Re: D Paleacea dormant?

Nigel Hurneyman (NHurneyman@softwar1.demon.co.uk)
Tue, 6 Aug 1996 13:49:08 +-100

Hi Roberto,

Here in the UK it is difficult to provide adequate conditions to force
pygmy Drosera into dormancy, hence it is a perpetual struggle to keep
some of the choicer species. Fortunately D Paleacea is one of the
easier ones and can get by without a dormancy period. However I
suspect it would be happier if it does get a rest.

Shortly after flowering and setting seed, pygmies stop putting out new
leaves and form a tight curled-up ball protected by stipules. They last
out the Summer like this, before resuming growth and producing gemmae
in the Autumn. With taller species, the main stem might actually die
during the Summer, in which case the tight ball will also produce aerial
roots in Autumn, which grow down to the ground to enable the plant to
take up water again.

If your plants look as though they are going dormant (which should be
a lot easier in Italy than it is in the UK), cut right back on the water -
in fact some people recommend allowing the surface of the compost
to dry out. Resume full watering when your plants start putting out new
growth.

Good Growing, Nigel Hurneyman.