Are you looking for a unique house plant that doesn’t require expert gardening knowledge? The
Drosera Capensis is a great place to start. One of the easiest Sundew varieties to care for, it’s
commonly called the Cape Sundew due to its origins in the Cape Region of South Africa. This
plant is covered in fine red hairs that immediately draw your attention. Its blooms can be a
variety of colors. Depending on your plant, it may bloom white, pink, or even violet. It will flower
in the warmer months (May to September in the Northern Hemisphere) and produce multiple
blooms along one stalk.
The Drosera Capensis is also great for less-than-ideal window locations. It loves a good sunny
window, but will also grow well in the part-shade of an eastern or western facing window. Short
on windowsill space? The Cape Sundew can also thrive under a plant light. Aside from
providing adequate lighting conditions, you will want to ensure the proper soil for your new
carnivorous plant. Cape Sundews prefer sandy, low-nitrogen soil. You can purchase a variety
from our store or mix 50 percent peat moss and 50 percent horticultural soil.
One of the differences between a carnivorous plant and a traditional houseplant is the need for
fertilizer. Cape Sundew plants do not require fertilizer. In fact, nitrogen-based fertilizers can burn
their roots and kill the plant. Instead feed your sundew a steady diet of small insects, such as
house flies, ants, and spiders (or pesky mosquitoes if you have those where you live!).
The leaves of the Drosera Capensis act like flypaper when a small insect lands on their leaves
(in fact, they’re sometimes called “flypaper” plants). The beautiful hairs that give the sundew its
distinctive appearance have sticky droplets at their ends that entrap prey. These droplets
provide the Drosera Capensis with its household name of sundew since they can look like drops
of glistening dew in direct sunlight.
Tiny insects are drawn in by the smell of the sweet nectar produced by the plant and become
stuck. The Drosera then rolls all of its fine hairs around the insect, just like tentacles, to
consume it. Depending on the size of the prey, consumption can take anywhere from a few
hours to several weeks.
Don’t worry if you don’t live in a location where your sundew plant is likely to come by these
insects without your help: Feeding your Drosera plant freeze-dried insects will provide it with a
more than adequate supply of nutrients.
Lastly, your Cape Sundew will need plenty of water. They don’t like to be overwatered, but also
prefer to be continually moist; it’s best not to let the soil dry out. The Drosera Capensis is
sensitive to salt and chlorine, so it’s a good idea to avoid tap water. Instead, consider collecting
rainwater or purchasing distilled water.
If you’re a beginner to carnivorous house plants, the Cape Sundew is the perfect plant with
which to get started.