Drosera binata multifida leaves

Credit: Harry Rose

Drosera multifida green leaves

Credit: Doug Beckers

Drosera multifida in the ground

Credit: Ruth Palsson

White flowers Drosera multifida

Credit: Athene Rafie

Slimy tentacles Drosera multifida

Credit: Thomas Mesaglio

Drosera binata multifida, a carnivorous plant with highly dissected leaves

Behind the delicate appearance of these finely divided leaves lies a fearsome predator. Drosera binata multifida captures and wipes out insects that are a little too curious. A way for this carnivorous member of the Droseraceae family to survive in the marshes and bogs of Australia and New Zealand.

How to recognize Drosera binata multifida?

Drosera binata multifida is an upright herbaceous plant. It grows up to 30 centimetres tall.

The plant appears aculeate. But the leaves actually grow in a rosette from a slender, unbranched stem.

A long, hairless petiole supports the leaf blades, which can reach 25 centimetres in length. They are divided, as in drosera binata. But whereas the typical variety has only two forks, the leaves of the Drosera binata multifida variety have six to eight divisions.

The leaf blades are adorned with hairs. Known as tentacles, they secrete a transparent liquid thatattracts insects. The sticky droplets trap those that get too close. The leaf then closes to suffocate its prey, dissolving it thanks to the gastric juices produced by certain trichomes. After digestion, the leaf blade unfurls again, ready for a new victim.

While the trap set by the foliage is fatal for mosquitoes, the flowers welcome pollinators. They bloom on a 40-centimeter flowering spike, well above the leaf blades. White or pink, they are grouped in clusters.

The fruits of Drosera binata multifida resemble capsules. They open at maturity to release the fine seeds.

Only insects need be wary of Drosera binata multifida. The plant is harmless to us and our pets.

Our maintenance tips

Drosera multifida have a resting period in autumn and winter. Their foliage disappears and you need to reduce watering. But don't worry! With the right care, your plant will start growing again in 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 multifida. 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 multifida, 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 over the soil. Avoid wetting foliage and traps.

Water only with rainwater, demineralized water or osmosis water. Never use tap or mineral water. Drosera multifida do not tolerate limescale. Tap water will kill your plant.

Repotting

Repot your Drosera multifida 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 multifida in the center and tamp lightly.

Re-pot your plant to give it more space and stimulate growth.

Repot your Drosera multifida 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 multifida 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.

Cutting

Cutting 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

Aphids

Slugs

Information

Family	Droseraceae - Droseraceae
Type	Drosera - Drosera
Species	Drosera binata - Drosera binata
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Sun
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting methods	In pots In tubs Planter
Category	Herbaceous
Tags	Beginner Rustic Soiffarde
Origins	Oceania Australia
Hardiness (USDA)	9a
Leaf color
Flower colors