What's eating my cistus-flowered sundew?

Drosera cistiflora is a tuberous Cape sundew that goes dormant in summer. During its active winter-spring growing season, aphids attacking the flower scape and fungus gnat larvae in the substrate are the primary threats. Dormant tubers resting in dry sand need no pest attention, but should be stored away from fungal wet rot.

Larvae destroy fine roots and can attack the shallow tuber; plants show poor vigor, pale coloring, or fail to re-emerge after dormancy if tubers are damaged Use pure, inert, low-nutrient sand and peat mix; keep substrate barely moist in active growth; apply Bti drench at emergence; inspect the tuber when repotting

Colonies on the flower scape and non-sticky stem sections during active growth; distorted buds and slow growth; distinctive white shed skins signal early infestation Remove by hand or gentle water spray; apply dilute neem oil to stems only, never the sticky trapping leaves; monitor flower stalks closely in late winter and spring

Gray fuzzy mold on dying leaves or spent flower stems, mainly in wet cool conditions; can spread to adjacent healthy foliage Remove dead leaves cleanly at the base; increase airflow; apply Physan 20 or copper fungicide if mold spreads; allow a drier rest period during dormancy