Cape Sundew Care

Native to South Africa (USDA Zone 10a equivalent), Cape Sundews (Drosera capensis) thrive indoors in Tennessee. They can be kept outdoors during warmer months but must be brought inside before the first frost.

Watering

• Keep the soil constantly moist by sitting the base of the pot in ½ to 1 inch of water.

• Use only distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water. Sundews are highly sensitive to the dissolved minerals found in most tap and bottled water.

Potting & Soil

• The included 3.5-inch pot is sufficient for the first year. 

• When repotting, use a plastic or fully glazed ceramic pot at least 5 inches deep to accommodate their long taproots.  Multiple plants can share a single container.

• Use commercial carnivorous plant soil or a custom blend of 1 part perlite to 4 parts pure peat (ensure the peat contains zero fertilizers or additives).

Light

• Provide maximum light, ideally in an unobstructed south-facing window.

• If sufficient natural sunlight is not available, use a small LED plant light set for 12 to 14 hours a day.

• Insufficient light is the most common cause when a sundew does not produce dew.

Feeding

• Sundews catch bugs independently and do not require manual feeding. They excel at catching fungus gnats, fruit flies, and mosquitoes near sinks or trash cans.

• If you choose to hand-feed, offer appropriately sized live insects or rehydrated freeze-dried bugs (see our Plant Protein packs for conveniently sized larvae and instructions).