Drosera Marston Dragon is a captivating carnivorous plant known for its unique appearance and insect-trapping abilities. This sundew hybrid offers a rewarding experience for plant enthusiasts. Understanding its specific needs for light, water, and substrate allows for successful cultivation.
Understanding Drosera Marston Dragon
Distinctive Features
Drosera Marston Dragon is a hybrid sundew created by Adrian Slack, a cross between Drosera binata var. multifida extrema and Drosera binata var. dichotoma ‘Giant’. It features long, often red, forked leaves that can reach 12-16 inches in length. The plant’s name evokes Chinese dragons due to the hooked tips of its leaves, resembling talons. Mature leaves are typically multi-pronged, while younger leaves may initially show two prongs, creating a bushy, upright growth habit.
Carnivorous Nature
Drosera Marston Dragon is a carnivorous plant that captures insects using specialized glandular hairs, or tentacles, covering its leaves. These tentacles secrete a sticky mucilage resembling dew, attracting insects. When an insect lands, it becomes ensnared. The plant then slowly curls its tentacles and sometimes the entire leaf around the prey, maximizing contact and facilitating digestion. This adaptation allows the plant to extract essential nutrients, like nitrogen, from insects, compensating for nutrient-poor soils.
Essential Care for Drosera Marston Dragon
Light Requirements
Drosera Marston Dragon thrives in bright light, requiring 6-8 hours of direct sunlight outdoors for abundant dew and red coloration. Indoors, 10-12 hours of artificial LED grow lights are beneficial. A sunny windowsill, like an east-facing window in summer or south-facing in winter, can provide adequate light. Insufficient light reduces dew production and leaf coloration.
Water Quality and Method
Water quality is crucial for Drosera Marston Dragon due to its sensitivity to dissolved minerals. Use only distilled, rainwater, or reverse osmosis (RO) water, with total dissolved solids (TDS) below 50 ppm. Tap water, high in minerals, can harm the plant by clogging its glands. The tray method is recommended: place the potted plant in a tray with 1/2 to 1 inch of purified water. This allows the plant to absorb water from the bottom, keeping the medium consistently moist and mimicking its natural boggy habitat.
Ideal Growing Medium
The substrate for Drosera Marston Dragon must be nutrient-poor and well-draining, unlike typical potting soils. An ideal mix is sphagnum peat moss combined with an inert aggregate like perlite or horticultural sand. Common ratios include equal parts peat moss and perlite, or a 3:1 peat to perlite mix. Avoid any soil with added fertilizers, as these can burn the plant’s sensitive roots.
Temperature and Humidity
Drosera Marston Dragon is a tropical sundew that prefers temperatures between 60°F and 85°F (15°C and 30°C). Protect it from frost, as even light frost can cause leaves to die back. Moderate to high humidity levels are beneficial for robust dew production. In drier indoor environments, increase humidity by placing the plant in an open terrarium or using a pebble tray with water.
Feeding Your Plant
Drosera Marston Dragon effectively catches its own food, especially outdoors, attracting small flying insects like gnats and fruit flies. For indoor plants, supplemental feeding encourages vigorous growth. Small insects, such as dried bloodworms or crushed fish food flakes, can be placed directly onto the sticky tentacles every 2-3 weeks. Feed appropriately sized prey to prevent leaf damage.
Propagating Drosera Marston Dragon
Leaf Cuttings
Propagating Drosera Marston Dragon from leaf cuttings is a reliable method. Carefully remove a healthy, mature leaf with dew from the mother plant. The leaf can be left whole or cut into 1-inch sections. Place these cuttings on moist sphagnum moss, a peat/perlite mix, or float them in a shallow dish of distilled or RO water. New plantlets typically emerge from the cut edges after several weeks in a bright, humid environment.
Seed Propagation
As Drosera Marston Dragon is a hybrid, it may not produce viable seeds true to type, or any seeds at all. If seeds are available, sow them on the surface of a moist, sterile peat and perlite mix, without covering them, as they require light for germination. Keep the substrate consistently moist with purified water and maintain a temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C-25°C). Germination can be slow and variable, and resulting plants may exhibit genetic variations.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Lack of Dew
A lack of sticky dew on Drosera Marston Dragon leaves usually indicates insufficient light or impure water. Increase light exposure and consistently use distilled, rainwater, or RO water to resolve this. High temperatures or low humidity can also reduce dew production.
Browning Leaves
Browning leaves on Drosera Marston Dragon often result from low humidity, inconsistent watering, or high mineral content in water. While some browning of older leaves is natural, widespread browning suggests environmental stress. Ensure consistent moisture with appropriate water, adequate humidity, and proper light to prevent browning.
Pests and Diseases
Drosera Marston Dragon can be affected by pests like aphids and mealybugs. Aphids target new growth, while mealybugs hide in leaf axils. For small infestations, physical removal is effective. Avoid conventional chemical pesticides, as they harm carnivorous plants; use insecticidal soaps or carnivorous plant-safe treatments. Fungal issues like botrytis can occur in overly damp conditions, especially on dead foliage. Ensure good air circulation and regularly remove spent leaves.