Mikinalo grows happily in a "bog-like" container that constantly retains water. An unusual victim, a young anole (Anolis sagrei), with the sticky leaves enveloping this victim to be slowly digested. A single adult mother plant with keiki around it (Note the nearly ripe capsules ready to drop seed below at top right.) A small white flower with spent ones below it and quite likely pollinated. Dried capsules (fruits) with tiny seeds. Mikinalo trough flooded during heavy rain, and the plants love it! Close-up of leaves with insect victims.

Growth Requirements

General

    The Hawaiian form of Drosera anglica is unique in that it grows continuously throughout the year, without the winter dormancy period that is typical for D. anglica in other parts of the world. Mikinalo does well at lower elevations (ca. 300 ft).

    Mikinalo, like most sundews, thrives in very bright light or full early morning sun, but will tolerate the afternoon sun, turning bright red. Therefore, if it is grown in the afternoon sun, it is critical that the pots remain consistently moist or wet. Mikinalo can tolerate being submerged for short periods of time, which often happens in heavy rainfall. But it is best that the center crown of leaves not remain underwater for long periods. Mikinalo will also tolerate high winds at times, but may lose the dewy tips on the leaf tentacles. Not to fear, though. When the winds die down, they will reappear. Since they need the dewy tips to catch their prey, it is not recommended to keep them in constantly windy locations. Mikinalo are not salt-tolerant.

    Mikinalo is not suitable as a general landscape plant. While spacing is not an issue, placing plants a few inches apart can effectively showcase each one. These plants should never be cultivated in standard commercial potting soil, as many contain fertilizers and other additives that can be harmful to sundews. Sundews (Drosera spp.) naturally grow in nitrogen-deficient and nutrient-poor soils, obtaining their nutrients primarily from the prey they capture and digest rather than from the soil [Carlquist 1980]. It is recommended to use an equal mixture of peat moss and perlite (e.g., SunGro Sunshine #4®), or peat moss and horticultural sand from freshwater sources only.  Avoid using beach sand or builder's sand, as they retain salts that are detrimental to these salt-sensitive plants. It will kill them! Do not use potting soil mixes, as these usually contain additives such as fertilizers, which will kill your plants. Carnivorous plant grower, Aaron May says that "a mix of 1 peat: 1 sand: 2 live sphagnum moss is my favorite mix. This keeps the plant healthy and allows the live sphagnum to thrive" [GrowSundews].

    Mikinalo should always be moist or wet. Use only purified (e.g., Reverse Osmosis), distilled or rain water. Bottled water can be used as long as it does not have added nutrients. Reverse Osmosis water can easily be purchased cheaply at dispensers at grocery or convenience stores. Do not use alkaline or Kangen Water®, as their high mineral content and pH levels are unsuitable for sundews and other carnivorous plants. Provide water that is as mineral-free as possible. 

    As previously mentioned, mikinalo receives its nutrients from its prey, such as insects, spiders, millipedes, and other small creatures. Mikinalo should never be fed with with meat such as chicken, beef, pork, seafood, or similar products. Avoid using fertilizers, as they can severely harm or kill it. These carnivorous plants derive nutrients from the prey they capture and do not require additional fertilization. Outside, they will capture their own insects, which provide them with all the nutrients they need. But if kept inside and you do not have access to bugs, you can substitute tiny bits of flake fish food. Don't overfeed traps with fish food, or the leaves can get moldy and die. One very tiny piece per leaf is sufficient. In this case, more is not better. Less is! However, small bugs are still the preferred method of feeding. I (Eickhoff) have found that good, balanced feeding will produce more flowers with larger capsules, and the viability of the seeds appears to increase as well. Brown or black leaves may be carefully trimmed if mold appears, which often occurs after prey capture. If there is no mold, it is advisable to leave the leaves intact to ensure full nutrient absorption.

