What's eating my slack's sundew?

Drosera slackii is a large rosette sundew from South Africa's Western Cape, popular with collectors. Its paddle-shaped trapping leaves deal with most winged insects. Aphids targeting the flower scape are the most credible pest; fungus gnat larvae can damage roots in the boggy growing medium. Good mineral-free water discipline prevents the majority of problems.

Colonies on the tall flower scape and non-glandular stem tissue; flowers distort and scape may weaken; white shed skins are the easiest early sign Pick off by hand or use a fine spray of mineral-free water; apply dilute neem oil or an appropriate insecticide to the scape only, not the trapping leaf surfaces

Larvae eat fine roots in the moist peat or sphagnum medium; the large rosette may show overall pallor and poor trap production before obvious wilting occurs Water by the tray method using rainwater or reverse-osmosis water only; apply a Bti soil drench; use yellow sticky traps for adults; avoid nutrient-rich organic additions to the mix

Fuzzy gray patches on old or damaged outer leaves, particularly in cool wet winter conditions with low light and poor ventilation Remove dead outer leaves cleanly at the base; improve airflow; apply Physan 20 or dilute copper fungicide; avoid misting foliage directly in low-light winter months