Do older leaves on D. adelae eventually produce dew?

15 years ago

Just for curiosity's sake... I got a Drosera adelae shipped to me, and it was a little stressed from the shipping process, partially because it had been wrapped in newspaper and the newspaper got really damp, clamping itself around the plant instead of providing cushioning. Mainly, it looked fine. I've had it for about a month or so, and the newer leaves look great, lots of dew, good red color, and already some new plantlets starting up around the main part of the plant. But the older leaves are completely dewless, and don't look like they plan on producing any. Most of them don't even look bad, otherwise.

It's in a south facing window, set back about 6-8 inches, and I water it with distilled water, leaving about a quarter inch in the saucer beneath. I check it daily, so it never dries out.

Drosera capensis has a similar problem, but only very mildly. Most of it is producing dew. It is much closer to the window, maybe only about 3 inches away. I'm enjoying checking it daily for gnats, which it is successfully catching.

Comments (6)

petiolaris
15 years ago
If the existing leaves don't have dew, they won't regain it. I'd be concerned if the new leaves don't though.
taz6122
15 years ago
petiolaris said "If the existing leaves don't have dew, they won't regain it"
That is NOT True. In shipping Drosera will, most of the time, lose all dew. The existing leaves will produce dew if they are given the right conditions. I know that to be fact. I'm sure there are others that will verify that. If not in this forum there are others. My capensis and spatulata lost all dew in transport but gained it back within 2 weeks.
Related Professionals
Barrington Hills Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Woodinville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Avocado Heights Landscape Contractors · Concord Landscape Contractors · Fair Lawn Landscape Contractors · Franklin Landscape Contractors · Kaneohe Landscape Contractors · Muttontown Landscape Contractors · Nanuet Landscape Contractors · Ocoee Landscape Contractors · Peoria Landscape Contractors · South Farmingdale Landscape Contractors · Tuscaloosa Landscape Contractors · Archdale Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Malden Swimming Pool Builders
mcantrell
15 years ago
It all depends on the situation. The older leaves that are past their prime will not waste resources making dew. The newer leaves that are just in shock will, provided they are in a good environment.

More likely than not, anything not making dew will not start again later.

However, if your plant is in a supernaturally good environment (good humidity, nice temps, lots of light) even older leaves can be coaxed into making dew. It's all relative.
alcran
15 years ago
It depends how long they were dry. If they dry out for a while the glands will be damaged and will not produce mucus anymore.
quinnfyre
Original Author
15 years ago
The newer existing leaves are fine. The oldest ones at the bottom don't look like they'll produce dew anymore. That's fine with me, though. I was just curious if they would. It looks like a happy plant. New leaves are unfurling and I already have three plantlets sprouting up off to the side, growing quickly, and they are producing dew also. I'm really liking this plant. It's rewarding to grow, and it catches those pesky gnats. And it digests them... mwa ha ha...

Thanks for the info!
petiolaris
15 years ago
My experience with stressed sundews, either from neglect (Lowes Cube Of Death), old age, or shipping, has been that leaves that don't have dew, don't recover. That's my observation. Take it or leave it.