    Maintain mikinalo at temperatures above 60°F. Prolonged exposure to low temperatures may induce dormancy. These plants can tolerate temperatures above 90°F. While temperate forms of Drosera anglica may experience dormancy, tropical forms, such as those found in the Hawaiian Islands, do not require dormancy and can be cultivated year-round [GrowSundews].

    Plants will reseed themselves, as seen in the above photo, with a "single adult plant with keiki."

Keep in mind that Drosera species will cross easily. For this reason, I only grow mikinalo as part of my native plant collection to keep it a pure species and not unintentionally foster an unnatural or unwanted hybrid.

    Aaron May, previously mentioned, highlights a growing method for this tropical sundew, referencing Sherwin Carlquist's [Carlquist 1970] observations that most bogs in Hawai'i contain mud, small pockets of standing water, and tussocks formed from grasses and sedges. May notes that this mud is comparable to waterlogged peat. Although non-native sphagnum moss is only found in the Kohala bogs on the island of Hawai'i, tropical Drosera anglica still thrives in sphagnum moss [GrowSundews]. These plants are commonly associated with sphagnum in many parts of their global range [Wolf et al. 2006].

    Mikinalo is currently being grown as a novelty and does not appear to have any commercial landscape value. In a typical backyard Hawaiian garden, this species would not survive without a modified bog environment to accommodate it. However, these carnivorous plants do well in an indoor environment with sufficient moisture, food, and bright lighting. This is such a fascinating plant that it is hoped that our native form will be grown more.

    Since a lot of detailed information has been provided, here is a quick checklist of growing directions: 

(1) Part to full morning sun is best. Avoid windy locations.

(2) Potting mix of pure peat, 1:1 peat/perlite or 1:1 peat/sand (freshwater source)

(3) Pure water only. Purified, distilled or rainwater.

(4) Never let potting media dry out. It should always be moist to wet.

(5) Feed plants with insects and the like. Never apply fertilizers to the potting mix.

Pests and Diseases

    When cultivating plants outdoors, it is essential to manage slugs and snails, as they can cause significant damage in a short period. Additionally, mold or fungus may develop on insects that are not consumed by the plants. Therefore, it is crucial to remove any undigested insects to prevent fungal growth. Strangely, as a carnivorous plant, it is still subject to aphid infestations along the flower stem, flowers and green fruits, which do not have stickiness like the leaves. Pests & Diseases page for the best way to battle each of these pests. 

Special Features and Information

General

    Drosera anglica, a species within the Sundew family (Droseraceae), comprises approximately 200 species distributed across temperate to tropical regions globally. Notably, it is the sole carnivorous plant indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands. This fascinating plant is native to the Hawaiian Islands, likely arriving via seeds carried in the muddy feet of migratory shorebirds from Alaska, such as the Lesser Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) [Carlquist 1980].

The Mikinalo Method of Trapping

    The leaves of sundews are covered with mucilaginous glands, referred to as tentacles, which are used to attract, trap, and digest arthropods such as insects and spiders. Insects, like gnats, are initially attracted by the bright red droplets, mistaking them for nectar. Upon landing, they become ensnared by the sticky surface. As the insect struggles, it becomes increasingly trapped, with more body parts adhering to the leaf. Eventually, the tentacles slowly fold over the insect, completely enveloping it to maximize digestion. By this time, the insect typically succumbs to exhaustion or asphyxiation. Once digestion is complete, the leaf unfurls, leaving only the exoskeleton to be washed away by rain or blown away by the wind. The tentacled leaf then produces more red droplets, ready to capture another unsuspecting victim.

Hawaiian Name

    Mikinalo literally means "to suck flies" [Hawaiian Dictionaries].

Etymology

    The generic name is derived from the Greek droseros, meaning dewy, referring to the reddish dew-like droplets on the leaves produced by the glandular hairs [Gledhill 2008]. 

    The specific epithet anglica is Latin for England, scientifically described by William Hudson in 1778, London, England [Wolf et al. 2006].