Introduction
Sundews are plants with lots of tentacles with drops of sticky nectar, which they use to lure and trap insects. The tentacles, also known as mucilagnous glands will also produce enzymes to digest the trapped insect.
Typical Drosera Burmanii
Sundews are the largest group of carnivorous plants and found in almost every continent. Some of them will grow into lovely rosettes while some will grow and vine! Similar to all carnivorous plants, they are found in nutrient deficient areas like bogs and waterlogged grounds and they trap insects for the essential nutrients.
Cultivation
Like Nepenthes, Sundews are classified into subcategories. There are temperate sundews which require dormancy. Tropical sundews, which are found throughout Asia and South America, they grow all year round. There are miniature sundews categorised as pygmy sundews which are found in Australia, have hairs to protect from dehydration.
A cluster of dewy Droseras!
There are so many species of sundews around and different group of sundews will have its own growing conditions. In this article, we will talk about tropical sundews, the type that strive very well in our climate. Sundews generally share the same growing conditions as the Venus Flytrap. They grow vigorously under full sunlight and their tentacles will turn bright red and produce lots of dew. They looked fascinating when the dews glitter under sunlight!
Some red colouration in the tentacles
They can be grown in typical carnivorous plant mix, 1 : 1 peat and sand. Full long fibre dried sphagnum moss can be a great media too! There is no need to top water them, as they hate rain or water on their leaves. So let the pots sit in trays of water.
Propagation
Sundews can be grown from seeds. Their seeds are extremely small and these seeds will be carried away by the wind when it ripens. They take 2 to 4 weeks to germinate with 2 non-carnivorous leaves. They will start to grow dewy leaves when they are 2-3mm in size.
Young Sundews 3mm in size
They are generally slow growers and take 6 months to grow to a size of a 50 cent coin. They will produce flowers with very long stalks ad they might die after flowering.
For myself, I am currently growing Drosera Burmanii, a tropical sundew with a lovely rosette.
