food approximately once a week. Without insects, she will not die, but will stop growing. You can’t fertilize: this is the rare case when replenishment only hurts.

Transplant Features

Often a sundew should not be transplanted. She is not disturbed immediately after purchase, unless the condition of the soil is in doubt. For a plant, a new pot is selected every two years, or even less. But if an overflow occurs, it is worth transplanting the flower unscheduled to prevent decay of the roots. It is better to plan a transplant in the spring. In order for the sundew to take root in the new house, you need to choose the right pot and soil.

• Pot. Dewweed is grown exclusively in flat flowerpots, due to its weak root system. Pots up to 8 cm deep are suitable. Be sure to check the pot for a drainage hole.
• The soil. In nature, sundew grows where there are no nutrients; therefore, domesticated varieties also need poor soil. Light and acid mixtures, for example, sand and peat, are suitable from store offers. You can prepare the soil yourself by mixing peat, quartz sand and perlite in a ratio of 3: 2: 1.If there is no quartz sand, do not replace it with ordinary sand, it is better to add more perlite. What is wrong with ordinary sand? It may contain minerals that will destroy the sundew.

The sundew does not require special care after transplantation. Try not to create additional stress: prevent temperature jumps, do not flood. Follow the same care rules as before.

Flowering: whether to help

The predator surprises not only with its ability to get food, but also with delicate flowers. Dewdrop blooms for about three months. Flowering is worth the wait in the spring and summer. If it does not bloom, it means that something is missing: it is not regular “feeding”, the climate is not suitable.

The sundew spends so much energy on flowering that at this time, leaf growth slows noticeably. At first it may seem that the plant has begun to wither. But when the flowers bloom, you will understand that you should not worry. Seeing how much force is needed for the inflorescences to form, many flower growers try to feed the sundew during the flowering period with store compositions for flowering plants. Do not do this: top dressing can destroy your predator.

In order to obtain fruits with seeds, which can later be used as planting material, pollination must occur during the flowering period. At this time, it is better to take a sundew to an open loggia, provided that direct sunlight does not fall there. Paradoxically, the predator is pollinated by insects on which it hunts: flower stalks are pulled so high that capture becomes impossible.

Winter maintenance

With the advent of November, the majority of sundews comes to rest. It lasts until mid-February. With the departure for the winter, the predator stops hunting, discards the foliage. An inexperienced florist, having seen the state of the “pet” during the rest period, may even think that he is dying.

Care for sundew in the winter should be special. When the predator is resting, you need to reduce watering up to once a week, reduce the air temperature (maximum + 12 ° C). The flowerpot should be placed away from heating appliances. During wintering, the humidity in the room should be high.

Reproduction: 3 ways

If you want a predatory plant to always grow on your windowsill, you will have to regularly breed a “pet”. Dewdrop does not live long (on average three years), so you have to comprehend the science of growing new specimens. There is nothing complicated in this process. You can propagate the sundew by cuttings, dividing the bush or grow seedlings from seeds.

Cuttings

Features. Pros are simplicity. Cons - in the process of rooting, the stalk can rot, especially if rooting occurs in water.

Instruction manual

1. Gently cut the cuttings.
2. For root formation, place them in water or immediately plant them in moist soil. It is better not to take a soil mixture for adult plants, but to use sphagnum moss.
3. Ground rooting requires the creation of a greenhouse. It is important to ensure that the soil does not dry out.
4. When rooted in water, the sprouts are ready to plant as soon as the roots appear. If you immediately plant the cuttings in the moss, then watch when the roots are formed, and then transplant into a permanent flowerpot.

Dividing the bush

Features. Pros - minimum effort and fast rooting. Cons - it is not always possible to correctly plant a sundew, difficulties arise when dividing the root.

Instruction manual

1. Divide the bush into several parts. Divide the roots carefully.
2. Seed the pieces in separate pots.
3. Create optimal care - sprouts will take root quickly.

Seeds

Features. Pros - you can get a lot of seedlings. Cons - growing sundew from seeds at home is considered a laborious and lengthy process. Seedlings will appear only after a month, mature seedlings can be obtained after three months.

Instruction manual

1. Prepare a container with sphagnum moss. Moisten the moss well.
2. Sow the seeds.
3. Cover the container with foil - this is a “greenhouse”. Put in a well-lit place. Watch the temperature: it should not be below + 25 ° С.
4. When the seedlings sprout and grow stronger - you can plant. But this will only happen in three months.

Diseases ...

