If you have just recently bought a bottle of Drosera Capensis extract or if you’re planning on buying some for yourself, you want to know what you should do with it now. The plant comes from the Evergreen family and can be found growing in South Africa, specifically the province of Cape Town. The name of the plant is a reference to its unique purple flowers, but there are also other varieties. The leaves of the Drosera plant change color when they are in bloom, blooming between June and September. While this species of carnivorous plant is commonly found growing in the wild, you can grow it in your home even though it’s not native to the area.
It is important that you learn as much as you can about Drosera before planting it in your aquarium. This species of carnivorous plants are easy to care for and grows well in most conditions. Unlike other carnivorous plants, this one doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. You just need to keep an eye on its health and add some nutrients when needed. In fact, you can even grow it as a bi-product of another kind of aquarium plants, namely the Terrestrial species of plants.
The most important part of Drosera Capensis care involves watering. The leaves will turn purple if you don’t water them enough. You should also feed the plants on a regular basis because the leaves are filled with a slimy sap. You should moisten the soil before putting the leaves into the substrate. You can also put some soil from your terrarium into the bottom of the container for the purpose.
When you buy Drosera Capensis, make sure that the plants are described as true carnivores. There are several varieties of plants which are commonly called true carnivores but aren’t true carnivores at all. Some examples of these plants are Mimulus pluricaulis, Ascocenda pacifica, and Scutellaria baiclensis. Since they do not have any real appetites (at least not what carnivores have), they do not feed on the pests living in the tank. The best thing about carnivorous plants is that they help to control the population of insects in the tank. You should only put carnivorous plants into a tank which already has plenty of insects – you shouldn’t try to introduce carnivorous plants into a tank which is free of insects.
While the leaves and flowers of Drosera Capensis look quite fascinating, the best way to care for it is to ensure that it has full sun. This helps the plant to absorb the maximum amount of light possible. In full sun, the plant will produce more leaf color and the petals will stand out more. Full sun will also increase the growth rate of the plant, which is absolutely vital if you want to grow a lush and colorful aquarium with lots of Drosera specimens.
As mentioned above, the best way to care for the plant is to ensure that it has full sunlight. This means that you should plant it in an area which receives 6 hours of sunlight most days. It’s really important to ensure that the area is well shielded from strong winds. Strong winds can actually eat the leaves off of the leaves of Drosera and destroy the plant – remember this when picking a spot for your aquarium. If you do decide to place the plant in a windy area then you should choose a location that receives little or no wind.
One of the most common methods of attracting insects to your aquarium is through traps. The good news with traps is that you can actually plant the plant next to the traps to attract not just Drosera but other beneficial insects as well (such as ants). You may also be able to successfully grow your Drosera alongside a variety of non-hostile plants. In fact, many aquarium-bred plants can survive quite well alongside Drosera, including Java Moss, Anubias, Fichus, Water lettuce and others.
When it comes to feeding your carnivorous plants, there are two main options. They can be fed plant nuggets which are small pieces of food that are regularly digested by the insects or they can be fed to them directly. Although plant nuggets will provide them with plenty of nutrients, direct feeding will mean that they will also be consuming smaller food that insects seek out while they are looking for larger, more nutritious meals. There are benefits to both methods. Nuggets are great for getting all of the beneficial nutrients but direct feeding ensures that you’re giving them the nutrients they need in their own right.