FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hey guys, I ended up getting these Pgymy sundews but like the title said, I forgot to grab the name because I’m a dummy. It was the first I’ve heard of Pygmy sundew and I think it’s just the cutest little thing ever.

They were sold to me as pgymies haha, thank you! And yeah I’m a little worried since it’s such an awkward shape lol

That’s the whole plant correct? It’s about 2cm across.

Wow, I knew the roots were sensitive but not THAT sensitive. Here’s hoping I don’t mess up lol

[mention]Panman [/mention] speaking of Pygmy sundews, in case you were wondering! I tried slip potting them (and immediately ordered some gemmae in case it didn’t work out LOL) and it seemed to be fine! I think I might’ve damaged the one on the right’s roots; you were right they are super fragile; since some of the leaves browned but then recovered!

I guess it would have been wise to ask around here about Pygmies before I dove head first in to them. Glad everyone, including @Panman and @madrone chimed in so I will know what to and not to do in the future. Will be getting them in to bigger pots this weekend.

Good luck Andy! Haha sometimes it’s so easy to miss stuff about a specific type of plant, it’s not like most plants have that restriction! stuff happens lol

As far as an ID goes good luck with that. Most pygmies look pretty much, the same foliage-wise. Many even have similar looking flowers, so unless you can get the name from the seller, they will remain NoIDs.

Has mentioned, pygmies are notoriously difficult to transplant. Young ones are not as bad as mature ones simply because they haven’t out the route all the way yet. But even they can be very touchy about repotting..

My brevifolia (the smallest sundew in North America) first came in its native soil. They needed potting so I concocted a great peat and perlite mix to plant them in. I delicately moved the plants into their new giant (2-3/4" square) pot/home. I carefully watered and gave them good sunlight...gradually hardening them off to full sun. They sent up tiny little flower stalks but, no matter what I did, they all gradually died on me.

I kept the little pot of sitting on the table outside, probably just because I procrastinated tossing it. One day I walk by and catch a speck or two of red in the pot. I look closer and there are several tiny seedling sitting there just as happy as could be!!! I was thinking the entire time that it was transplanting the pygmies into a soil that was foreign to them was what killed the adult plants but after reading this thread and Panman's explanation about the long, hair roots and that breaking those roots could easily kill the plants I'm thinking it was the transplanting that killed the adults. The seedlings have grown now and have produced seeds of their own...and I'm scared to move these adults being as I don't want to disturb the roots. Being annual plants I expect these adults to die eventually (they sure seem to be holding on good for now, though! ). The last batch of flower stalks that they've put out are short...read that as S.H.O.R.T....if they're a 1/4" tall, they're a foot tall...and they ain't a foot tall!!! It is kind of weird because the first round of flower stalks were all like 1" tall, maybe a touch over. Anyhow, I'm thinking when (if?) the adults die back that I'll simply scalp off the top layer of debris...dead plants, flower stalks, loose seeds, etc., and lay it on top of the grow-mix in a larger, deeper pot. I'm really glad to find out about the root situation with them!!!!

Panman wrote: ↑Fri Nov 24, 2023 5:44 pm Regarding brevifolia, they do have small tap roots, but they are also annual sundews. You can squeeze a couple of years out of them under artificial lights with regular feeding, but ultimately, they are going to die and resprout from seed. Want to know how I know? Experience is a good teacher.

So they just completely die away and make you think they are gone? Any other Pygmies that are like this?