Overview

Welcome to the captivating world of carnivorous plants with the Drosera intermedia live plant. Also known as the Oblong-leaved Sundew, this fascinating species of sundew is renowned for its sticky, dew-covered tentacles that glisten in the sunlight, trapping unsuspecting insects. Each live plant is carefully cultivated and shipped as a rooted specimen in a 2.5-inch pot, ensuring it arrives healthy and ready to integrate into your collection. The Drosera intermedia live plant is a wonderful conversation starter and a natural marvel, perfect for both seasoned plant collectors and those new to the intriguing realm of carnivorous flora. Its unique insect-catching mechanism makes it a practical and beautiful addition to any indoor garden or terrarium.

The Drosera intermedia is a highly adaptable and widespread species of sundew, found in various boggy habitats across North America and Europe. Its rosetted leaves are covered in mucilage-tipped tentacles, giving it a sparkling, dewy appearance. This carnivorous plant thrives on a diet of small insects, which it attracts, traps, and digests, making it an effective and natural form of pest control. Cultivating a carnivorous sundew plant like the Drosera intermedia can be a rewarding experience, offering a glimpse into the incredible adaptations of the plant kingdom.

Key Benefits

Owning a Drosera intermedia live plant brings a host of unique benefits, making it an exciting choice for plant enthusiasts.

• Natural Insect Control: The primary benefit of this carnivorous sundew plant is its ability to naturally capture and digest small insects like gnats and fruit flies, helping to keep your indoor environment clearer of pests.
• Unique Aesthetic Appeal: With its glistening, dew-covered leaves, the Drosera intermedia offers a truly mesmerizing and exotic appearance that will stand out in any plant collection or terrarium.
• Educational Value: Observing the plant’s carnivorous habits provides a fantastic educational opportunity for all ages, demonstrating the wonders of nature’s adaptations.
• Low Maintenance for Carnivores: Compared to some other carnivorous plants, the Drosera intermedia is relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for beginners looking to venture into carnivorous plant husbandry.
• Compact Size: Shipped in a 2.5-inch pot, this plant remains compact, making it ideal for windowsills, desks, or small terrariums where space is limited.
• Conversation Starter: Its unusual nature is sure to spark curiosity and conversation among guests, highlighting your unique taste in plants.
• Stress Reduction: Tending to plants, especially unique ones like a rooted carnivorous plant, can be a calming and therapeutic activity, helping to reduce stress.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To ensure your Drosera intermedia live plant thrives, understanding its specific care requirements is essential. This carnivorous sundew plant prefers conditions similar to its natural boggy habitats. Provide ample bright, indirect light; a south-facing window with some diffusion or a grow light is ideal. Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, but protect it from intense, scorching afternoon sun, especially in hot climates. Consistent moisture is crucial for Drosera intermedia. Always use distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or rainwater for watering, as tap water often contains minerals that can harm carnivorous plants. The plant should sit in a tray of about 1 inch of water at all times, allowing the soil to remain consistently moist.

For optimal growth, use a soil mixture specifically designed for carnivorous plants, typically a blend of peat moss and perlite or sphagnum moss. Avoid nutrient-rich potting soils, as these plants are adapted to nutrient-poor environments and can be harmed by fertilizers. The ideal temperature range for Drosera intermedia care is between 60-85°F (15-30°C). While some varieties can tolerate cooler temperatures, consistent warmth is generally preferred. Fertilization is generally not needed, as the plant obtains its nutrients from the insects it catches. If your plant isn’t catching enough insects, you can occasionally feed it small, flightless insects or a diluted carnivorous plant fertilizer. Watch out for common issues like dry air, which can cause the dew to disappear, or improper watering, leading to plant decline. Maintaining high humidity is also beneficial, especially in drier indoor environments.

Size & Details

This Drosera intermedia live plant is supplied as a healthy, rooted specimen, ready for immediate placement in your home or garden. It is shipped in a standard 2.5-inch nursery pot, providing a compact and manageable size for transport and initial growth. At maturity, the Drosera intermedia typically forms a rosette approximately 1 to 2 inches in diameter, with individual leaves reaching lengths of 1 to 3 inches. Its growth rate is moderate, and with proper care, it will establish itself quickly and begin to produce its characteristic glistening traps. The plant’s small stature makes it an excellent choice for desktop displays, terrariums, or as part of a larger carnivorous plant collection. Expect your rooted carnivorous plant to arrive with several healthy leaves, already showing signs of its unique sticky dew, eager to begin its work catching insects.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Drosera intermedia live plant get? A: This plant is shipped in a 2.5-inch pot. At maturity, the rosette typically reaches 1 to 2 inches in diameter, with leaves growing up to 3 inches long. It maintains a compact size, making it suitable for smaller spaces.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The Drosera intermedia live plant is shipped in a 2.5-inch nursery pot, perfectly sized for its initial growth and easy transplanting if desired.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While Drosera intermedia care can be provided outdoors in appropriate climates (USDA zones 7-10), it is very well-suited for indoor cultivation, especially in terrariums or on sunny windowsills, where its humidity and light needs can be met.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This carnivorous sundew plant requires bright light, ideally 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Protect it from intense, scorching afternoon sun. A grow light can be beneficial indoors.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Drosera intermedia is considered one of the easier carnivorous plants to care for, making it a good choice for beginners. The key is consistent moisture with pure water and adequate light.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your rooted carnivorous plant will arrive as a healthy, established specimen in its 2.5-inch pot, carefully packaged to ensure minimal disturbance during transit. It will be ready to thrive upon arrival.
• Q: What type of water should I use for Drosera intermedia care? A: Always use distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or rainwater. Tap water contains minerals that can harm the plant over time.
• Q: Can I buy sundew plant varieties for different climates? A: Yes, while Drosera intermedia is adaptable, different sundew species thrive in various climates. Always check the specific care requirements for the species you are considering.
• Q: How does this plant catch insects? A: The leaves of the carnivorous sundew plant are covered in tiny tentacles that secrete a sticky, sweet mucilage (dew) to attract and trap small insects. Once an insect is caught, the leaf slowly curls around it to aid digestion.
• Q: When is the best time to buy sundew plant for planting? A: You can plant the rooted carnivorous plant at any time of year when growing indoors. For outdoor planting, spring or early summer is generally best after the last frost.