Accidental Sundew Novice Seeks Help

[Terminus]

I’ve been growing pitcher plants successfully outside in container bogs for several years now. This spring as my bogs came out of dormancy I started to notice dozens of little sundews growing – most likely from seeds that arrived via a new pitcher plant addition. I was excited at the prospect of new carnivorous species in my bogs and proceded to watch them grow for a few months.

Unfortunately, all of the sundews now seem to be dying. The first sign is that the old leaves become brown, then the new leaves become smaller and the “dew” dries up until finally there is just a brown stump.

I think it could be fungus, but I’m not sure. After all, it has been 105 F on my balcony (literally) for 14 days, and that can’t help. But the way in which it affects certain plants leads me to think it is not environmental.

Does anyone have and ideas of what it is? And what I could do to stop it? Now that I've got them, I want to keep them!

Here are some basics:
- Plants in 50/50 peat/sand mix with some sort of moss growing on the top
- Watered with distilled water via tray method
- Get direct sun around 7 to 8 hours a day
- Surrounded by dozens of saracenias of all types and sizes, as well as grasses
- No other genera are impacted
- Affects sundews of all ages

All ideas are appreciated.

<IMG SRC="http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2423/img2065bv1.jpg">
A drying one which has gone to seed.

<IMG SRC="http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4544/img2079vs8.jpg">
Healthier ones in a different pot.

 

[Not a Number]

Looks like Drosera burmannii to me, which is a summer growing annual. They sprout, they flower, they seed, they die off - all in one summer.

Or it could be D. sessilifolia, another annual.

Have you fooled around with the snap-tentacles?

 

[Terminus]

Looks like Drosera burmannii to me, which is a summer growing annual. They sprout, they flower, they seed, they die off - all in one summer.

Or it could be D. sessilifolia, another annual.

Have you fooled around with the snap-tentacles?

I haven't touched the plants or the tenacles.

This is certainly an annual, but I would think that the small plants would flower before dying off. Who knows? It's probably this awful heat!

Thanks.

 

[glider14]

i dunno. but my biggest D. burmanni germinated in may. its still growing and has produced some...11 flower stalks i think i have enough seeds for next year!. its a cute little plant that has sprout up all over my bog
Alex

 

[NeciFiX]

If your balcony is 221F then I recommend an air conditioner, that's hotter than certain places on Venus.

 

[Terminus]

If your balcony is 221F then I recommend an air conditioner, that's hotter than certain places on Venus.

Oops. I guess I'm so used to writing to friends in Europe complaining about the heat in recent weeks that the "C" just slipped out. It's hot but not THAT hot!

 

[Not a Number]

These Drosera come from areas with HOT summer temps and plenty rainfall. They usually start to die off in the fall when the rainfall slacks off the the ground dries out a bit. Since they're in a bog container and you are tray watering perhaps there is some surface drying in patches from the heat? Try top watering the 'dews with a sprinkle attachment although it may be too late if they "think" the rainy season is over prematurely.