Plants of the carnivorous genus number almost two hundred different varieties all over the world. different types, among which is the carnivorous plant sundew (drosera). Thanks to its special structure and ability to survive, it is able to grow in almost any conditions and on any continent. The only exception is Antarctica. Sundew can grow even on marshy soils, in which there are almost completely no nutrients, since it extracts them from insects. Because of this, sundew is called a trap plant.
Description of the plant
The sundew's appearance does not at all resemble an insect trap. Plants of different species differ only in the shape and size of the leaves, but what they have in common is thin, soft fibers with droplets of sticky liquid, very similar to ordinary dew. When an insect lands on a leaf to quench its thirst with “dew,” it immediately sticks and becomes as if paralyzed. With weak attempts to get out of the sticky captivity, the insect creates vibrations that give a kind of signal to the plant and the leaf curls up along with the prey.
Having received the necessary nutrition, a few days later the sundew again unfolds its leaves in anticipation of a new victim. True, if small debris or a raindrop gets on the sticky leaf, the plant will not react. This natural specimen can grow not only in wildlife, but also feels great at home.
Sundew – flowering plant, which blooms during the spring months with pink or white flowers that later develop into seed pods. Some varieties are capable of self-pollinating.
Location and lighting
Sundew needs long-term illumination - about 14 hours per day. summer time and approximately 8 hours in winter period. Direct sunlight is not recommended for sundew, so it is advisable to grow the plant on a windowsill on the east or west side of the house. In the cold season with short daylight hours, you can supplement the plants with a fluorescent lamp.
Temperature
Sundew can easily and easily withstand cold spells and even slight frosts. In winter, sundew can be at a temperature of 5 to 12 degrees Celsius, but in summer the temperature depends on its type. For example, 18 degrees is enough for European varieties, but for African ones to create complete comfort– about 30 degrees Celsius.
Air humidity
In the room where the sundew is kept, it is necessary to maintain a high level of humidity (about 70%). This can also be done using a terrarium in which a potted plant is placed. The plant will receive the necessary moisture if the terrarium is covered with a lid or by regularly spraying the sundew, but with open lid. To keep the moisture in the container for a long time, its bottom is covered with moistened moss.
Watering
The soil in the flower pot must be moistened daily with a sprinkler, and it is enough to water the sundew once a week. A lack or excess of moisture in the soil should not be allowed. If the plant dries out, it will begin to wither, and if there is too much moisture, the roots will rot.
As irrigation water, you should use rain, melt, purified or distilled water, but under no circumstances tap water.
The soil
Since sundew in the wild grows in poor soils with virtually no nutrients, its root part is very poorly developed. To grow at home, you will need a low flower container (about 10 centimeters) and a sand-peat soil mixture with a small amount of moss, which will help retain moisture.
Feeding and fertilizers
The sundew does not require additional feeding, since it receives its main nutrition from insects. The main thing is that insects in the form of flies or mosquitoes sometimes land on sundew leaves.
Maintenance of sundews in winter
Between November and February the plant is dormant. During this time, the sundew sheds its leaves and becomes inactive towards insects. It is recommended to keep the flower in a cool place with high level humidity and away from heating devices.
Before the start of the active phase of plant development (approximately in the last week of February), you can replant and update the soil.
Propagation by seeds
The seeds are planted in well-moistened sphagnum moss and kept in a well-lit place, covered with film, at a temperature of more than 25 degrees Celsius. In approximately 25-30 days, seedlings will appear. Plants with full 3-4 leaves are suitable for transplanting into soil. The sundew will reach maturity after 3-4 months.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
The bush of the plant can be divided into several parts along with the root and planted in separate containers. Child rosettes are also planted in individual flower pots. In a new place, young shoots and separated parts quickly take root.
Propagation by cuttings
Cut cuttings can be placed in water for root formation, or they can be immediately planted in moist soil, which will be sphagnum moss. For good rooting The plant needs a lot of moisture in the soil and the creation of greenhouse conditions.
Diseases and pests
In most cases, a flower gets sick due to improper care. Basically, this is a lack or excess of moisture in the soil and indoors. At insufficient watering and dry air, sticky drops may dry out on sundew leaves. It is urgent to spray and raise the humidity level by keeping the plant in a terrarium.
If there is an excess of moisture, the process of rotting begins in the root part. This occurs from stagnation of excess water in the plant pot. In this case, it is better to transplant the sundew into new soil and, after inspecting the roots, remove their damaged and rotten parts. In the future, it is recommended to use only soft water in moderate volumes for irrigation.
If the disease catches the plant during the period of active flowering, then removing the flower stalks will help save its energy and redirect it to fight the disease.
Sundew refers to poisonous plants, and must be handled with extreme caution, but at the same time it has a large number of healing qualities. It is used in folk and official medicine. You can treat sundew at home, but after consultation with a specialist and according to a strictly specified dosage. Selecting treatment on your own is dangerous to your health.
