Sundew

How to care for Sundew

Light

Drosera capensis thrives in bright, direct sunlight and should receive a minimum of four hours of direct sun per day. A south- or east-facing windowsill is ideal indoors, though supplemental grow lighting (a full-spectrum LED or fluorescent tube positioned 10-15 cm above the plant for 14-16 hours daily) works very well where natural light is insufficient. Adequate light is essential for the tentacles to produce the red colouration and copious mucilage that indicate a healthy, actively carnivorous plant.

Watering

The tray method is strongly recommended: set the pot in a shallow dish and keep 1-2 cm of water in it at all times, allowing the growing medium to draw moisture up by capillary action. Water quality is critical; always use rainwater, distilled water, or reverse-osmosis water, as tap water contains dissolved minerals that accumulate in the root zone and can kill the plant within weeks. Never allow the medium to dry out completely, and avoid wetting the crown or leaves from above more than necessary.

Soil and potting

Use a nutrient-poor, acidic growing medium. A 50:50 mix of peat-free long-fibre sphagnum moss and perlite, or pure live or dried sphagnum moss, are the most commonly used substrates. Ordinary potting compost, garden soil, or anything containing added fertiliser is toxic to this plant. The medium must be open and moisture-retentive but not compacted, and the pot must have adequate drainage holes to allow the tray method to function correctly.

Feeding

Drosera capensis obtains its nitrogen and other nutrients by digesting prey rather than absorbing them from the soil. Indoors, offer small live or dried insects such as fruit flies, bloodworms, or rehydrated freeze-dried crickets to one or two leaves at a time every two to three weeks during the growing season. Never apply liquid or granular fertiliser to the soil. If the plant is grown outdoors or in a greenhouse, it will generally catch sufficient prey without any supplemental feeding.

Humidity and temperature

This species prefers humidity of 50-80% and performs best between 15 and 28 C. It can tolerate temperatures as low as approximately 5 C without lasting harm, and warm summers with temperatures up to 30 C are generally fine provided the growing medium stays moist. Unlike many temperate sundews, Drosera capensis does not require a pronounced dormancy period, though growth may slow somewhat in winter if light and temperature decrease. Avoid placing the plant near radiators or air-conditioning vents, which reduce humidity and cause leaf tip browning.

Repotting

Repot every one to two years, or when the plant has clearly outgrown its container or the growing medium has begun to decompose and compact. Spring is the best time. Use fresh sphagnum moss or peat-perlite mix, handling the fragile roots gently. Plastic pots are preferable to terracotta, as unglazed clay absorbs minerals and can leach them into the medium. A pot depth of 10-15 cm is sufficient for most adult specimens.

Pruning

Remove dead or fully blackened leaves by cutting them cleanly at the base with sterile scissors to prevent fungal rot developing. Spent flower scapes can be cut off once flowering has finished, though leaving them may result in self-seeding. No other routine pruning is necessary. Avoid pulling or tearing leaves, as this can damage the crown.

Is Sundew toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Leaf pullings

Pull a healthy, mature leaf away from the stem with a gentle twist to detach it with a small piece of the base intact, then lay it flat on the surface of moist sphagnum moss in a covered, humid propagation tray. Plantlets typically develop within four to twelve weeks.

Seed

Sow fresh seed on the surface of moist sphagnum moss or peat-perlite mix without covering it, and keep in a bright, humid environment at around 20-25 C. Germination can take several weeks to a few months; plants will reach maturity in one to two years.

Root cuttings

Remove the plant from its pot and cut a section of healthy root approximately 3-5 cm long, then lay it horizontally on moist sphagnum moss and cover loosely. Keep in a warm, bright, humid location and small plantlets should emerge within a few weeks.

Where Sundew comes from

Native to Western Cape, South Africa.

Story and origins

The genus name Drosera derives from the ancient Greek word 'drosos', meaning dew or dewdrop, a reference to the glistening droplets of mucilage that tip the plant's glandular tentacles and resemble morning dew in sunlight. The species epithet capensis means 'of the Cape', referring to the Cape of Good Hope region of South Africa, which is the plant's native habitat. The common name sundew is a direct English translation of the genus name, combining 'sun' with 'dew' to evoke the sparkling, light-catching appearance of the leaf surface.

Drosera capensis was formally described by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753 in his foundational work 'Species Plantarum', making it one of the earliest carnivorous plants to receive a scientific name. European botanists and collectors encountered it during the extensive botanical surveys of the Cape Colony in the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a period during which the extraordinary biodiversity of the Cape Floristic Region was first being documented for Western science. Charles Darwin later used Drosera species as key subjects in his investigations into plant carnivory, expressing in correspondence that he cared more about Drosera at that time than the origin of all the species in the world. Today Drosera capensis is one of the most widely grown carnivorous plants in cultivation globally and is often the first species recommended to beginners owing to its relative adaptability and forgiving nature.

Varieties to know

Drosera capensis 'Albino'

A cultivar lacking red pigment throughout; leaves and tentacles are pale green to white, and flowers are white.

Drosera capensis 'Red'

Produces intense red colouration across all leaves and tentacles under good light conditions.

Drosera capensis 'Wide Leaf'

Has noticeably broader leaves than the standard form, giving a more robust appearance.

Drosera capensis 'Narrow Leaf'

Features distinctly narrower, more strap-like leaves and is generally a slightly smaller plant overall.

Fun facts

• A single leaf of Drosera capensis can bend its tentacles around prey within minutes of contact, a movement driven by differential cell growth rather than muscular contraction.
• The plant produces viable seed prolifically and can self-fertilise, making it one of the most invasive sundews outside its native range; it is considered naturalised in parts of Australia and the Azores.
• Drosera capensis secretes both mucilage to trap prey and protease enzymes to digest it, allowing the plant to absorb nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients directly through its leaf surface.
• Under good conditions, a mature plant can flower for several months at a time, producing pink flowers on tall scapes that open individually over many weeks.
• The genus Drosera is one of the largest carnivorous plant genera, containing over 190 species, and Charles Darwin conducted extensive experiments with it that were published in his 1875 work 'Insectivorous Plants'.

Sundew FAQ