We are going to do Drosera maintenance today. This is important to do because the plant starts to grow up and out of the moss that it's situated in. If I don't take care of this, the plant is more vulnerable to wind knocking it over, or even blowing the plant out of the pot entirely.
You can see one of the babies we repotted several posts ago, the one in the little green pot to the right. Compare the size. The one we are working with today is an adult!
The Droseras are constantly growing new sticky leaves to catch bugs. As they do that, the lower leaves get old and need to be trimmed off.
So let's get started. This should only take fifteen minutes unless we find little plants at the base of the plant.
I cut out all the old leaves that are near the bottom. If they are not bright green with red, sticky tentacles, they get cut out.
This procedure will not hurt a healthy adult. The trimmings get laid in some moist moss where they will produce baby Droseras.
Let's see what we have now that there is room at the base.
I think I see a baby plant that sprung up over the winter. Look just to the right of the base. You will see green leaves that are definitely not from an adult Drosera.
This is a good size plant already. Let's get a pot ready and transplant this one so it can get some sun for a change.
I just prepared a pot for it. It is the same size as some that I take to the plant stores and sell. This plant will bring seven dollars or more. And I didn't even know it was there.
Here is the one I just pulled out and replanted (blue pot) right next to one of the babies we planted last week (green pot).
Getting back to our plant maintenance, we have to put an inch or so more moss at the base of the adult we are dealing with today.
You can see that many of the roots are visible and should be covered.
I use a skewer to lift the leaves out of the way. If they even get close to dry moss, they will catch the moss like they would an insect. It is impossible to get the moss unstuck if that happens.
I needed three hands to hold the leaves, scoop some moss into the pot and snap the picture all at once.
I add moss all the way up to the rim, and I do the same thing all the way around the pot. It will settle the first time it rains. Then the plant will have more to hold on to as roots take to the top 'soil' (moss).
Above, we have our finished product. I may take this one to sell if one of the stores I deal with wants to shell out twenty to thirty dollars for it.
Bugs included No extra charge!
I hope you liked this post. I have another Drosera just like the one we pruned today that needs the same treatment.
It looks like this one has a fair size baby at its base too. Welcome to a normal springtime activity when your carnivorous plants are out on the patio.
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