The plant contains a large amount useful substances, which help in the treatment of many diseases and their consequences. Both fresh plants and dry raw materials are used. Tinctures and ointments, decoctions and solutions for compresses are made on the basis of sundew. The list of diseases that sundew can cure includes diarrhea, asthma, dysentery, tuberculosis, bronchitis, dropsy, whooping cough, fever and many skin diseases.
In folk medicine, all parts of the plant, as well as its juice, are used.
Sundew is used:
- To relieve spasms and inflammation.
- For the treatment of the nervous system.
- As a diaphoretic and diuretic.
- To normalize body temperature.
- In the treatment of atherosclerosis.
- For the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract.
- In complex therapy for the treatment of colds, including cough and ENT.
- To destroy calluses and warts.
Despite the fact that sundew is a very exotic plant, caring for it is quite simple and even a novice gardener can do it.
Sundew is a carnivorous plant-predator of insects (video)
Nature amazes with its diversity amazing plants and evidence of this is one of the predators of the world of flora - the insectivorous sundew (Drosera), which has rarely been seen in its natural habitat.
However, recently it has become popular to grow this unusual crop at home and, oddly enough, sundew feels good at home and, with proper care, can live for more than one year.
This extremely interesting plant belongs to the sundew family (Droseraceae). The name of the genus comes from the Greek “droseros”, which means “covered with dew”, since the drops of sticky secretion on the glandular hairs look exactly like drops of morning dew sparkling in the sun. People call it “solar dew” or “sundews”.
Most of the 188 species of the crop grow in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, about 18 species are native to South America and several species forms of the plant can be found in the cool and cold climates of the Northern Hemisphere.
They survive due to special wintering basal buds that can withstand low temperatures. A typical representative of temperate latitudes is the round-leaved sundew.
Description
Sundew leaves collected in a rosette, depending on the species, can be green, light green, yellow or reddish. Shape: small and round, long and wide or narrow, lying almost on the ground or petiolate. The length of the petioles on which the leaves are located ranges from 2 to 15 cm.
The swampy peatlands on which the predator plant grows are practically devoid of nutrients, so the sundew over the years of evolution was able to develop unusual way feeding with insects.
Its traps are covered with thin, sensitive glandular red hairs that resemble cilia. The hairs produce a fragrant sticky substance, which is a digestive secretion of the predator plant and appears in the form of a droplet at the top of each hair.
Insects, attracted by the aroma, land on the leaf, and the sticky secretion immobilizes them, and the leaf slowly closes and the digestion process begins with the help of enzymes and formic acid. The process of food absorption takes several days.
Sundew flowers are produced on flower stems that are long enough to prevent the insects that pollinate them from getting caught in traps. The flowers of most species open only in the sun.
They are small - about 1.5 cm, but there are species with flowers 4-5 cm in diameter. Flowering occurs in late spring and summer and lasts 2-3 months. Such prolonged flowering can weaken the plant and affect its appearance.
The root system of all sundews is weak, although well developed. The roots of the crop are necessary only for water absorption and holding the plant on the soil surface.
In temperate climates in winter, the plant goes dormant and overwinters under the snow. Sub tropical species grow all year round. There is an even larger group of Australian members of this genus whose underground tuberous thickening of roots helps them survive drought.
The most popular species of carnivorous plant in floriculture
Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) found in marshy areas of the Northern Hemisphere. The leaves are small and rounded in the form of a blade, located on long petioles and covered with many cilia-hairs.
Drosera "Roseana"- an Australian dwarf variety (1-2 cm), the reproduction of which occurs with the help of viviparous gem buds - modified leaves formed to create a new sundew that is genetically identical to the mother plant.
Gems form inside a leaf rosette and germinate very quickly. The pink or greenish leaves of "Roseana" are densely covered with thin glands, making them look like fluffy balls.
Derby sundew (Drosera Derbyensis)- endemic to Western Australia. The leaf petioles, collected in a basal rosette, are numerous, narrow and slightly pubescent, and sheet plate tiny and round with pink hairs.
Cape sundew (Drosera capensis) The species is native to Africa. The height of narrow green-yellow or red-brown petioles with blade-shaped leaves is about 15 cm. It is distinguished by beautiful flowering with dark pink or pale pink flowers. This type sundews have become widespread in home culture.
Drosera affinis- another tropical crop species that adapts to a wide range of temperatures thanks to its characteristic thin petioles and leaf blades reaching a height of 25 cm. In home breeding it is represented by the “Namibia” variety. On a flower shoot up to 30 cm high, about 13 flowers are formed, which open alternately.
Alicia's sundew (D. aliciae)- a perennial tropical plant with a low basal rosette consisting of 30 densely spaced oblong reddish or green leaves that reach 25-30 mm in length and 7 mm in width.
