FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I recently purchased a Drosera capensis for my son's birthday. While ok in its sealed container, it soon dried out. In a moment of inspiration, I turned over a vase and put it on top of it. Within fifteen minutes it was again sprouting dew!



The problem, though, is that this was my wedding vase and so I had to find a replacement! Finally settled on a cylindrical fish tank, which seemed to work pretty well.



I started to worry, though, as I wondered if it was getting enough air trapped under glass like that. Also, I began to see white fungus growing on some of the older prey items. So, I tested out a McGyver-ish idea I had...



...but it ended up making the air too dry again and the dew disappeared, so I scrapped it. Now I'm back with what I started, but I'm still worried about the white fungus! Here's the latest picture I've gotten showing a good amount of fungus growing. Is this is a problem?

Without air circulation or if you don't open your windows for fresh air, the white mold will appear. If it's spreads, cut the leaf close to the tentacle.

Within fifteen minutes it was again sprouting dew!

This is temporary dew, composed primary of water, because you changed its conditions. Soon it will make good sticky dew to catch insects. After a wile, remove the transparent container, if you have enough moisture in the air. More than 50 % will be a starter.

My wife and roommates all like it cold and so the air is almost always on. I don't know the actual humidity level, but it can't be very high.

As far as the dew it produces, it may be the temporary variety, but it's good enough to hold what I throw on there. The insect at the end of the leaf there was a large mosquito. It really tried to escape, too!

The fuzzy one behind it was some kind of small, black parasitic wasp - maybe in the Ichneumon family.

I had the idea to place it in a tank with an ultrasonic humidifier giving it a steady stream if cold mist, but I just don't have the room, or funds at the moment, for that to be feasible. :/

I took the cover off this morning and let it sit in the sun uncovered for an hour. That seemed to do the trick, as the fuzz was all wilted by the end of the treatment. Fragile stuff!