So we all know that I haven't been giving my plants quite the attention they deserve lately. But what really drove it home for me was seeing
Drosera prolifera take things into its own hands.
![I almost want to leave these plantlets like this to see what will happen, but I know I should probably plant them up. Drosera prolifera plantlets.](https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5791/21497786529_9e1e0d7a3b_c.jpg) |
Thus the name I guess. |
![I should do a Plant Profile on this guy. I've had such interesting experiences with it. Drosera prolifera plantlets.](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/610/21684621775_3f5eaf202b_c.jpg) |
Look at these little plantlets just dangling in midair. Tell me that's not hilarious. |
Hahahah whoops! Let's see what else is going on around the collection.
Drosera 'Emerald's Envy' doesn't seem to have enjoyed the handful of heat waves we've had recently.
![I've got a bunch of little seedlings of this guy too, which is also why I'm not too worried. Never stop propagating! Drosera capillaris 'Emerald's Envy'.](https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5666/21673188242_792342fe00_c.jpg) |
Sorry about the heat little dude. |
I don't think this guy is toast though – there's a new flush of leaves there, and the weather should be cooler over all pretty soon.
As I was preparing this post, I was planning on saying "The smaller
Pinguicula reticulata died while I wasn't looking," but then I went in for a picture and realized it was just dormant.
![This is the P. reticulata I paid $33 for during the NASC auction lol. Dormant Pinguicula reticulata.](https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5741/21496784508_4be8d0a3d5_c.jpg) |
So tiny I almost lost it. |
So tiny! The larger plant didn't go dormant, and is looking great.
![This is the P. reticulata I bought from Brie for $15 lol. Pinguicula reticulata.](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/602/21496772498_49d8abb241_c.jpg) |
What an unbelievable red. |
Check out that color! I'm swooning here.
The
Drosera occidentalis that I had given up on as a lost cause sprouted up out of nowhere on me.
![Seriously though, check out that D. × Dork's Pink in the top right. Wonderful! Drosera occidentalis var. microscapa.](https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5702/21063635003_79075ef7ba_c.jpg) |
I'm continually surprised by how hard it is to actually kill a plant. |
Look at those cute little nubbins! I don't know why everyone isn't an obsessive pygmy collector.
The
Drosera madagascariensis, which I've been needing to trim back for a year, have given up on the stakes and are just splayed out everywhere.
![This tray houses a lot of the plants I've had the longest and boy is it a mess. Drosera madagascariensis et al.](https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5643/21658566596_052a99c3fd_c.jpg) |
Stems everywhere! |
There's a lot of flowers stalks I need to trim in there too...
I've missed photographing 2
Byblis liniflora flowers during the last couple months, but it looks like a couple more might be on the way.
![I really admire the perennial Byblis species, but I'm not sure I'm enough of an obsessive to grow them. Byblis liniflora.](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/679/21496797148_13d1db8a0c_c.jpg) |
The colors in this plant are so subtle and fine. I love it. |
I really like this plant. It's so fragile-looking.
Finally, the best thing to come out of this period of neglect is my
Pinguicula 'Aphrodite', which is looking absolutely stunning right now.
![Show material for next year? Maybe! Pinguicula 'Aphrodite'.](https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5814/21684630425_7e4e7b321a_c.jpg) |
Again, thus the name. |
The color plus the dew is nuts. And it's offsetting!
All told the collection is still looking pretty good inside (don't ask me about my
Sarracenia – that's for another, more somber post). I'm really fortunate that the climate in the Bay Area is very sundew-friendly, and that my growing setup is so self-regulating. The timer keeps the lights on the right cycle, and the cool nights keep the plants from frying. I even got quite lax with water – letting my trays go dry for several days at a time – and the plants didn't noticeably suffer.
This is not to say that I could ignore my plants forever. I've got a lot of trimming and a bit of repotting to do to keep things tidy in my collection. Fortunately the Bayer 3-in-1 seems to have finally taken care of my aphid problem. Looking forward to a good autumn. It's almost gemmae season!