Sundew 'Drosera intermedia (USA tropical)'

Drosera intermedia is a small carnivorous plant with special leaves. This plant forms a rosette of many leaves which could grow to a maximum diameter of around 5 cm. The leaves have the shape of a cotton swab and carry, mainly at the broader end, many specialized glands that the plant could catch insects with. When an insect makes contact with the leaves, they slowly fold so that escaping is prevented. The leaves are green to red, where intense light conditions color the leaves dark red. In summer, the plant could produce a relatively long inflorescence carrying multiple flowers that open successively. Flowers are small, white and are pollinated by small flies. This species could be propagated by dividing mature plants and separating individual rosettes. Harvesting seeds and sowing this species is also possible.

Drosera intermedia has a very large distribution in Europe and The America’s. This variant originates from tropical areas in the United States. As a poor competitor, it only grows in places where it is not outshadowed, the soil is deficient of nutrients and stays always wet. This species is frost tolerant where the above-ground parts of the plant die off and hibernate as a small rhizome in the ground. Temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius are endured incidentally when in wet conditions. Provide as much light as possible but let it gradually expose to direct sunlight. Place this plant in soil that does not contain any nutrients; usage of peat with clean horticultural sand is recommended. Make sure that the soil always stays wet, soggy conditions are preferable by growing this species. Only use rainwater or demineralized water. Never fertilize this plant; nutrients could easily burn the delicate roots. Catching small insects and ‘feeding’ this plant is possible as not directly necessary.