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Drosera intermedia, the Spoonleaf Sundew is considered
native to the United States of America and can currently
be found within 14 States. This Sundew is a temperate
perennial plant. Drosera intermedia is found in shallow
water in bogs and seeps of eastern North America, Europe,
and high elevations in South America. The whole plant
height 2-8 inches.
The blades are 2-3 times as long as wide. The upper
surface of blades are covered with reddish, glandular
hairs tipped with a sticky, glutinous secretion that
traps insects. The leaves, curl around any captured prey
like a fist. It is distinguished from the other North
Country Sundew, the Round Leaf Sundew, Drosera
rotundifolia, by the oblong, rather than round leaf.
The flowers are 1/4 inch wide, white to pale pink, with 5
petals and 5 sepals, and appear between June and
September.
The plants eat small insects to provide them with the
azote which is lacking where it lives. When an insect
becomes entangled in the hairs, the leaves bend inwards
so that the insect comes into contact with fine, inner
hairs. Enzymes are produced by the hairs which dissolve
the insect, which is then absorbed by the leaf. Only the
insect's exoskeleton remains which blows away when the
leaf hairs uncurl to become erect again, ready for the
next meal.
Hardiness zones 6-9, (-20°C/-5°F, -5°C/25°F) in
Winter. They should be grown in bright light, but with
protection from full midday sun. In cloudy coastal areas,
artificial light is a required. They like cool
temperatures. Temperatures should be kept between 20°C/68°F,
25°C / 80°F in growing season.
The North American and European varieties require a
definite Winter season to survive long term. You should
consider growing them outside year round if you live in
their natural range. Dormant plants should be kept damp
but not wet.
They need a dormant period of about 3 months in the
Winter. In the Winter, when food is scarce the leaves die
back to form a tight resting bud. The typical heated home
is too warm in the Winter. During dormancy they should be
kept cool and only damp. The entire planter may be moved
to an area where the temperature will remain below
freezing point, down to -10°F. Protect from dry freezing
wind during deep freezes by covering the plant with black
plastic. Uncover the plant when the deep freeze and dry
freezing wind is over. Otherwise, place it in a
refrigerator for 3 months in a ziplock bag. At this time
the compost should be allowed to dry slightly.
Use peat moss or a mix with up to 50% sand. There's no
need to fertilize, as the plant relies on insects for
food. Water must be continually available to the roots.
Good for an acidic peat bog garden if you've got one.
Full sun is preferred.
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out
between waterings. Drosera intermedia likes short pots to
be close to the water level and to be very wet when
growing. Water must be distilled or rain water because
they do not tolerate city or hard water. It is a good
idea to place a pie pan or large saucer, with about an
inch of water in it, under the pot. Elevate the pot by
placing pebbles under it so that the base of the pot is
barely in contact with the water, not submerged; the
growing medium must stay moist, but never soggy. This
will keep the humidity around the plant higher and it
will ensure that the plant has a constant source of
moisture. The humidity should be between 60-80%.
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