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-leaved sundew is one of three sundew species that are also native to Germany. It is a carnivorous plant and enchants with its countless dewdrops, which glisten in the sun, especially during the morning hours, waiting for an abundant catch.

Growth & Appearance

• Lifespan: Perennial and enduring.

• Growth height: A rather dainty plant that usually only reaches a height of about 5 cm .

• Habit: Grows in a rosette shape. The reddish leaves are covered in fine tentacles, with sticky droplets at their tips.

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

Origin Drosera intermedia occurs across almost the entire Northern Hemisphere. It naturally grows in wet, acidic moors and swampy areas. However, populations in the wild are in sharp decline as these sensitive natural habitats are unfortunately becoming increasingly rare.

Trapping mechanism & special features Instead of drawing nutrients from the soil through deep roots (which is hardly possible in a bog), the sundew has adapted to its barren environment: it catches its own fertilizer! Small insects like mosquitoes get stuck on the sticky "dewdrops." The leaves then slowly roll up around the prey, and special enzymes digest the catch.

Use For enthusiasts, it is perfectly possible to care for them in your own garden (in a landscaped bog bed or a large bog container). IMPORTANT NOTE: These are absolutely not houseplants! They need the change of seasons, fresh air, and winter dormancy outdoors.

History & Curiosities Because of its shimmering drops, the sundew was once often prized by alchemists who considered the secretion to be "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 Anyone keeping carnivorous plants must follow a few golden rules, as they function completely differently than normal garden plants:

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

• Substrate: Normal potting soil is fatal! The plants need a special peat-based substrate (or unfertilized, 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 actually stand in water).