Sundew dew problem?

15 years ago

So I have a couple sundews, 2 alice, and 2 capensis. Well the problem is is that I have had them for a month and a half. the first 2 weeks I aclimated to them to regular air. But now the sundews have problems making dew. They will get dewy leaves for a little bit but then a week later and its on and off. Also. One of the capensis is supposed to be red, but it has yet to turn red at all. It has enought light cause my nepenthes is getting great amounts of red on the pitchers, so why not my capensis. Okay just a little backround they are in a terrarium, it get kinda hot, but I dont think its get above say 90 degrees, I have 10000 lumens of 6400k light plus a small 23 watt cfl. Could I be cooking the dew off the leaves with the heat? Why do they lose their dew on and off and why does the capensis not turn red?

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Comments (3)

petiolaris
15 years ago
I would top water the D. aliciae, making sure to use purified water. If you have an all red capensis, artificial lighting isn't strong enough to maintain the redness.
Hegory
15 years ago
yeah, I suggest you increase the light levels for the capensis's. My capensis wouldn't produce dew until I gave it at least three hours of light a day. it also started averageing four- five inch leaves.(until someone accidentaly tipped it over and it was attacked by aphids ARGHH!)
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jmoore3274
15 years ago
Nbarger75,
Is the top of the terrarium sealed or is it open? When the plants stop making dew it's one of 3 reason.

*Unhealthy plant. The traps will gradually get smaller and smaller. If this is happening wait it out for a few months and it should regrow from the same crown or the roots. The older leaves also stop making dew.

*Soil Medium is drying out.

*The humidity is too low. I personally think this is the cause.

Get a reptile humidity gauge from walmart or from your local pet shop. Might as well pick up a temp gauge as well. Velcro them inside the terrarium.

I use to grow sundews in 2 75 gallon fish tanks that were under a 400 MH light where the temps would get well into the 90's during the day. I also used several Tropic Aire reptile humidifiers to help keep fresh humid air moving in out of the tank. Its cheap and works really well.
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=341

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