Drosera binata, the V-shaped carnivorous plant
Drosera binata
- Exposure
- Sun
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Droseraceae
- Genus
- Drosera
- Species
- Drosera binata
Other names:Dismophyla binata, Drosera dichotomique
With its V-shaped leaves, Drosera binata seems to be celebrating its victory. But what victory? Its triumph over its inhospitable environment—the peat bogs and swamps of Australia and New Zealand? Or its battle against the many insects it devours to find the nutrients it needs?
How can you identify Drosera binata?
A perennial carnivorous plant with an upright growth habit, Drosera binata measures between 30 and 50 centimeters in height and the same in width.
The plant appears stemless. The slender, unbranched stem is almost invisible.
The long, hairless petiole, on the other hand, is noticeable at first glance. It supports the forked, hairy leaves. In the standard variety, the leaf blade is divided into two parts that form a V. However, in the wild and among cultivars, even more deeply divided leaves can be found. Drosera dichotoma has two V-shapes, one pointing upward and the other downward, while drosera multifida has four to six bifurcations. Finally, the extrema variety is said to have up to 32 divisions!
Each part of the leaf can reach 25 centimeters. The green leaf blade turns red in bright light. The foliage is covered with trichomes. These glandular hairs secrete sticky, shiny droplets.
They attract small insects. But when the insects get too close, they stick to the tentacles. The leaf then slowly folds over its prey and suffocates it. The unfortunate insect is then dissolved by digestive juices.
While Drosera binata is ruthless toward mosquitoes, it is much more welcoming to pollinating insects. To prevent them from getting trapped, the white or pink flowers bloom above the leaves. They appear at the top of a 40-centimeter flower stalk. Flowering lasts from May to August.
The plant then produces slender, elongated seeds enclosed in round capsules.
Drosera binata is dangerous only to the insects it devours. It is not toxic to humans or animals upon contact or if ingested.
Our care tips
The Drosera binata They go through a dormant period in the fall and winter. Their foliage falls off, and you should reduce watering. But don't worry! With proper care, your plants will start growing again in the spring.
Watering
Water your plant generously during the growing season.
Prepare a dish with a diameter greater than that of the pot of your Drosera binata. Fill it with one or two centimetres of water.
Use only rainwater, osmosis water or demineralized water. Carnivorous plants cannot tolerate limescale. Never water with tap water.
Place your Drosera binata, in its pot, on the saucer full of water. The container should never be empty. When the water level drops, refill it.
Reduce watering during dormancy.
Keep the substrate slightly moist by watering from above. Pour water onto the potting mix. Avoid wetting the foliage and traps.
Water only with rainwater, demineralized water, or reverse-osmosis water. Never use tap water or bottled water. The Drosera binata cannot tolerate hard water. Tap water would kill your plant.
Repotting
Repot your Drosera binata in a pierced pot of at least one liter.
Preferably a plastic pot. Avoid terracotta containers. When watered, this material releases minerals that are harmful to your plant.
Prepare a mixture of 70% white peat and 30% perlite. Moisten this substrate with rainwater until it is waterlogged.
Plant your Drosera binata in the center and tamp lightly.
Repot your plant to give it more space and stimulate growth.
Repot your Drosera binata in a pierced pot of at least one liter.
Preferably a plastic pot. Avoid terracotta containers. When watered, this material releases minerals that are harmful to your plant.
Prepare a mixture of 70% white peat and 30% perlite. Moisten this substrate with rainwater until it is waterlogged.
Plant your Drosera binata in the center and tamp lightly.
Fertilization
Your plant doesn't need fertilizer. The insects it captures are sufficient to provide it with nutrients.
Prune
Pruning before wintering helps the plant regenerate.
Pruning the dry parts of the plant prevents rotting and the development of fungal diseases.
Using clean, sharp pruning shears, cut off wilted leaves and flower stems.
Be careful not to remove any young shoots that may surround the stem. They form the hibernacle that protects the roots and heart of the plant from the cold.
Taking cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Locate a healthy root on the mother plant. Cut off a two- to three-centimeter section using clean, sharp pruning shears.
There's no need to cut larger. It won't increase your chances of a successful cutting, and will damage the original plant.
Obtain a pierced plastic pot. Fill it with blond peat and moisten the substrate until it is saturated with water. Always use demineralized water, such as rainwater or osmosis water.
Lay your cutting on the potting soil. Cover with a little white peat moss.
Water regularly with rainwater to keep the soil moist. You can also place your cutting in a tray filled with demineralized water to ensure watering by capillary action.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposure
- Sun
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting methods
- In potsIn tubsPlanter
- Category
- Herbaceous
- Tags
- BeginnerHardyThirsty
- Origins
- OceaniaAustralia
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
- Leaf colors
- Light greenRed
- Flower colors
- WhiteRose
Discover plants from the same family
Drosera multifida
Drosera bianata var. multifida
Drosera dichotoma
Drosera binata var. dichotoma
Venus flytrap
Dionaea muscipula
Venus flytrap 'Red Dragon'
Dionaea muscipula 'Red Dragon'
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
