Did you just bring home a new sundew plant and have no idea how to start caring for it? Take a
look at this handy care guide to keep your plant thriving!
- Start with the right medium. Sundews do best in soil low in nutrients that easily retains
moisture. You can purchase carnivorous plant soil from our store to save time or
combine a 1:1 ratio of peat moss and horticultural sand. - Avoid standard potting soils and plant fertilizers. Both can kill your Drosera plant.
- Gather the right water. Drosera plants are particularly sensitive to the minerals and
additives in tap water. If you have a reverse osmosis system in your house, you can use
water from your RO faucet. If not, you’ll want to purchase demineralized/distilled water
(available in most grocery stores) or get adventurous and devise a way to collect
rainwater. - Keep your Sundew’s soil constantly damp. The soil doesn’t need to be soaking wet,
but it should never be completely dry either. If you’re worried you’ll forget to water your
carnivorous plants, consider placing the pots in a shallow container filled with water and
allow the plants to absorb the water from the bottom up. In this instance, a plastic pot
rather than clay is ideal as untreated ceramic can absorb a lot of the water and leave
less for the plant. - Provide adequate light. Drosera plants survive in full sun to partial shade conditions.
Watch for scorching in particularly sunny windows and warmer climates. If you notice
your sundew’s leaves turning brown, move it farther from the window or place a sheer
curtain between the window and the plant to filter the light. Consider a full spectrum plant
light if you don’t have a sunny enough spot for your carnivorous plant. - Feed a steady diet of insects. Sundew plants eat most insects you’re likely to find in
your home: house flies, fruit flies, ants, mosquitos, and spiders. If you notice that your
plant is regularly trapping these on its own, you won’t need to worry about it. However, if
you don’t notice regular insects on the plant, you will need to either catch live insects to
feed it or purchase freeze-dried ones. If you regularly need to “feed” your plant, you may
find a terrarium beneficial. Using a terrarium allows you to release insects into the
container and replace the lid without worrying about them flying around your home. - Research! Some Drosera plants, such as the Drosera anglica and Drosera Rotundifolia,
are native to four season climates and will require a period of dormancy in the winter
months. Others, such as the Drosera Capensis, originate from climates that are warm
year-round and don’t need a period of “rest.” Make sure you know which variety of
Sundew plant you own so that you can care for it properly.