Leaf stems are absent. The lower leaves die off over time. The inflorescence of this species consists of approximately 2-12 purple flowers, which bloom alternately.
Royal sundew (D. regia)– by birth South Africa. It got its name thanks to the long, up to 50 cm in height, spear-shaped leaves that form a crown. It forms several flower stalks at once, reaching a height of 60-90 cm. Lilac flowers are collected in loose inflorescences. The capture mechanism is very unusual - the leaves around the captured insects are wrapped as if in a knot!
Drosera nidiformis- an easily cultivated species from South Africa. D. nidiformis exhibits a reddish tint to the petioles and leaves when grown in bright light conditions. Does not tolerate cold temperatures. When capturing a prey, the leaf curls around it to ensure contact with as many digestive glands as possible.
There are also a large number of such magnificent hybrids and cultivars as Drosera falconeri, D. capensis x pululata, D. dielsiana x nidiformis, D. Pululata, hybrid sundew “Charles Darwin”, etc.
Caring for insectivorous sundew at home
Growing a predator plant requires certain rules, however, the crop can be recommended for beginning gardeners.
Lighting
Almost all varieties of sundews, with the exception of some temperate climate species (Sundew rotundifolia), require plenty of indirect sunlight, but they must be protected from direct midday rays, as they dry out the sticky secretion.
The best exposure is considered to be eastern or western windows. Good lighting is especially important for colorful varieties and natives of the tropics. In winter, the plant should receive at least 8 hours of light using a phytolamp.
Temperature
In winter, tropical sundew species require temperatures of 16-18 °C. In summer they can tolerate high temperatures in the range of 26-38 °C.
European species forms feel comfortable with more low temperatures: in winter - 7-12 ̊С (with the exception of a few species that lose their leaves in the fall and winter in colder conditions) and in summer 20-22 ̊С.
In the heat, the ground part of some of them may dry out, but then recovers from the roots with normalization temperature regime. Extreme heat also affects the production of secretions, which quickly evaporate.
Watering and importance
In nature, the insectivorous sundew grows in swampy peatlands, so it is necessary to create conditions similar to its natural habitat. The plant is very sensitive to drying out of the soil, which should always be moist.
The best solution is to place the pot on a special tray filled with water, covering the bottom of the pot to a height of 1-2 cm. The roots of the plant predator themselves will take required amount moisture and drain off excess water.
Another method of watering is to lower the pot into a container of water for a few seconds. In summer, water once every three days, and in winter, reduce irrigation to once a week.
The culture grows well in an aquarium, the bottom of which is lined with moss. The pot is placed in it up to half of the ground part. This growing method allows you to increase the importance of air to the required 70% and best imitates natural conditions.
IN normal conditions When growing, to increase air humidity, spray the soil surface daily or line the pot with damp moss.
In addition to the frequency of watering, an important factor is also the quality of the water, which should have a minimum chemical substances and salts. For these purposes, we use soft distilled water or boiled and settled tap water. Ideal option It will be rainy.
In winter, the activity of the domestic predator decreases; it requires less food and watering. Some sundews may shed their leaves at the end of autumn. This period of rest is expressed in species of the middle zone.
Replanting and soil selection
The best soil for growing insectivorous sundew at home is peat mixed with quartz sand, free of minerals and moss in a ratio of 3:2:1. Sand can be replaced with perlite. Alicia's sundew grows well only in sphagnum peat moss.
Transplantation is carried out once every 2 years in the spring with the beginning of the growing season. Replant carefully, using the transshipment method. Newly purchased plants do not need immediate replanting.
The procedure can be rescheduled to early March. To grow sundews at home, choose a flat, low pot up to 10 cm deep. But you don’t have to replant at all, since sundews only live in the house for 3 years. You can get a new pet through timely breeding.
How to feed sundews
The most great fun, especially for novice gardeners, is feeding sundews with insects, since the introduction of any fertilizers into the soil is strictly prohibited, leading to the death of the plant. Without receiving live food, the insectivorous sundew will not die due to photosynthesis, but its growth will practically stop.
When feeding crops, you need to remember a few basic rules. First of all, insects must be small and always alive.
They act as nitrogen fertilizers to ensure healthy growth for your pet. Fruit flies and mosquitoes are best as food. A plant placed on a balcony or terrace can take care of itself. In the house, feeding frequency is approximately once every 2 weeks.
How to grow sundew at home
The culture propagates by seeds, viviparous buds, leaf cuttings and division of the root system. You can get seeds from your pet by pollinating flowers with a brush, or take it out to the balcony, presenting this mission to insects.
Growing from seeds
The seed propagation method is quite labor-intensive, but its advantage lies in obtaining a large number of seedlings. In the spring, seeds are placed directly on moist peat, as they need light to germinate. Air humidity should be 70%. The substrate should always be very moist.
