|
Post by Apoplast on Apr 27, 2015 21:56:05 GMT -5
Hi Willy - I hate to be the fly in the ointment, but as humic acid is a natural component of the decomposition process in soils like peat, dews are well adapted to dealing with it. Humic acid as a problem can't be the issue. The TDS you measured of 76ppm was the problem. What you are doing now is flushing the pots and reducing the accumulated solutes from the soil. If you do an experiment with hard water and water a dew or two, watch the response. You'll get shriveled, dew-less leaves and they will often turn black. Solutes do this. But a good flushing occasionally is good practice.
|
|
|
Post by WillyCKH on Apr 27, 2015 22:04:38 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the information! I thought it was humic acid because I have came across the help guide on growsundew.com. I knew it's soluble substances of some kind that is behind this.
|
|
|
Post by Apoplast on Apr 28, 2015 19:51:30 GMT -5
Hi Willy - Yes, Aaron (the owner of growsundews.com) and I have had several arguments about this. You are correct though, whatever the details, reducing solutes will help. So the remedy is the same. The underlying cause... is really just a debate between nerds.
|
|
|
Post by WillyCKH on May 12, 2015 13:51:32 GMT -5
I think I found the causes to the darkening of my sundews! It's my terrible mistake that I've been soldering in the same room of my plants, the smoke must have made the air quality really bad. I have just made two more LED panels on Saturday, and the next day I've found Drosera Capensis plants closest to my soldering station having darken spots! So if you are a DIY person like me, make sure you keep the soldering/ other things that might cause air quality to drop away from your plants! Luckily in my case, my plants are not harmed too badly, the dark spots are able to be washed away easily, and the Previous dews that had black centers are recovering nicely
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on May 12, 2015 15:27:21 GMT -5
That's weird. I solder in my plant room. Mind you, I use lead-free, very thin solder (minimal smoke) + I use a Weller air purifier with an activated charcoal filter.
|
|
|
Post by WillyCKH on May 12, 2015 16:07:52 GMT -5
That's weird. I solder in my plant room. Mind you, I use lead-free, very thin solder (minimal smoke) + I use a Weller air purifier with an activated charcoal filter. lloyd, I use cheap solder that makes bad smell and crazy smokes (puke)Maybe I should get a air purifier and some lead-free solder...
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on May 13, 2015 10:58:39 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Apoplast on May 14, 2015 21:39:51 GMT -5
Hi Willy - I wouldn't be shocked if you were correct about the solder smoke. I lost a huge number of dews when I let them get exposed to the fumes from PVC glue. There was a "skin" on all the water in the trays, and the dews collapsed. It was sad, so I understand. Good luck with their rebound!
|
|
|
Post by WillyCKH on May 14, 2015 23:35:04 GMT -5
Hi Willy - I wouldn't be shocked if you were correct about the solder smoke. I lost a huge number of dews when I let them get exposed to the fumes from PVC glue. There was a "skin" on all the water in the trays, and the dews collapsed. It was sad, so I understand. Good luck with their rebound! Thanks! Now I know that I have to keep them away from glue too!
|
|
|
Post by WillyCKH on Jul 10, 2015 1:51:00 GMT -5
I find the dark-centers happen quite often to my Sundews. Unfortunately, 4/4 of my Adult D.Binata got into something similar, but for them, their dark centers were very very tough to be washed. For months, I washed them daily. I re-potted them, and I trimmed some dying leafs. Strangely, the plants were really hardy, though without any good looking leafs or dews to eat, they just don't give up and stayed dark green (few times they sent out very weak and weird new leafs that didn't end up grown). They must be knowing that I'm not giving up on them! Recently, the Binatas are recovering and sending out healthier new leafs!! Whatever the black thing is, I HATE it. It's almost like a coating that's chocking on the plant! Anyway, check this out, I guess you have never seen comeback like this: The new growth is like a division, I think this plant has decided to transfer all the energy it could to make a new growth point. You can see that the new growth point has a tiny root coming down! I have covered the new root with Sphagnum to make sure it won't dry out and protected. PS on the dark centers: I've observed 3 types of dark centers so far, the first kind is washable, and would go away if you wash it for ~1 month or 2, happened on D. Tokaiensis; the second kind is washable, but it doesn't seem to go away even you have washed it for few months (perhaps it will go away with more time), happening on my D. Aliciae; the third kind is non-washable, kind of hard (at first there was a hard layer that I tried getting rid of, but no luck without damaging the plant), like a coating, happened on D. Binata. Just a note to growers with similar problems: don't give up, and keep washing it
|
|
|
Post by WillyCKH on Jul 15, 2015 23:30:28 GMT -5
Coming along nicely!
|
|
|
Post by grackle on Jul 16, 2015 10:08:09 GMT -5
Glad to see it pulling itself together for you.
|
|