Propagating Drosophyllum

When: Flowers in spring; seed ripens a few weeks later. Sow in autumn, which matches the winter-rain germination of the wild plant.

Collect the large black seed in early summer, store it dry and cool, sow it in autumn on the surface of a gritty mix, and move each seedling into its permanent large pot before the root is disturbed. The plant can never be repotted afterwards.

1. The yellow flowers self-pollinate as they close; teasing them with a brush or toothpick while open gives a heavier seed set.
2. The tan, cone-shaped capsules split a few weeks later and release a handful of large, coarse black seeds. Store them dry in the refrigerator until autumn.
3. Scarification is optional: rub seed between sheets of sandpaper until the coat is dulled and then soak it for a few days, or sow untreated seed outdoors in autumn at 4 to 16 C (40 to 60 F), which gives good results on its own.
4. Sow on the surface, uncovered, either on a tray of damp sand or directly in small peat pots filled with the final mix. Keep it damp but never waterlogged.
5. If you sow on sand, move each seed within two days of germinating to the surface of its permanent pot. If you sow in peat pots, plant the whole pot into the permanent pot once the seedling is about 5 cm tall; the roots grow through as the pot decays.
6. Use a final pot at least 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) across, unglazed terracotta preferred, with free drainage. Keep seedlings damp for a few weeks, then let the mix dry between waterings and grow in full sun with moving air.

Medium

A mostly mineral mix such as equal parts peat, lava rock, pumice, perlite and sand, with peat no more than about a fifth of the total.

Conditions

Cool autumn temperatures for sowing; full sun and fresh air afterwards; damp for seedlings, drier once established.

Time to result

Germination in days to weeks for scarified seed, but often a month or more and occasionally up to nine months for untreated seed. Flowering in one to two years.