The minimum temperature for germination is 18 °C, and the optimal temperature is 20-23 °C. The first shoots appear after 2-3 weeks. Seedlings sprout after two months; flowering can be expected after 1-1.5 years, provided they are fed every 2 weeks.
Some dwarf Australian species reproduce by buds - gemmas. Gems are placed on the surface of wet peat mixed with sand and constant humidity is monitored. The buds take root very quickly, in almost 4-5 days. Gemma can germinate even in damp cotton wool or a napkin.
Kidneys can be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 3-4 degrees if they remain in water. Simply place them in a glass container with a lid and fill ¾ full.
Propagation by leaf cuttings
An easier way to get new instances. For propagation, the leaves with cuttings are cut and placed horizontally in a container with a damp mixture of sand and peat or one sphagnum moss.
Propagation by leaves without cuttings occurs using the same technology. Horizontal method placing a cutting or leaf ensures the development of large plants that will reach maturity much faster.
Development of a new plant from a cutting in water
The container is placed in a well-lit place and covered with a stack or film to create greenhouse conditions. Moisten the moss periodically with a spray, do not let it dry out. Ventilate the greenhouse for 5-10 minutes once a day.
After some time, a shoot will appear on the surface of the leaf blade - this is a new plant. The root formation procedure takes 3-8 weeks.
Leaf with new sundew
Roots form very quickly in water. The leaves and cuttings are completely placed in a container with water, and after the roots have formed, they are immediately planted in a separate pot. This method is the easiest.
No root formation stimulants are needed for this crop.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
Although root system The sundew plant is weak and thin and can be divided to produce new plants. The procedure for dividing adult 2-3 year old specimens is carried out in early spring and very carefully.
Problems in care
The insectivorous sundew can develop root rot at home. The reason may be such errors in care as a constant excess of water in the soil, cold temperatures that increase the risk of developing the disease, and lack of light.
Symptoms of root rot: leaf blades are completely curled, hairs do not produce secretions, petioles fall off. To save your pet, you must immediately replant it in a new substrate and treat the roots with a fungicide.
Secretion production may stop after replanting or if the leaf is touched frequently. It will form on new leaves.
Mature plants die back from time to time, but usually new shoots develop from stems or roots after a few weeks.
Ironically, carnivorous plants are attacked by pests, although very rarely. Aphids and thrips cause deformation of the ground part and stunting of growth.
Pests must be removed manually or using folk remedies. The use of insecticide is not recommended, since the chemicals cause the secretion to dry out and reduce the amount of its production.
Carnivorous plants are one of the most unusual representatives of the flora. Their trap leaves are responsible not only for photosynthesis, but also, along with the roots, provide nutrition obtained from captured insects. A striking and popular “predator” is the sundew plant (Drosera).
General information
In its natural environment, sundews live on depleted marshy soils, so insects become its only source of adequate nutrition. The leaves of this plant are covered with thin needles, at the ends of which droplets of a sticky substance form. From the outside, the sundew looks like it is covered with dew. Insects fall for this trick - and instead of dew, they get stuck in a sticky substance that contains digestive enzymes and a paralyzing component.
The sundew is a “reasonable” predator. This fact was discovered by Darwin, who conducted experiments to understand how picky this plant is. The scientist placed milk, a piece of meat, as well as paper and stone on the sheet. The sundew reacted only to organic substances. Having determined that the substance that has fallen on the leaf is suitable for food, the leaf receives a signal and begins to curl up around the victim. Soon the victim is completely at the mercy of the plant, which gradually absorbs everything it needs. After a few days, the leaf will unfold, leaving only the indigestible parts. In their natural environment, they are carried away by the wind.
Varieties
There are more than 200 varieties of sundews. They differ in the size of the bush, the shade, the shape of the leaves, but they all have common feature– a large number of hairs-cilia with drops of secretion at the ends. Modest but graceful flowers of pink or cream color on spike-shaped inflorescences form fruit-boxes. The most decorative sundews grow in Africa, America, Australia, and several varieties are also found in Europe. Many of them can be grown quite successfully at home.
The following types of sundews are popular.
- Round-leaved (listed in the Red Book). Elongated petioles radiate from the basal rosette, at the ends of which there are rounded leaves with reddish tentacle hairs. Round-leaved sundew can be found in many regions of Russia, in particular in the swamps of the Moscow region. The above-ground part of the plant contains organic acids, tannins, and ascorbic acid. In medicine, the raw material is used as an expectorant. If kept at home, you will have to organize “wintering” in a refrigerator or on a loggia, but it is better to opt for tropical species.
