Sundews (Drosera) Growing Tips

Sun:  Full to part sun.

Water:  Most sundews thrive on the tray method, which keeps the soil permanently wet.  A few prefer to be waterlogged. 

Winter growing species require periods of complete summer dormancy, at which time the soil has to be dried out.  As summer approaches wait for the plant to quickly go brown. Then reduce watering so that it slowly goes dry over the course of a month.  Keep in a cool, dry place during summer dormancy and sprinkle them with water once every couple of weeks.

Temperature:  As sundews grow worldwide, they come from varied climates. Temperate sundews require cold winters. Warm-temperate and sub-tropical sundews do well on windowsills, in cool greenhouses, or terrariums and appreciate cool nights. Winter growing sundews from Australia and South Africa could be grown outdoors in a Mediterranean climate without frost or in a cool greenhouse.

Dormancy:  Temperate sundews will go dormant in winter.  This is triggered by exposure to a combination of shorter photo periods and colder temperatures from October to February.  Many of their leaves will die back and growth will slow during this time.  They will resume vigorous growth in spring.  Winter growing sundews are summer dormant.

Soil: Our Peat and Perlite Mix is four parts fertilizer free peat moss to one part perlite.  Never pot them into regular potting soil as the nutrients and fertilizers will kill them over time.  Tuberous sundews and most other Australian species prefer a sandier mix.  Drosera regia, adelae, schizandra, and prolifera do best in long fibered sphagnum moss.

Fertilizer/Feeding:  If grown outdoors they will catch their own food.  You can also sprinkle goldfish flakes on sundew leaves.  MaxSea fertilizer can also be applied, once per month, to the leaves and traps of the plant.  Dilute 1/4 teaspoon to 1 gallon of water.  Avoid pouring through the soil.  Avoid fertilizing Drosera regia.