Oblong-leaved Sundew (Drosera intermedia) - The Native and Robust "Carnivore"

The native insect catcher for the bog garden

Scope of delivery: Per plant (unpotted).

Bring a fascinating piece of native nature into your garden! The oblong sundew is one of three sundew species native to Germany. It belongs to the carnivorous plants and captivates with its countless dewdrops, which sparkle in the sun especially in the morning hours and await a rich catch.

Growth & Appearance

• Lifespan: Perennial and persistent.

• Growth height: A rather delicate plant, usually only growing up to about 5cm tall.

• Habit: Grows in a rosette shape. The reddish leaves are covered with fine tentacles, at the ends of which sticky drops sit.

• Overwintering: It is completely winter hardy and forms a so-called winter rosette (hibernaculum) in autumn, into which the plant retreats and with which it survives the icy winter months.

Origin Drosera intermedia occurs almost throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It naturally grows in wet, acidic bogs and swampy areas. However, its natural population is sharply declining, as these sensitive natural habitats are unfortunately becoming increasingly scarce.

Catching mechanism & special features Instead of drawing nutrients from the soil via deep roots (which is hardly possible in bogs), the sundew has adapted to its sparse environment: It catches its own fertilizer! Small insects like mosquitoes get stuck on the sticky "dewdrops". The leaves then slowly curl around the prey, and special enzymes digest the catch.

Use For enthusiasts, cultivation is perfectly possible in their own garden (in a planted bog garden or a large bog container). IMPORTANT NOTE: They are absolutely not houseplants! They need the seasons, fresh air, and outdoor winter dormancy.

Historical & Curious facts Because of its glistening drops, sundew was often valued by alchemists in earlier times, who considered the secretion "sun water" and brewed magical potions from it. Today, the plant's greatest magic is its ingenious adaptation to extreme, nutrient-poor habitats.

Location, care & other important things Those who keep carnivorous plants must observe a few golden rules, as they function quite differently from normal garden plants:

• Location: The oblong sundew absolutely requires a full sun location.

• Substrate: Normal potting soil is deadly! The plants need a special peat-based substrate (or an unfertilized and acidic substrate suitable for carnivorous plants). Available here!

• Watering: Only water with rainwater (alternatively distilled water)! Tap water contains lime and nutrients, which destroy the roots. The plants must be watered using the so-called tray method – the substrate should therefore be kept constantly very wet (the pot can literally stand in water).