- Cape. This variety of sundew is most in demand for home grown. The leaf shape is elongated. There are reddish and white varieties. An adult Cape sundew reaches about 12 cm in height. The plant is relatively unpretentious and can grow without a dormant period all year round.
- Intermediate sundew. Forms small rosettes (5-8 cm in height) of a reddish hue. The leaf plate is curved.
- English. In a natural environment, under favorable conditions, it can reach a height of 25 cm; when grown at home, it grows up to 8-12 cm. Lanceolate leaves stretch upward. The aerial part is used in medicine as a bactericidal, antipyretic, antispasmodic and diuretic.
- Bisyllabic - an original variety: the leaves are double, shaped like a kind of grip with twisted ends. The plant reaches a height of 60 cm.
- Alicia's sundew. The multilayer rosette is shaped like chamomile flowers superimposed on each other. Significant disadvantage for home cultivation can be called the death of the lower tiers, due to which mature plant loses its decorative effect.
- Burman's sundew is a very beautiful and compact species. Outwardly it resembles a dark pink ball strewn with drops. The diameter of an adult specimen is about 15-20 cm. This plant is a record holder for the speed of grasping prey. The leaf “hugs” the prey insect literally in a matter of seconds.
- Thread-like. The shape of the rosette of leaves is similar to a bunch of crochet hooks: the leaf plate is a thin long petiole, slightly curving at the end. The entire length of the leaves is lined with trapping needles. The plant can reach a height of 60 cm (under natural conditions). When the insect is glued to the viscous substance, the leaf curls up like a butterfly's proboscis. Several bushes of filamentous sundew in one pot look very impressive.
- Hairy sundew. It forms a squat miniature rosette in the shape of a daisy, the height is on average 2-4 cm. The petiole is short and flat, but pronounced (unlike the Alicia or Burman sundew), the leaf is rounded, covered with rather long thin tentacles. With sufficient light, the plant turns dark red.
- Seedling sundew. The basal rosette, about 6 cm in diameter, is assembled from small heart-shaped leaves on elongated petioles. Depending on the ambient temperature and light, the plant may change color from pale green to yellow, red and purple. A distinctive feature is the method of reproduction - with mustaches, like strawberries or chlorophytum.
- Sundew glanduligera. The leaf is shaped like a mini sunflower. Sundew glanduligera is an active predator plant, capable of throwing an insect into the center of the leaf blade by contracting its tentacles.
- Chereshkova. The name is quite justified: the rosette is formed by pronounced fleshy petioles, crowned with rather modest-sized leaves.
Sundew can rarely be found in ordinary flower shops. Many people buy different kinds of this plant via the Internet from “breeders” specializing in these representatives of the flora.
Care
Sundew is a special plant that requires not so much care as the creation of a special environment. Living conditions should be close to natural.
Substrate and watering
The sundew root system is very fragile, completely unadapted to ordinary soil. She needs an acidic, depleted, very light, constantly moist substrate, which can be used as:
- finely chopped sphagnum moss;
- peat mixed with coarse sand (1:1);
- peat with ceramis (small porous granules).
Peat must be free of additives. Brands such as Agrobalt-V, TP Pelgorskoye (Morris Green, pH 2.8-4.0), high-moor peat from Fasko meet the requirements. But “Agrobalt-N”, “Aurica Gardens”, and “Azalea” soil are not suitable for sundews (from the practice of flower growers). Expanded clay should not be used as drainage; it is better to pour coarse quartz sand.
The planting pot should be small, like for violets. Ceramic is not suitable because it gradually alkalizes the soil, and sundew develops well only in acidic soil. The tray needs to be high enough so that about 1 cm of water is constantly present in it.
Sundew cannot be fertilized. Watering should be done exclusively with distilled water (can be purchased at automotive departments or pharmacies) and preferably in a tray. You should also not touch the droplets on the hairs.
Although the sundew is an insectivorous plant, it is not necessary to breed fruit flies in your apartment. If necessary, you can throw dry flies, moths, and mosquitoes to her. Without insects, the sundew will not die, but growth may slow down. In the summer, it is useful to expose it to the air (on the balcony). If there are other plants, then they often breed fungus gnats and midges, which will be actively consumed by the sundew. The main thing is that there are droplets on its leaves.
Lighting and temperature
For normal height And decorative look Sundew requires at least 12 hours of daylight in summer and about 8 hours in winter. In most cases, additional lighting is indispensable. If there is insufficient lighting, the plant will turn pale and the dew will disappear. Many droplets are produced with additional illumination by lamps at 6000K-6500K (color temperature, measured in Kelvin). A DNAZ 150 type lamp is well suited for sundews.
Direct sunlight is harmful, so on fine days it is advisable to place the plant away from glass or shade it.
