Light
Strong, direct light. Aim for at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun, a grow light on a 12 to 14 hour photoperiod, or a combination of the two. Strong light results in healthy dew production.
Soil
1 to 3 parts peat moss to 1 part perlite. More perlite improves aeration and keeps the soil from compacting over time, meaning less frequent repotting and a bit more watering and monitoring of soil moisture. More peat holds water longer, meaning less frequent watering, and peat is typically the cheaper of the two ingredients.
Use pure peat with no fertilizer or other additives. Use plastic or glazed pots rather than unglazed terracotta, which dries out fast and can slowly leach minerals into the mix.
Prefer it ready-made? Get the potting mix we use.
Water
Keep soil damp using rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water. Stand the pot in a tray of water, filled a couple of centimetres deep or up to about 1/4 of the way up the pot, and top it up as it evaporates.
Want to know exactly what makes water safe for these plants? Read our full Carnivorous Plant Water Guide for TDS testing, filtration, and RO systems.Humidity
Sundews adapt well to normal household humidity, but tend to grow best with a bit more moisture in the air. A humidity dome or a nearby humidifier can help supplement this.
Temperature
Comfortable at normal household temperatures. We almost exclusively offer subtropical sundews, and they have no frost tolerance, so keep them indoors or bring them in well before the first frost. D. dichotoma is the one exception, and does best with a distinctly cooler winter to go with its dormancy.
Dormancy
None needed for our subtropical sundews, which grow year round. That includes our most popular sundews, D. capensis, D. spathulata and D. aliciae, which do not need a cold rest. D. dichotoma is the exception, and needs a true winter dormancy each year, dying back for several months as the days shorten. Keep the pot in a couple of centimetres of water while it's dormant, and fresh growth returns in spring.
Feeding & Fertilizer
Never fertilize the soil. A sundew's roots are extremely sensitive to fertilizer.
Sundews catch and digest insects on their own, so most plants need no supplemental feeding. If insects are scarce, misting the leaves with a diluted liquid fertilizer works well. You can also feed by hand with a small live or dried insect dropped directly onto their dew.
Pruning & Repotting
Trimming
The oldest leaves turn brown and dry up as new leaves grow out from the centre of the plant. Trim them off if you like the plant tidy, or leave them on for a more natural look.
Repotting
Repot every couple of years into fresh media.
