FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I received a few small divisions of Dionaea 'Cheerleader' from David Conner in a trade this spring. They have finally settled in and appear to be growing happily. I have to admit that I get a big laugh out of this plant's unique traps! This plant has also circulated under the name "Pom Pom" and "Hedgehog". I have heard of this plant since I started the hobby many years ago, but I didn't know of anyone who actually grew one. I thought that I'd never get one of these and am extremely grateful to David Conner for sending me some!








Something else I've noted about the plant: it seems to be missing pigmentation from time to time in its leaves and traps. The missing pigmentation doesn't seem to affect the health of the plant and seems completely random. Very interesting!




I think that the missing pigmentation feature is very cool, but I absolutely love the little "Pom Pom" traps! So awesome!!!

Dionae wrote:You have 2 Erics asking the same question at the same time lol.

No, the fuzzy traps are not functional! In fact, they're just like little, thick, fuzzy balls on the top of the leaf. Well, I guess they're more like half-balls or hemispheres on the top of the leaf base.

SundewWolf wrote:I thought I read a story that it was no longer in existence because of failure to propagate, but then i also read it outgrows the pompom traps and needs to be either TC'd again, or propagated via rhizome??

Yeah, I've read all of those things as well. Evidently it wasn't lost in cultivation. And it doesn't seem to be shy for me, so far at least, at producing the "pom poms" but I've only had these plants for a couple of months.

SundewWolf wrote:Complete speculation...But do you think the pompom traps could be a version of the "spring/fall" traps while the normal shaped ones the summer traps?

Having grown the plant for about 8 weeks, I can't yet even venture a guess as to the timing or reason for the Pom Pom traps. Maybe next year or the year after I'll formulate a theory or decide that it's a completely random event

Grey wrote:Wow... I can't think of what to say to that. LOL! It's just... weird! Marvelous!

Hah, thanks Grey! That's what I think as well every time I see the plant

ironjaws wrote:Wouldn't it be interesting if the pom pom parts were to produce dew like a drosera or pinguicula?

I thought the same thing!

ironjaws wrote:On a side note, Matt: what's going on with the Angel Wings? Hopefully they'll be up soon

Yes, we do have some that are hardening well and should be available soon.