Wintering is a mandatory period for most sundew varieties. At this time, insect fishing almost stops, the lower tiers of leaves die off. The “predator” goes into dormancy from mid-autumn to the second half of February. European varieties of sundews winter comfortably at 7-12°C; in summer their maximum is 22-25°C. Tropical ones can withstand heat of +30°C during the growing season, and winter at 14-16°C. The main condition is high humidity, then the plant is provided with proper heat exchange.
Reproduction
How to grow sundew? There are several main ways: seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush. All of them are theoretically easy to implement at home, but in the end a lot depends on the type of plant.
- Seeds
When the sundew flower fades, a box with seeds forms in its place, ripening in about a month. Some species are self-pollinating, but there are also those that need help: transfer pollen with cotton wool or lightly rub the flowers against each other.
Sundew seeds are sown in a damp mixture of sand and peat (1:1) and covered with a transparent cap. Shoots appear quickly, small plants dive into separate pots (not peat). In practice, from sowing to flowering, for example, Cape sundew takes about 5-6 months, if conditions are favorable.
- Dividing the bush
Many varieties of sundew form several basal rosettes, collected in a bunch or sprouting from underground within the radius of the pot. They are easily separated when transplanting the mother plant. Most gardeners use wooden chopsticks and tweezers.
- Cuttings
As a cutting, you can use a flower shoot (before the flowers bloom) or a leaf cut at the base. Rooting is carried out in a moist substrate, which must be covered with a cap. In some cases, the leaf gives roots directly into the water (you need to place it with the fibers facing up).
Diseases
Sundew can easily get sick and dry out if it is created unsuitable conditions. The leaves will curl and begin to rot due to the soil being too alkaline or dense. Fresh air necessary, so the plant should not be placed in closed glass containers. This is only permissible as an emergency measure to save sundews in dry air conditions or after transplantation.
You cannot spray the leaves to cause droplets to appear. You can only humidify the air around you, which is necessary when heating devices are actively operating.
Although sundew is a marsh plant, excessive moisture due to poor drainage will lead to rotting of the roots. Water should not stagnate in the pot.
Sundew will not survive if:
- planted in ordinary flower soil;
- watered with tap water;
- fertilizers are added to the substrate.
The last point is especially important, since even a single watering with fertilizer will inhibit the growth and death of the plant. If this happens, you should rinse the substrate well with distilled water. In some cases this method helps.
Sundew is fragile, but tenacious. If a long vacation or forgetfulness of the owners has caused the plant to dry out, then it is necessary to cut off all dead parts and water well. In the center of the rosette there is usually a glimmer of life; the sundew will hatch after a while.
Pests
Sundew is a very delicate plant, so insecticides must be used carefully. The preparations should not contain fertilizers.
For aphids, it is better to use “Fitoverm”: 5-6 ml of the drug is diluted in a liter of distilled water. Spraying is carried out with an emphasis on the affected areas (if the trap is not affected by aphids, then it is better not to treat it). Then a bag is put on the plant, which is left for about a day. If necessary, the treatment is repeated after a week.
In general, caring for sundew cannot be called difficult. But for her successful cultivation special knowledge is required, since this swamp “predator” differs significantly in needs from the usual house flowers. The key to success is the correct substrate, high humidity and sufficient lighting.
Sundew is not a plant for everyone, but many gardeners grow real little masterpieces that make even people completely indifferent to such flora interested. "Predators" is not only original, but also very interesting to watch.
Sundew (Drosera) is a carnivorous plant that belongs to the Sundew family. The habitat is the zones of Japan, China, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand, where subtropical and tropical climates reign. Some of the 150 species grow wild in European swamps. In Russia, only four species of the genus Sundew are grown: round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), English sundew (Drosera anglica), intermediate sundew (Drosera intermedia), obovate sundew (Drosera obovata). The name of the perennial comes from Greek words: drosos - dew or droseros - wet with dew. Sundew is an autotrophic and heterotrophic plant, thus representing an interesting object for observation, useful plant for growing at home.
Description
Sundew, perennial plant, sometimes annual. The leaves are spatulate, green-red in color, covered with hairs with sticky mucus. The leaves act as a trap for insects; the sticky secretions contain poisonous substances. Pink with a white tint, sometimes purple, the flowers adorn the plant, have a radial and cup-shaped shape, the diameter is 2 cm. Flowering occurs from May to August. The fruit of the plant is a capsule.
Mechanism of insect feeding
The sundew attracts, captures, and digests its victims with glands. The plant is distinguished by small, oval leaves that create a mundane basal rosette, to which tentacles are attached. There are nodules on the leaves that strongly secrete a viscous liquid with the smell of honey. Drops of liquid, shining in the sun, attract insects with their smell; insects landing on the leaves immediately stick. When the insect has stuck, the flower captures the victim with sticky tentacles; after digestion, the tentacles return to their original position.
