My friends were getting some drosera pygmy gemmae and asked me if I wanted a share. “Gemmae? What’s that?” I wondered aloud. This word wasn’t in my vocabulary then.
“A gemma isn’t a seed, but acts like one,” they explained to this new kid on the block. “It pops off from the crown of the pygmy and grows into a new plant.” That sounded alien – like some extra-terrestrial life form. I couldn’t wait.
Finally the gemmae arrived. I opened the pad of damp cotton wool and saw them for the first time. Good thing I was advised to get tweezers. These things were tinier than I had expected.
As advised I planted the gemmae in a pot with a mixed media of sphagnum peat moss, washed sand and perlite. I did this gingerly as I didn’t want to crush the miniscule gemmae.
I planted about 25 green gemmae plus the brown ones as well. I discarded the black gemmae. “Mist and cover the pot with clear plastic,” my friends advised.
I removed the cover on Day 3. After a week, I could see some progress and after 3 weeks, I could see the form of the drosera pygmies’ pink traps!
I counted them every day – first ten, then fifteen, twenty… I was amazed when the number surpassed 25, which means even the brown gemmae were viable.
Now I wonder if I should have planted the black ones as well!
The drosera pygmy Lake Badgerup grew into beauties. I now have thirty; each a masterpiece in miniature.
Wow. They’re absolutely gorgeous!
thanks, sky. they’re only about 10 cent coins in size…
They’re pgymies mah. But still gorgeous. =)
they are the loveliest dros i have right now. 🙂
very very pretty leh. hope you`ll get gemmae soon ! heheh.
thanks, T. 🙂 i hope so too!
wauh… that is nice grow pgymy!!!!
You must planted all of them. Included those black gammae. Who knows you will get more then 25 plant now.
i have 30 now. if i planted the black ones i wonder how many …? did your black ones grow, casey?
Im not really sure those black one grow or not. Since no time to calculate 1 by 1.
Whenever you say ‘Casey,’ I thought you meant me. 😛
I’m itching to get gammae now. :S
ooo, should it be casey vs caseyhoo or sky vs casey … which will be less confusing? i think i’ll use the latter, ok? 🙂
yes, should try to get gemmae,sky, but from what i heard it’s very difficult for pygmies to set gemmae in our tropical conditions.
Haha. Yeah, guess Sky versus Casey is better. 😛
Guess I need to get gemmae from people then. Lol.
hi sky, you’ve got mail …