Sundew Essentials (Cultivation Materials) and Getting Started
I've compiled a list of materials you will need to get before you can start cultivating sundews:Peat moss- (also called milled sphagnum peat moss)-can be found at Lowe's, Home Depot, or local garden centers. It is black and powdery when dry. DO NOT INHALE peat dust and do not handle peat if you have cuts on your hands, as people have been infected because of this. Make sure you rinse your peat before using it to avoid mold and algae.
Silica sand- can be found at pool supply stores, or at Home Depot. You will want a larger grade- around #20 (about .50 mm). DO NOT INHALE silica dust when handling the sand. It can cause a lung condition known as silicosis. Silica sand is best because it is generally purer than play sand, and it is great for loosening up the soil of your sundew pots. Make sure to rinse your sand to avoid salt and mineral buildup.
Distilled/ RO water (or rainwater)- I only use distilled or reverse osmosis purified water for my most important sundews. I use tap water for several of my sundews that I have extras of, like Drosera capensis and binata. I have never had a problem so far as long as I top-water them. Since the tap water in some cities has such a high level of TDS, this can cause a fast mineral-buildup when using the tray method, which can kill your sundews over time. Try top-watering as much as possible if even if you use distilled water, RO, or rainwater.
Pots- only use plastic pots. Clay pots can eventually release minerals that can kill your plants over time. This won't happen all the time, but it's better to play it safe. 3-inch plastic cups also work very well. If you want to use clay pots, try to top-water your carnivorous plants as much as possible.
Growlights- fluorescent lights are reccomended unless you have an extremely bright windowsill, or you are able to grow them outdoors. I use 4-foot T-8
and T-12 fixtures. Bulbs labeled as "plant and aquarium" are not necessary. Normal fluorescent bulbs work just as well, as long as you use a mixture of cool and warm bulbs to cover the entire light spectrum. More expensive halogen lights or other specialty lights may also be used. See my page about lighting
Long-Fibered Sphagnum moss- also known as LFS. Most sundews can be grown in pure long-fibered sphagnum moss, depending on your climate and growing area. It is much easier to repot sundews with LFS than with a peat:sand mix.
Food for your Sundews- if you want your sundew seeds or plants to grow as fast as possible, you will want to feed them often. You can use Beta Bites (fish food pellets), freeze-dried bloodworms, or live insects, such as wingless or flightless fruit flies. See my sundew feeding page for more detailed information.
OTHER OPTIONAL PRODUCTS:
Perlite- this light, white substrate is used for water retention and making the soil mixture open, allowing the roots to easily travel through the media. This can be mixed in with LFS or a peat-sand mix. It can also be used in a 1 peat: 1 perlite mixture, but I don't recommend this, as algae develops very easily.
APS- Some sundew growers use Aquatic Plant Soil (Schulz brand or others), which you can find at Lowe's. APS consists of small chunks of ceramic tiles, which absorb moisture well, and act similar to perlite. Many Pinguicula growers now grow their plants in pure APS and it works well.
BEFORE PLANTING-
Always make sure you have flushed the material you are planning to use with tap water and then rinse with distilled water. Peat moss, silica sand, LFS, and perlite all have minerals and particles that will end up hurting the plants if you don't get rid of them.
Keeping your plants wet using the Tray Method
The easiest method of watering is the tray method. This is where you take the pot that your carnivorous plant is in, and place it over a tray that you have filled with water. Once the tray dries out in a few days, you refill the tray again. etc. etc. You can also top-water your plants, but this can become time-consuming if you have a large collection. Click here to be redirected my tray method page.
If you use the tray method, make sure to top-water your plant at least once-a-month to ensure that salt and minerals will not build up towards the surface of the media and kill your plants.
Insecticide/Fungicide
Insects often cause problems for new growers. I had this problem because the setup I previously used was too stagnant, leading to a fungus gnat fiesta. In order to kill off the larvae and adults, I used Neem oil. It is a natural oil extracted from the Neem tree. For more information about Neem oil, click here.
Other systematic insecticides can be used in low doses, but I have killed one of my sundews when I tried this the first time. I've never had any issues with Neem oil, however, so I would highly recommend it.
Remember that rinsing your media first will dramatically help reduce fungus and insect outbreaks from occuring in the first place.
Hopefully this can get you started...: )
Additional Questions or Suggestions?
Contact me at: sundewman(at)yahoo.com