Drosera aff. lanata (Flying Fox Creek, Northern Territory) is a wonderful Wooly Sundew that produces colorful rosettes of fuzzy leaves with dark red tentacles. It can be multicolored green and red with a nice white fuzz. The appearance can vary throughout the year depending on conditions and growth phase. Under intense light, the leaves can be a deep red color. Under slightly less light, the center of the plant can be green while the ends of the leaves can be bright red! The flowers are borne on short stalks, white petaled, and several. This form is related but different than pure Drosera lanata (hence the “aff.”) and originates from Flying Fox Creek in Northern Territory, Australia. It’s one of the easiest species of Wooly Sundew and tolerates wetter conditions than other hairy species. It readily divides into new plantlets and is quite vigorous.
Wooly Sundews (subgenus Lasiocephala) are tropical sundews from Northern Australia and New Guinea. They grow in the monsoonal tropics with distinct wet and dry seasons and constantly hot conditions. Many species have a fuzzy wool covering the leaves that helps to protect them from extreme sun and can collect condensation during the dry season. In cultivation, they appreciate hot and humid conditions with very strong light. This is typically done in a heated terrarium or grow tent. If given these basic conditions, they are easy to grow and some of the most aesthetically pleasing Sundews for any collection!
Small plants are potted in 2.5”W x 3.5”H pots and are ~1” in diameter. Medium plants will be potted in 2.5”W x 3.5”H, or 3.5”W x 5”H pots and will be between 1-2” in diameter. Large plants will be mature sized over 2” in diameter.
Climate: Temperatures from 70-100F, moderate to high humidity levels. Hairier species can acclimate to less humidity.
Light: Part to Full Sun or 20W per sq ft LED light.
Water: Distilled or Reverse Osmosis water. Sitting in 0.5”-1” of water using the tray method (depending on pot height). Some species like very wet conditions, while others prefer good drainage and less moisture. This roughly correlates to how hairy they are (hairier = drier). However, most are quite tolerant of wet conditions if given high temperatures and powerful light. If plants decide to go dormant (shrink and slow growth), keep them drier until they resume growth.
Soil: I am using 25% Peat: 30% Perlite: 45% Coarse Sand for the hairier species, 40% Peat: 40% Sand: 20% Perlite for the wetter growing species. Soak and rinse out the media before use as these species do not like minerals/humic acids. The exact mix is not as important as the resulting moisture levels in the pot which will vary based on watering.
Feeding: Feed leaves with Insect Powder every 2-4 weeks or more. Given the small surface area of the lamina (carnivorous area), I prefer to feed Insect Powder to most species. I will foliar feed Drosera falconeri and caduca with a dilute fertilizer.
Drosera aff. lanata (Flying Fox Creek, Northern Territory) is a wonderful Wooly Sundew that produces colorful rosettes of fuzzy leaves with dark red tentacles. It can be multicolored green and red with a nice white fuzz. The appearance can vary throughout the year depending on conditions and growth phase. Under intense light, the leaves can be a deep red color. Under slightly less light, the center of the plant can be green while the ends of the leaves can be bright red! The flowers are borne on short stalks, white petaled, and several. This form is related but different than pure Drosera lanata (hence the “aff.”) and originates from Flying Fox Creek in Northern Territory, Australia. It’s one of the easiest species of Wooly Sundew and tolerates wetter conditions than other hairy species. It readily divides into new plantlets and is quite vigorous.
Wooly Sundews (subgenus Lasiocephala) are tropical sundews from Northern Australia and New Guinea. They grow in the monsoonal tropics with distinct wet and dry seasons and constantly hot conditions. Many species have a fuzzy wool covering the leaves that helps to protect them from extreme sun and can collect condensation during the dry season. In cultivation, they appreciate hot and humid conditions with very strong light. This is typically done in a heated terrarium or grow tent. If given these basic conditions, they are easy to grow and some of the most aesthetically pleasing Sundews for any collection!
Small plants are potted in 2.5”W x 3.5”H pots and are ~1” in diameter. Medium plants will be potted in 2.5”W x 3.5”H, or 3.5”W x 5”H pots and will be between 1-2” in diameter. Large plants will be mature sized over 2” in diameter.
Climate: Temperatures from 70-100F, moderate to high humidity levels. Hairier species can acclimate to less humidity.
Light: Part to Full Sun or 20W per sq ft LED light.
Water: Distilled or Reverse Osmosis water. Sitting in 0.5”-1” of water using the tray method (depending on pot height). Some species like very wet conditions, while others prefer good drainage and less moisture. This roughly correlates to how hairy they are (hairier = drier). However, most are quite tolerant of wet conditions if given high temperatures and powerful light. If plants decide to go dormant (shrink and slow growth), keep them drier until they resume growth.
Soil: I am using 25% Peat: 30% Perlite: 45% Coarse Sand for the hairier species, 40% Peat: 40% Sand: 20% Perlite for the wetter growing species. Soak and rinse out the media before use as these species do not like minerals/humic acids. The exact mix is not as important as the resulting moisture levels in the pot which will vary based on watering.
Feeding: Feed leaves with Insect Powder every 2-4 weeks or more. Given the small surface area of the lamina (carnivorous area), I prefer to feed Insect Powder to most species. I will foliar feed Drosera falconeri and caduca with a dilute fertilizer.