Growing
To grow sundews at home, you should choose a well-lit place, without direct sun rays, grows best in partial shade. The room should have high humidity. If you are not sure the humidity is appropriate, the sundew pot can be placed in a large glass container. The required temperature for a perennial is approximately 20 °C in summer, within 15 °C in winter. The growing pot should have a diameter of about 15 cm.
The soil
For creating the right basis Peat and fine gravel for aquariums are needed, combined in a 2:1 ratio. After planting, the surface of the earth is covered with sphagnum moss. Place the prepared pot in a container of water. Humidity around sundew has a huge impact on the formation of liquid droplets on sensory hairs. The plant is accustomed to humid conditions and in its natural environment grows in swamps.
Care
Sundew loves high humidity, you need to place the pot in a container with water. Watering the plant involves adding distilled, boiled or rain water to the stand. The substrate must be constantly moist and not allowed to become dry.
Carnivorous plants do not need to be fertilized, all the necessary nutrients get from their victims, decomposing, release nitrogen used by the plant. Plants can be used from time to time feed insects, is not necessary, the flower will take care of itself. Feeding sundews will accelerate growth and proper development. Plant, does not need a rest period, in winter it should be on the windowsill of a south window. In winter, you also need to provide the necessary moisture. Sundew is a flowering plant; flowering slows the growth of leaves. If you want the plant to have well-developed leaves and tentacles, the inflorescences must be removed. An adult specimen is replanted in the spring, every 2-3 years.
Reproduction
The plant reproduces by seeds, a difficult process. It is worth leaving propagation by seeds to specialists who have laboratory conditions. You can try to grow seedlings yourself. Sundew seeds are very small; you do not need to sprinkle them with soil, just press them to the base.
Seed germination lasts about 2 weeks, at a temperature of 20-25 °C. The seedlings should be placed in a sunny place. The seedlings are planted when they grow up. After two years, the plant becomes a mature specimen. Sundew also reproduces root cuttings, cut into pieces 3-5 cm long and placed flat in a container, then covered with a layer of earth.
(Drosera) is a carnivorous plant from the Sundew family (Droseraceae). It is difficult to name the exact habitat and homeland. The plant is found in Africa, all parts of America, Australia, the European continent and even in some regions of Russia. There are more than 100 species of carnivorous plants. Only one species is adapted to domestic conditions - the Cape sundew. Maintenance is quite simple and does not require special conditions content.
The name comes from the drops of dew on the tendrils of the flower. It is with this liquid that the sundew hunts insects.
Description: Perennial herbaceous plant, forms a basal rosette at the base. Petiolate or sessile leaves are covered with hairs over their entire surface, from which a sticky substance appears for hunting. When touched with your hand, the same mucus is released.
The length of the leaves depends on the species and habitat, and varies significantly from 5 mm to 50 cm. The flowers are collected in a spike-shaped inflorescence, bright pink or cream color. A flower with a double perianth and a corolla of 4-5-8 petals. Equal number of petals and stamens.
The pistil forms a single ovary with a large number of seeds. The ovary is superior, rounded. The fruit is a capsule with protein seeds. The substance released from the glands, in addition to being sticky, has paralytic properties.
The long stem with flowers located at the top is significantly longer than the length of the trap leaves, so that during dusting, insects do not get caught on the sticky fibers.
How does insect hunting work?
Special glands produce droplets that attract small insects. There are sticky hairs all over the surface. Having sat on a flower, the victim sticks, and the leaves, sensing it, curl up, closing the caught victim inside.
Continue the re-etching process for at least a week, then the petals open again, releasing killer dew.
Sundew in its natural environment prefers swampy areas where the soil is poor in nitrogen; by catching and poisoning the insect, the plant receives the necessary substances, including the missing nitrogen. The hunting process, unlike similar species, is rare, but very exciting.
Sundew - care at home
Lighting: A place for a carnivorous plant is selected in a shaded area. In its natural environment, the sundew, due to its small stature, lives between trees in constant shade and only occasionally receives direct sunlight. Optimal places, windows on the east or west side. It is not necessary to place the flower on the windowsill, the main thing is to provide diffused light for up to 12-14 hours in the summer, and 8-10 hours in the winter.
Location with north side Most likely, it is necessary to install artificial additional lighting.
Be sure to protect and shade from direct sunlight, otherwise the sundew will get burned.
Temperature: There are two temperature indicators for African, heat-loving species and European.
- For the first ones, comfortable environment habitat in summer is 24-30 degrees, in winter - 13-16 degrees.
- The latter are less thermophilic and prefer no more than 22 degrees in the hot period, and 7-12 in winter.
The minimum indicators at which sundews can exist for a short period of time are 2-5 degrees.
Before purchasing, be sure to check the species to see if the predator is suitable for your climatic conditions.
