Growing Cape Sundews From Seed

[@That125cracka]

I ordered some sundew seeds from you guys about one and a half months ago. In 4 weeks they produced their first dewy traps!

[@California_Carnivores]

That’s so exciting!

[@hugoma5088]

My carnivorous plants are so happy, they grew perfect my first time ever doing it

[@centurion6651]

Best video I have seen about growing these plants from seed. Thank you can’t wait to order me some from you guys and start my collection. Thanks!

[@mshanklin11]

Thank you so much! My drosera I recently bought from you is flowering now, and I'm so excited about trying to propogate seeds if all goes well. I also just ordered a different variety. I'm looking forward to it!

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you!

[@r2_773]

This was very helpful! I am about to grow Cape Sundews and Venus flytraps from seed as well

[@istvanwindraes6644]

What wonderful timing! My alba is growing a flower scape as I type and I've been very much looking forward to the flowers and subsequent seeds.

[@MrSBGames]

Thank you for the video. My seed grown ones are at a good size now so is good to see what to do next

[@D1film]

Im trying planting some thanks for the video it was usefull!!

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you!

[@glowghost8113]

Can you do a video about when and how to repot/split them up? Mine are tiny right now, but there is a bunch of them and I can't find how or when to spit them to prevent over crowding!

[@claudiojavier7536]

I'm so excited i just ordered my seeds!!!🤭

[@jadest6831]

Hey team - love your stuff! At what stage would you take the seedlings out of the humidity dome? Is there a certain size they should be? Thanks in advance!

[@California_Carnivores]

I would check them frequently to make sure there’s no mold growing, if that develops take the dome off and if not, wait until they’re at least 1/2” high

[@beyondmainstreamtherapy]

So helpful! Thank you

[@otisschroeder9790]

I imagine you water with the tray method just like their fully formed counterparts? Thanks! I look forward to doing this!

[@California_Carnivores]

We do!

[@pinecone.jeff.carnivores]

My Cal Carns D. capensis ‘Wide Leaf’ is flowering now. And the plant itself has been growing like a weed. A real champ! I can’t wait to collect its seeds. If I want to wait to sow them next spring, how should I store them?

[@averyp.9315]

In a small bag, in the fridge.

[@California_Carnivores]

We keep them in small wax paper bags, sealed in plastic bags in the fridge. Properly stored, sundew seeds can be viable for years and years!

[@pinecone.jeff.carnivores]

@@California_Carnivores Fantastic! As always, thanks for all of your tips and tricks and know-how videos and replies to our questions!!!

[@California_Carnivores]

@@pinecone.jeff.carnivores thank you!

[@andress.6508]

If I collected seeds in 2017 and plant them in 2021, can they still germinate

[@REEE-ui4cy]

yes drosera seeds can last a very long time if stored properly

[@monke1919]

Yes, Damon said that they can last 25 years in a fridge

[@California_Carnivores]

They can be germinated successfully for decades if properly stored!

[@scottmoreno9703]

Hello I recently sowed some of my first drosera capensis seed. Hundreds of seedlings have already sprouted and all already have tiny dewy leaves. Since they are still very tiny i was wondering what a good way to feed the plants is? Since they are so small i dont think they will catch bugs any time soon.

[@California_Carnivores]

You can start applying a foliar spray or diluted Maxsea twice a month!

[@lukki7ster]

Well damn lol. I jus got a sundew yesterday and cut a bunch of this off thinking it was dead garbage hahaha. My goal is to grow a BUNCH of these to waed off fruit flies etc lol. Now i know!

[@dragointothegame5403]

I bought some cape Sundew seeds from y'all and I have to ask. Once the seeds are sowed do I do anything day to day waiting for them to sprout? Or do I just leave them alone completely?

[@California_Carnivores]

You can leave them alone, just make sure they don’t dry out but that’s all!

[@dragointothegame5403]

@@California_Carnivores I think they've sprouted but they are single stalks almost like grass. Is that what they look like as soon as they sprout?

[@California_Carnivores]

@@dragointothegame5403 they usually develop carnivorous leaves right away. You should see tiny little sundew leaves quite quickly

[@helliumballoons7546]

Does this method apply for other kinds of sundews, like burmannii or natalensis?

[@Fullblown671]

How long can you store the seeds from the time you collect them? or do they need to be planted right away?

[@California_Carnivores]

You can store them for years and years if you store them properly in the fridge!

[@Fullblown671]

@@California_Carnivores Thank you very much for the reply! 🙂

[@Jesus-eg3yb]

Do you cut the flower from cape sundews like you do for VFT’s for better growth?

[@California_Carnivores]

We don’t bother to cut the flowers off of cape sundews; they flower prolifically and it doesn’t usually effect leaf growth

[@tessadow5509]

Hello, I bought some seeds and it came with moss, I sterilized the moss, have it under a grow light and it's starting to sprout mold! Does this sound right?

