Tuberous Sundew Dormant Tubers

We are now taking orders for dormant sundew tubers from Australia. Tuberous sundews are still uncommon plants in cultivation, but they are growing in popularity as more plants are propagated and more growers become less intimidated by their unfair reputation of being difficult. We have found this group challenging, but fairly easy to grow. Remember that the seasons are reversed in Australia, so tubers will have to be adjusted to our growing season. Due to their biological clocks dormant tubers from Australia will start growing as summer starts. This first crucial year of seasonal adaptation is the most challenging aspect of establishing these plants. When you receive your tubers, if the stolon hasn't emerged yet, store them in airtight plastic bags with a few strands of barely damp sphagnum moss and keep them at room temperature in a dark place such as a drawer. Check them weekly until you notice the stolon's growth beginning from the eye of the tuber. When the stolon emerges, pot them up in 6 to 8 inch pots filled with wet 2 part sand to 1 part peat. With your finger make a hole in the center of the pot that is three times as deep as the tuber's diameter. Plant the tuber in the bottom of the hole and fill in with sand; do not pack the sand tightly. Within a few days or weeks, the plant should emerge and develop quickly into its full size. Usually, during the first season of adjustment they grow for around three months, from about April or June until July or August. Keep the plants as cool as possible, for example, near the swamp cooler in a greenhouse or in a cool terrarium. After the plants die back to the soil in late summer, remove the pot from its water tray and allow it to dry out completely. Usually the plants remain dormant through autumn and return to growth adjusted to our winter time. Please see page 154 of "The Savage Garden" for more info.

All orders must be in by late February as plants will be breaking dormancy. Supplies are limited and only available once a year, January - March. The exact delivery date is still being worked out, but we are predicting the end of February to early March. Please order other products separately from special orders.