Drosera Spatulata 'Lovellae' Aquatic Farmer Tissue Culture
Plant Profile
Drosera spatulata 'Lovellae' is a compact, vibrant carnivorous plant named for its spoon-shaped (spatulate) leaves lined with glistening, dew-like glandular tentacles. While traditional aquatic foreground plants rely on substrate nutrients, sundews evolved in nutrient-poor bogs across Australasia and Asia, perfecting a clever biological workaround: catching their own snacks. The sticky mucilage droplets act as a natural flypaper to trap fungus gnats and fruit flies, digesting them for nitrogen while adding a gleaming texture to high-humidity setups. This species is strictly an emersed grower designed for humid terrariums, vivariums, and paludarium shorelines.
Tissue Culture cups ensure your setup gets a super clean starting point. Lab‑grown and fully sterile, it arrives without pests, snails, or unwanted mold. It’s the go‑to option for anyone who wants peace of mind when adding fresh greenery to a carefully maintained enclosure.
Key Features & Benefits
- Spoon-shaped leaves covered in sticky, dew-like tentacles function as a natural insect trap for fungus gnats.
- Compact, subtropical species that does not require a winter dormancy period, making it easy to keep indoors year-round.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Thoroughly wash away the nutrient gel from the roots with your fingers under cool water before planting.
- Plant in low-nutrient, acidic substrates such as pure peat moss mixed with perlite or silica sand (avoid regular potting soil or fertilized aquasoil, as mineral salts will burn its roots).
- Water exclusively with distilled water, reverse osmosis (RO) water, or clean rainwater. Tap water minerals will cause the plant to decline over time.
- Provide strong, bright lighting to coax out deep red coloration and support fast rosette expansion.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Drosera spatulata 'Lovellae' |
| Common Name(s) | Spoon-Leaf Sundew, Round-Leaf Sundew |
| Family | Droseraceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Carnivorous Rosette / Terrarium Foreground |
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Light Requirement | Moderate to High (Bright indirect to direct grow light) |
| Placement / Usage | Terrarium Foreground / Paludarium Shoreline (Emersed Only) |
| Height / Size | 1-3 inches |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Water Parameters | pH 4.5 – 6.5 (Low TDS) | Temperature 65°F – 80°F (18°C – 27°C) |
| Propagation Method | Division of adventitious shoots or seed production |
| Origin | Australasia, East Asia |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I plant Drosera Spatulata 'Lovellae' tissue culture?
Rinse away the nutrient gel with distilled or RO water, divide the rosette clumps carefully, and use tweezers to set each plantlet into a damp peat-and-perlite mixture in a high-humidity container.
2. Can Drosera Spatulata 'Lovellae' be grown fully submerged underwater in an aquarium?
No. Drosera spatulata is an emersed bog plant and will drown if fully submerged underwater. It thrives on damp soil in terrariums, vivariums, or paludarium land sections where its leaves remain exposed to air.
3. Why isn't my Drosera producing sticky dew on its leaves?
A lack of dew is usually caused by low ambient humidity or insufficient lighting. Increasing light levels and enclosing the plant in a high-humidity terrarium environment will trigger the tentacles to produce glistening droplets within a few days.