Diseases of a sundew appear if the grower made a mistake in leaving. The exotic plant does not tolerate drying out of the soil and suffers from dry indoor air. Such conditions cause the droplets to dry, with the help of which the sundew hunts. As a result, the predator does not receive food and begins to dry. To solve the problem, you need to urgently raise the humidity in the room, adjust the watering.

Excess moisture can also lead to the loss of sundew. From excessive watering, stagnation of water in a flowerpot, the root system rots. The roots are the weak point of the sundew, they are poorly developed, so if you do not take emergency measures, the plant will die. Treatment consists of an emergency transplant, during which all rotted parts must be removed. Watering must be adjusted, otherwise the sundew will suffer the same fate in a new pot.

... and pests

Although the sundew needs to create special conditions so that it pleases with its exotic beauty for a long time, however, there is one bonus for gardeners. Pests rarely attack a green predator: a sundew just eats them.

The only "dirty trick" that can live on a sundew, aphids. But it happens too infrequently. You can see insect colonies with the naked eye. Twisted leaves also serve as a sign of defeat: the sundew begins to wither, loses its attractiveness. It is not difficult to solve the problem: buy an insecticide in the flower shop and process the "pet". If the insects settled recently, then one treatment will be enough to make the appearance of the sundew become the same.

Even a beginner grower can figure out how to care for a sundew - there would be a desire. You won’t have to fulfill the super tasks: you just need to create a suitable climate for it and water it properly. Dewdrop is a useful resident of window sills. And not only because it eliminates midges in the room. The plant is actively used in folk medicine. Dewdrop is able to relieve inflammation, normalize body temperature, relieve problems with the stomach and respiratory tract. Naturally, it is not worth using raw materials from a carnivorous plant without consulting a doctor: you can harm your own health.

Florist reviews

Initially, it seemed that leaving was very difficult, but in practice it turned out to be much simpler. You put it on a pallet, pour distilled water and do not let it dry. We have a sunny side, so the plants are in excellent conditions. Sometimes we scroll the pot so that the predator does not stretch in one direction. Wintering took place on the balcony, at a temperature of + 7-12 degrees. There were no problems.I did not really like to transplant sundews. In young plants, the roots are very thin and delicate, you had to pull out the seedlings with tweezers, after digging it. Unfortunately, one of the species of sundew died. This happened in my oversight. We left for a few days. The pan was leaking, the soil was drying out, which is unacceptable for carnivorous plants. When we arrived, the plant was dry, there was a hope that the growth point would stand, but it did not happen. Dewdrops often bloom, throwing out a long arrow. After flowering, the seeds ripen. Of course you can not ignore the main feature of this plant - eating insects. When they first appeared here, it was the entertainment of the whole family. We caught flies and fed our sundews. It was very interesting to watch the process. The insect adhered to the leaf and the leaf wrapped. After 3-4 days, he again became smooth. Now the boom has passed and the plant itself is hunting. I do not know what attracts midges, but she regularly falls into the trap.

Another interesting observation is the formation of a sticky liquid (dew, which probably served for this name of the plant). We noticed that in bright sunshine, the droplets are more plentiful than in cloudy weather.

kobra777, http://otzovik.com/review_3787177.html

Dewdrop Drosera Spatulata var. lovellae. This is my second acquisition among predators. After reading a bunch of literature, I chose it. An interesting feature of this type of sundew is that it changes its color depending on the amount of illumination. In the sun, it takes on a reddish hue, and if there is less sun, it becomes simply green. Usually this happens in the autumn-winter period, and to make the plant more comfortable, it is advisable to additionally lighten the plant at this time.

It should be noted that all sundews are very sunny. Therefore, it is desirable to grow them on the southern windows. Do not be afraid that the sun will dry their dew, on the contrary, with sufficient lighting and watering, sundews very abundantly produce dew drops with which they attract insects. Adult plant of sundew Drosera Spatulata var. lovellae can reach 9-10 cm in height and 5-7 cm in diameter. All predatory plants need to be watered exclusively with distilled water, pouring into a pan or lowering the pot into a container of water until the soil is completely saturated. Do not allow the complete drying of the soil. The soil of these plants should be constantly moist.

They do not particularly require top dressing, but properly prepared soil is needed. Most often, this is the composition of acid peat and perlite, soaked in distilled water for at least 2 weeks, in a ratio of 1: 1. If you do not plan to engage in the cultivation of these plants, then it is best to buy a ready-made substrate and not to suffer from cooking. The stores that sell predators always have all the related care products.

Realalyonka, https://irecommend.ru/content/neobychnyi-tsvetok-i-prost-v-vyrashchivanii-i-ukhode