Cape Sundew recovery, Heesch, Netherlands

This is a single shot 2.5x macro of a Cape Sundew, almost 3 weeks after the initial purchase. In this better state, leafs are upright and new leafs are growing. The plant is doing very well. When subjected to my "care" whilst thriving means it's solid, robust.

The photo also shows the light potential of this subject, it basically consists of thousands of mirrors.

comments (25)

NattyOne

Lion

Nice, do you grow carnivorous plants Ferdy? Posted 2 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Hardly, I just bought 3 potted plants as subjects for extreme macro :) Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. NattyOne
    
    Lion
    
    Ahh! We've just had the 1st rain - If you have to use tap water, if you let it stand for a couple of days the chlorine etc. dissipates Posted 2 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Oh really, never knew that, that's a very useful tip. What about chalk? There seems to be a lot of it in the water here. Posted 2 years ago
    2. 1. NattyOne
        
        Lion
        
        Sundews are acid lovers, which is why they developed the taste for meat - insects - to get nutrients that they would otherwise not have available to them, in wet acidic soils. So I don't suppose they'll be used to alkaline water - I have a sarracenia & it only gets rainwater but I have a butt fed from the roof so I can handle a couple of months without rain. cheers ;¬) Posted 2 years ago
      2. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        I need such a permanent solution too! Posted 2 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

This is a fantastic shot! I'm glad they are doing well. What did you end up doing about water - rain water? I'm using distilled. Posted 2 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Nothing yet, it hasn't seriously rained in 5-6 weeks here. They seem to be OK so far, but perhaps I'm slowly killing them. I should get bottled water, but the problem is that they're seriously thirsty. Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    My sundew is sitting in a shallow bowl with about 4 cm of distilled water. But, the dirt in the pot is constantly soaking wet. I would have expected it to dry out a bit like my normal plants do, but it is sucking up water like crazy. Posted 2 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      I think that is normal, they are swamp plants. Lots of water, no nutrition. Posted 2 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Makes sense. Hope you get rain! We have had tons of rain. I can mail you some ;P. Posted 2 years ago
      2. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        My attempts are cursed, Henriette is laughing to my face. 3 times today we had a huge shower, I put a bucket outside and it immediately stops. No kidding. Then it seemed to work on the 4th attempt. Then Spyke went outside and tipped over my bucket. Posted 2 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Oh no! I can't help but laugh though! Spyke exerts his male dominance once again.
        
        You could keep the bucket outside permanently, no? My Mom has a rain barrel (it's kind of big though) in her yard -- the rainwater gets in, but no insects can. Then, you can use the water in your garden whenever you need it. Posted 2 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

Today's Facebook post:

The Cape sundew (Drosera capensis) is a remarkable carnivorous plant! Native to the Cape in South Africa, it flowers in summer, producing up to 50 tiny flowers that are able to self-pollinate.

One of the most intriguing features of this plant is its ability to lure, capture, and digest insects! First, it lures prey with the glistening, beautiful, digestive secretions that cover the sensitive tentacles on the leaves. These secretions visually capture an insect’s attention and also act as a chemical attractant. Insects get stuck in the secretions and the leaf slowly rolls up thanks to a process called thigmotropism, which is a mechanical response to stimuli. Once trapped, the prey gets digested by the plant. Fascinating and ingenious! {Photo credit: JungleDragon founder, Ferdy Christant} #JungleDragon #CapeSundew #Sundew #Droseracapensis

https://www.facebook.com/jungledragonwildlife/ Posted 2 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks so much for this post :) Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    You're welcome! This photo is really beautiful and ethereal. I love it! Posted 2 years ago

Paul Dirksen

Lion

You did well Ferdy, great shot. Posted 2 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks, Paul! Posted 2 years ago

abhitap

Lion

Beautifully photographed!!! Loved it! Posted 2 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! A few more extreme closeups here:
  https://www.jungledragon.com/specie/6722/photos Posted 2 years ago

NattyOne

Lion

Have just bought a couple to eat the fruit flies!!
Posted 2 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Nice! Same species? Posted 2 years ago

NattyOne

Lion

Yes Ferdy - https://www.hantsflytrap.com/ds004-drosera-capensis-narrow-leaf-form-sundew-17-p.asp Posted 2 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Nice! Looks like you got the nice red one, mine is quite pale. Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. NattyOne
    
    Lion
    
    Yes indeed and they're doing a great job catching the flies Posted 2 years ago

The Cape Sundew

''Drosera capensis'', commonly known as the Cape sundew, is a small rosette-forming carnivorous species of perennial sundew native to the Cape in South Africa. Because of its size, easy to grow nature, and the copious amounts of seed it produces, it has become one of the most common sundews in cultivation.

Info 17 0

Similar species: Pinks, Cactuses, And Allies

Species identified by Ferdy Christant