Drosera affinisDrosera affinis is a subtropical sundew from South Africa. In its youth, this species resembles Drosera nidiformis, but as it matures, D. affinis eventually forms a unique, slender stem over time. Drosera affinis is a very easy sundew to grow, requiring very little attention and adaptable to a broad temperature range. D. affinis can therefore be given the same conditions as D. capensis. Although it used to be fairly rare, Drosera affinis is now becoming much more populous in collections due to its general ease of growth and fairly large seed production. For a youtube video of this species, click here. |
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  A side-view of Drosera affinis (Namibia)   Above: An overhead view of D. affinis growing next to D. venusta in a 7" pot.   Leaf cuttings at ~3 months old (fed). |
Media: Not picky. I prefer using long-fibered sphagnum or live sphagnum. I also use 1:1 peat: sand (silica). Small amounts of perlite can be added as well. Be sure to rinse your media before you use it Media moisture: Drosera affinis tends to thrive in soils that are kept a bit more moist than some other South African sundews prefer. I recommend the tray method. Humidity: not much needed for this species. I'd recommend at least 30%+ to be safe in warmer temperatures. Pot height: I recommend 2-4+ inches or taller. Drosera affinis can develop a a long, branching root system. A tall pot will allow this sundew to reach its full potential. I've grown Drosera affinis in a 7-inch tall pot with my D. venusta "Coccicaulis" and D. collinsiae, but I've also growth them in 2" pots with dead LFS where they've done extremely well! (top pic) Trapping speed: moderate. Leaves will curl noticeably around food within a few hours. Feeding: Feed once every two weeks for rapid, larger growth and flower production. See feeding page. Feeding encourages flowering. If fed while flowering, the newest leaves will not shrink in growth. Food size: small to medium. Plant dimensions: The slender leaves of Drosera affinis can reach nearly 4 inches across at maturity. Drosera affinis forms a slender stem over time. The Namibia form has long petioles and compact oval-shaped leaves. Temperature: not picky. Has grown well for me in the temp range of 55-95 degrees F. Give Drosera affinis subtropical conditions for the fastest growth rate. Lighting/Photoperiod: I grow mine under T-8 lights with a 16-hour photoperiod (within 2-5 inches of the lights. The leaves will turn a brilliant orange-red color under intense- enough lighting. Dormancy requirements: None required. Can be grown year-round if grown indoors during the cold months. However, Drosera affinis should come back from the roots if it freezes or dries out briefly. Flowers and seed production: D. affinis produces a slender flower stalk. It self-pollinates on its own, but you can assist self-pollination for better seed-set. Avoid hot temps during this time (i.e. hot light fixtures will significantly reduce seed set, even when the stalks are several inches away. Propagation Techniques(click here to learn more about propagating sundews)Seed: generally easy. no cold stratification required. Can be grown to flowering maturity from seed in about 1-1.5 years if fed approx. every 2 weeks. Leaf-cuttings: easy. water floating method works best. Place directly under lights for the hightest success rate. See picture to left Root cuttings: easy. Roots are a bit more slender than most South African sundews, but they work just as well. Divisions: easy. D. affinis may form clumps over time. Drosera affinis has no trouble dealing with repotting and root disturbance, so divisions can be taken easily. |
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