[@California_Carnivores]

That can happen! Put 1/8 of a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide into a misting bottle of distilled water and then mist the soil

[@All_pitcherplants]

im watting for a flower to give some babby sundews to a friend that likes sundew ever since he saw some it michagin

[@MrMarksHD]

I have sowed some sundew seeds around a week ago, I left the pot sitting in rain water without covering the pot. I am scared I have done it wrong and drowned the seeds. Is this likely, and are they saveable? Please could you offer some advice. thanks

[@California_Carnivores]

I wouldn’t give up hope - just be patient and keep hoping a few are still there and didn’t get washed away or get too wet. With time, I bet you see some germinating!

[@MrMarksHD]

@@California_Carnivores I have taken it out of the water tray and put it in a zip lock bag, I’ll keep an eye out and spritz the soil if it begins to dry up. And yes hoping to see germination of a few in the next couple weeks. It my first time so it’s fairly experimental until I get the knack of it

[@Jacob-kv5be]

Could you make a video on Sarracenia purpurea venosa x Montana?😃

[@California_Carnivores]

Will do!

[@All_pitcherplants]

nice

[@AmericanAnts69]

I have some seeds that are shaped like tear drops and are black but I don’t know what they are I know there a carnivorous plant but I was wondering if you could help me out with that

[@California_Carnivores]

Sundew seeds are generally small and black but there are so many kinds of sundews that there are larger ones and ones with some different shapes. It’s pretty hard to know which plant they’re from just by looking at the seeds, you may just want to try growing them out under generalized sundew care and see what happens!

[@AmericanAnts69]

@@California_Carnivores thank you for the help it’s greatly appreciated since I’m just getting into the hobby I’ve only been in it for a month so this helps alot

[@AmericanAnts69]

@@California_Carnivores I was just informed that are actually Venus fly traps and serracenia but thanks for your help anyway

[@motatwo]

dont you need to put the seeds in the freezer for 3 month or give them a bath in an acid begining by g, dont remenber the name, i bought some seeds and they told me they needed 1 or the other...did they lie to me or you forgot to mention it?

[@California_Carnivores]

Cape sundews are very easy from seed and don’t need much to unlock. Other sundews do need more but not this variety.

[@wjenkins140]

l didnt catch the ratio of peat to perlite? can you tell me tia

[@California_Carnivores]

It’s four parts peat moss to one part perlite!

[@joemac3748]

So would the drosera Hurcules also be a self pollinator???

[@monke1919]

If it's a cape sundew

[@ryanhodin5014]

Drosera x Hercules is self-fertile, and it's seedlings are pretty similar to the mother plant. Both of those are why there's been some debate over the years about whether Hercules is actually a hybrid or if it's just an exceptionally wide form of capensis. Either way, I bought mine when I randomly refreshed CalCarn at about 2am before going to bed late as heck and saw they had two in stock, and I love it!

[@joemac3748]

@@ryanhodin5014 thank you. And yes mine came with two tiny guys in it and all three are growing fast!

[@California_Carnivores]

Ryan already gave a great answer to this question! I hope you enjoy your Hercules!

[@ewe392]

No stratification?

[@California_Carnivores]

No stratification needed!

[@Rat-Fuzz]

can you do this with sphagnum moss too?

[@California_Carnivores]

If you finely chop it first so they don’t get lost!

[@Rat-Fuzz]

@@California_Carnivores would you recommend chopping sphagnum moss in general? For grown venus fly traps or any carnivorous plant too? Also, I recently purchased a drosera from yall, im excited!

[@California_Carnivores]

@@Rat-Fuzz thank you for your order 😄 We only chop up our sphagnum for seeds because they’re so tiny that they fall into the nooks and crannies but full size plants don’t need to have chopped sphagnum

[@monke1919]

Can I cover the pot in saran wrap?

[@California_Carnivores]

We don’t usually cover them with Saran Wrap as it keeps in too much moisture. You want to have some vents

[@monke1919]

​​@@California_CarnivoresAh got it and What about fungicides too?

[@California_Carnivores]

@@monke1919 we use Medallion for major fungal treatments but if you see a bit of mold on your seeds you can mix 1/8 of a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide in 16 ounces of water and very gently mist the top of the pots

[@Aryan-tz3oh]

Does the DC in DC-XL stand for Damon's Clone?

[@California_Carnivores]

It was actually made by another grower by the name of David Connor - same initial but a different grower!

[@Jesus-eg3yb]

Which perlite and sand brand do you use?

[@California_Carnivores]

We use vigaro perlite but we’ve used many brands in the past and we use a few different kinds of sand from a local horticultural supply

[@plantguy9]

My cape sundew never made seeds last year:(

[@California_Carnivores]

Oh no! Did it flower normally?

[@plantguy9]

@@California_Carnivores yes

[@California_Carnivores]

@@plantguy9 That’s surprising! I hope they make seed for you this time!