Soil: The components of the substrate should be as close as possible to swampy, that is, to natural habitats. The main component is peat with the addition of quartz sand, a little moss, turf, or perlite. (pH=5.5)
For example: peat (2 hours), sand (2 hours), moss (1 hour), perlite (1 hour).
Humidity: Swampy plant, needs constant high humidity 70-90%.
Under such conditions, sundew can be grown in open areas with constant shading. In rooms with low humidity, artificial humidifiers are used.
Spray the room nearby or place it on a tray with wet pebbles or expanded clay. They cannot be placed in terrariums; the sun's (thermal) rays passing through the glass will burn the leaves. It is prohibited to spray directly on the sundew itself. In a room with low humidity, the top of the pot (soil) is covered with sphagnum moss to keep the substrate moist for some time.
Watering: the carnivorous plant loves water. Watering should be plentiful and intense, especially in winter. In nature, sundews are accustomed to constantly being in humid environment among the swamp and moss.
The pot can be placed on a tray with moss, which will always be wet when watered. After watering, the water is not drained from under the pot, but, on the contrary, topped up if necessary. High pot trays are used. Do not allow the soil to dry out.
Water should not contain minerals and salts. Use soft, rainy, or distilled water.
Replanting: Replanting is not carried out every year, as a rule, once every 2-3 years, as the soil becomes depleted. Due to its shallow roots, replanting is not necessary.
Reproduction: Sundew reproduces in several ways: cuttings, dividing the bush, seeds.
- Seeds. This is the most popular way. Tiny black seeds are planted in a substrate of peat and sand (1:1). I cover the top with a glass flask and water generously. After a certain time, the first shoots will appear. Seedlings are planted in separate pots, maintaining a temperature of 22-25 degrees.
- Dividing the bush. During the transplant. Usually in early spring, the daughter rosette is separated from the main bush and rooted in separate containers. Reproduction is also carried out by dividing the main bush into parts.
- Cuttings. The flower shoot is cut off before the flowers form and rooted into the ground; you can place it in a mini greenhouse for some time before rooting. The cuttings are cut as close to the base as possible.
- In addition to flower shoots, leaf shoots are also used. Part of the leaf is placed on damp soil or moss, covered with a glass flask on top and watered generously. The main requirement is a large amount of diffused light. Sometimes the leaves are placed on a layer of water (1-2 cm), with the piece of iron facing up, and covered with film or a jar. After 2 months, the first shoots will begin to appear, then they are transplanted into the ground.
Feeding: The sundew does not need additional feeding. During the hot period, place the pot in an open area in the shade and the plant will find its own victim in the form of insects.
In enclosed spaces, bring live or dry flies or other insects, but make sure that the sticky liquid appears at this time. A sundew can exist without insects at all, but growth will slow down significantly.
Over the course of a week, 1-3 flies purchased from zoological stores are enough. On balconies or verandas, the flower itself must provide its own food.
Pests: The plant is resistant to attack by pests, sometimes with low humidity and a dry earthen coma, aphids, or botrytis, appear. To eliminate, use purchased spraying products until they disappear completely.
Difficulties in care: The main problem is rotting of the root system at low temperatures and abundant watering. The color becomes dull and growth slows down.
Flowering: The period of active growth begins in spring. Flowering occurs from March - April and can last until mid-summer. Small flowers up to 1 cm in diameter, pink, or lilac color placed on long peduncle slightly higher than the leaves so that the bee does not accidentally fall into the trap when dusty.
The flower consists of 5 petals. Indoors, flowers are pollinated artificially by rubbing one against the other. After a month or a month and a half, the boxes can be cut off. Remove the seeds and plant in the ground to create a new plant. In a month, sprouts will appear, and after 5-6 months, a beautiful bush will form.
Wintering: Starting in mid-autumn, all carnivorous plants enter a state of dormancy, which ends at the end of February. Some of the leaves die off and the plant stops growing. Fly traps are less active and sticky. Watering during this period is significantly reduced, but the soil should not be dry. Humidity is still kept at 70-90%. Feed consumption is reduced several times.
Beneficial features: Despite its aggressive lifestyle as a carnivorous plant, sundew has medicinal properties.
- The juice is used as a remedy for warts.
- Serves as one of the components of a diuretic for oral administration.
- Based on the plant, preparations are made for eye inflammation, fever and other diseases.
This species is practically the only one adapted to home conditions. Motherland is considered South part America.
The peculiarity of the Cape sundew is small sizes, simple care And a large number seeds, thanks to which the species quickly reproduces, often even independently. Small narrow leaves up to 4 cm long and 0.5 cm wide.
The leaves are collected in a basal rosette with red fibers. Upon contact, they release a sticky paralytic substance. As soon as the insect sticks, the edges of the leaf roll up, enclosing the victim, poisoning it for several days.
It has been observed that the leaf reacts to organic matter and the ingress of foreign objects does not provoke curling.