D.erythrorhiza subspecies squamosa

Stephen Jackson (wacko@ozemail.com.au)
Sat, 27 Apr 1996 19:12:07 +1000 (EST)

In reply to Glenn Rankins' query about the loss of colour in his Drosera
erythrorhiza ssp. squamosa, I have the following comments to make.

My first contact with these plants was in 1979 when I located them in a
rubbish tip south of Perth, Western Australia. They were growing in full sun
and partial shade, in very nearly pure, fine grained silica sand.

I managed to grow them in their native soil for 2 seasons, after which I
divided and repotted them in a mix of 90% silica sand and 10% peat.
Unfortunately, my experience was the same as Glenns in that the plants lost
colour over the next couple of seasons, and also lost some vigour.

As light levels were strong, and my dormancy regimen was very successful on
other tuberous Drosera, I wonder if the native soil has a characteristic
which we are not mimicking, ie Ph, Fungal symbiosis or mineral content?

If anyone is successful in maintaining the colour in this plant, Glenn and I
are hanging on our modems waiting to hear your secret!
Steve Jackson.