Drosera nidiformisDrosera nidiformis is a beautiful subtropical sundew from South Africa. It reaches its full potential when fed often, especially when grown in a bright location outdoors. Drosera nidiformis has become common in sundew collections due to its ease of growing, its ability to produce many seeds, its clumping habit, and ease of propagation. |
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 Above: young Drosera nidiformis plants exhibiting red-orange coloration more pictures to come... |
Media: Not picky. I use 1:1 peat: sand (silica). Small amounts of perlite can be added as well. I think LFS or live sphagnum could work as well Be sure to rinse your media before you use it Media moisture: try to keep moist, occasionally letting the media dry out. Do not over-water: When growing indoors, I have found that Drosera nidiformis has a succeptibility to root rot and fungus if its roots are flooded. Humidity: not much needed. I'd recommend at least 50% to be safe. Try 75-85+% in warmer temperatures. Pot height: I recommend 4 inches or taller, though it can do fine in small pots. Drosera nidiformis can develop a a long, branching root system when established. A tall pot will allow this sundew to reach its full potential, and avoid any potential issues with root rot. Trapping speed: moderate. Leaves will curl noticeably around food within a few hours. Feeding: Feed once every two weeks for rapid, larger growth and flower production. See feeding page. Feeding encourages flowering. If fed while flowering, the newest leaves will not shrink in growth, and the plant will continually flower until it is not fed. Food size: small to medium. Plant dimensions: Drosera nidiformis does not form a stem over time- it remains at ground level. The upright leaves of Drosera nidiformis can reach higher than 2.5 inches at maturity. Drosera nidiformis resembles D. intermedia, with its similarly-shaped paddle leaves. Temperature: not picky. Has grown well for me in the temp range of 60-85 degrees. Give Drosera nidiformis subtropical conditions. Lighting/Photoperiod: I grow mine under T-8 lights with a 16-hour photoperiod. The leaves will turn a brilliant gold-red color under intense lighting. Dormancy requirements: None required. Drosera nidiformis can be grown year-round if grown indoors during the cold months. I recommend the tray method. However, Drosera nidiformis should come back from the roots if it freezes or dries out. Flowers: D. nidiformis produces a long flower stalk that often gets burned in my lights. It self-pollinates very easily and is known to become a weed in collections over time. Propagation Techniques(click here to learn more about propagating sundews)Seed: very easy. no cold stratification required. Drosera nidiformis can be grown to flowering maturity from seed in less than 1 year if fed approx. every 2 weeks. Leaf-cuttings: very easy. The water-floating method works best. Place directly under lights for the hightest strike rate. Root cuttings: easy. Roots are a bit more narrow than most South African sundews, but they work extremely well. Divisions: easy. Drosera nidiformis tends to form clumps over time. D. nidiformis has no trouble dealing with repotting and root disturbance, so divisions can be taken easily. |
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