The Drosera Rotundifolia is another great option if you’re looking to grow a carnivorous plant
outside. Also known as the roundleaf (or round-leaved) sundew or the common sundew, it is the
most widely occuring sundew plant globally and gets its name from its round-looking leaves.
Bright red tentacles extend from the leaf, and it flowers white or light pink during the summer.
Like many of its species, the roundleaf sundew thrives in wet climates such as bogs, fens, and
marshes. Therefore you will want to keep the soil of your Drosera Rotundifolia consistently and
evenly moist. Plant in a bog garden or shallow pot with fifty percent peat moss and fifty percent
horticultural sand. Despite its ability to grow outdoors in most climates, it will not survive in
traditional garden soil. Consider planting it in a pot with the right growing medium, and then
“planting” the pot if you wish your Common Sundew to be a part of your garden.
The common sundew is a temperate drosera, meaning it requires a period of dormancy each
year to stay alive. Therefore, it will naturally survive winter in many four-season climates. Do be
careful, however, if your winter temperatures are frequently below freezing. If you choose to
grow your roundleaf sundew as a houseplant, you’ll want to ensure it spends the colder months
of the year in a cooler environment, such as an unheated garage or greenhouse. It does not
need to be kept as cold as an outdoor plant but will need to spend several months in
temperatures between 40 and 55 degrees fahrenheit.
Like all sundew plants, the roundleaf sundew does not require fertilization. Instead, it obtains
nutrients from small insects. Prey are attracted to the minute, and sweet-smelling dew drops
that form on the end of the plant’s tentacles. If you keep it outside, the Drosera should get all its
food needs met without your assistance. However, if you choose to leave the sundew plant
indoors, you will need to ensure that it is getting adequate nutrients either by trapping live
insects or purchasing freeze-dried larvae and feeding them to the plant.
Common sundew plants prefer bright sun, but pay attention if you grow your plant outdoors,
especially if you live in a warm climate. Full sun can damage the leaves of a drosera
rotundifolia. If you notice the plant starting to look burnt or brown, rather than bright orange and
red, move the plant to a partially shaded location. You should gradually introduce the plant to
outdoor sunlight if it lives inside for part of the year to avoid shocking the plant.