Can sundew seedlings halt each other when too close?

Can sundew seedlings halt each other when too close?#394851

By Eventerminator -  Wed Dec 15, 2021 9:50 am
Location:  Perth, Western Australia
Posts:  156
Joined:  Sat Nov 26, 2016 3:10 pm

- Wed Dec 15, 2021 9:50 am #394851

Hello,

I have successfully germinated some Cape Sundew seedlings. It’s been around 3-4 months now but they are still very small.

They were planted quite close because my sprinkling technique is really bad and I couldn’t see them.

Are they hampering each other?

Thanks!

A newbie at taking care of carnivorous plants. I live in Australia, Perth WA.

Re: Can sundew seedlings halt each other when too close?#394857

By ChefDean -  Wed Dec 15, 2021 11:52 am
Location:  Clarksville, TN
Posts:  9342
Joined:  Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:44 am

- Wed Dec 15, 2021 11:52 am #394857

It's possible that they'll compete if they're too close, there's only so much space. If they're right on top of each other, the one who grows the longest roots the fastest will get the water, possibly restricting what is available to the others.
Some plants also excrete a chemical that deters nearby plants from growing, but I don't think sundews are one of them.

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Re: Can sundew seedlings halt each other when too close?#395079

By Huntsmanshorn -  Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:23 am
Posts:  950
Joined:  Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:32 am

- Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:23 am #395079

Eventerminator wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 9:50 am Are they hampering each other?

In peat there is typically very little in the way of nutrients, and when your seedlings are all bunched up like that, they have to compete for what little there is, which slows down growth even more than otherwise. You want them to grow faster? Feed them Seymour.

Re: Can sundew seedlings halt each other when too close?#395085

By NightRaider -  Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:03 am
Location:  Cookeville, TN (7a)
Posts:  418
Joined:  Mon Jun 07, 2021 4:01 am

- Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:03 am #395085

My pot of tiny tokaiensis seedlings did almost nothing for months, so a while back I split off the larger ones into a cell tray and they've grown far more in the few weeks since than any of them had when they were all potted together. So yeah, IME at least they definitely seem to grow much faster if they get some space, even without feeding.

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Re: Can sundew seedlings halt each other when too close?#395086

By MaxVft -  Fri Dec 17, 2021 6:06 am
Location:  Silverton, Oregon - Zone 8a/8b
Posts:  1214
Joined:  Sat May 08, 2021 4:17 am

- Fri Dec 17, 2021 6:06 am #395086

Yeah, my 5 month old Capillaris have been the same size since they were a month old, even with proper feedings. My Capensis x Hercules did the opposite, leaf jumping like crazy, even though they were clumped together. I believe it's just the species and how they grow in nature, for example capensis often grows in bushes in the wild which is probably why they went so big for me.

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Re: Can sundew seedlings halt each other when too close?#395102

By TrapsAndDews -  Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:51 pm
Location:  Eastern Washington (Zone 6b)
Posts:  1808
Joined:  Sun Nov 14, 2021 2:20 am

- Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:51 pm #395102

I don't worry about problems like that because I water germinate my seeds then plant them in the places I want them to go.

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Re: Can sundew seedlings halt each other when too close?#395103

By thepitchergrower -  Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:53 pm
Location:  Zone 9
Posts:  2662
Joined:  Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:22 am

- Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:53 pm #395103

For me, just evenly distribute the seeds and you will be fine. Also use a pot that is the right size...

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