We have created this comprehensive guide especially for the Sundew to help you keep your Sundew happy and healthy. Among other things, we are going to talk about the best conditions for the Sundew, pruning, overwintering and much more.
The Sundew (Drosera) is a beautiful and intriguing plant. The Sundew is an easy plant to maintain and thus suitable for the novice gardener as well as the experienced one.
How do I create the best conditions for my Sundew?
We all know the sundew as a marsh plant which originates almost
all over the world. This is of course extremely important if you want to provide your sundew with the best growing conditions. After all, it is incredibly important to recreate their natural environment as precisely as possible.
- Light: To grow well and be happy, a Sundew needs a lot of light. Choose to place your Sundew facing south or south-east and in front of a window, so that your little plant can absorb at least four to six hours of sunlight a day. Should you not be able to offer natural light completely, you can also opt for an LED grow light or another form of artificial light.
- Temperature: Most of the Sundew varieties are hardy and can therefore survive temperatures down to zero degrees. Of course, the subtropical varieties have specific temperature requirements. So always pay close attention to the needs of your sundew. In addition, look carefully for a spot for your sundew that meets its requirements. Keep your plant well away from heating or air conditioning and avoid temperature fluctuations.
- Humidity: The best environment for a Sundew is a humid one, this factor also helps catch insects as they are often present in numbers in humid environments. Think, for example, of mosquito colonies near streams. When caring for a Sundew try to create a humidity level between 40 and 70 per cent. If you yourself live in a dry climate but still like to have a carnivorous plant, a humidifier is the ideal solution for you. You can also use the saucer water in combination with pebbles.
How much water does my sundew need?
Every Sundew needs moist soil to be happy and grow well. However, the roots should not be constantly in water. Use only distilled, rain or osmosis water to water the plant, the reason we stress this is because tap water contains harmful minerals which can affect the Sundew.
The rule of thumb for humidity is moist soil and not soggy. You can regulate this very easily by filling a dish with water and placing a pot with the sundew in it. Just make sure there are holes in the pot so the water can get inside as well.
What does my sundew eat?
Sundews catch insects such as flies, mosquitoes and aphids to feed themselves. They then use this food, among other things, to grow and survive from. Carnivorous plants catch their food independently, don't feed them manually unless you really can't do otherwise. Would you like to know more about feeding your carnivorous plant? Then read our blog.
By the way, carnivorous plants in general do not need manure or other soil nutrients. In fact, you can cause more damage with this than your carnivorous plant will benefit from.
Which potting soil is best for my Sundew?
Carnivorous plants grow all over the world, but they all have one thing in common. They prefer nutrient-poor soil to everything else. Carnivorous plants get their nutrition not from the soil but from the insect.
Therefore, choose a well-drained acidic potting soil. This should be nutrient-poor. The best mix to use for any carnivorous plant is a mix of peat and perlite. So avoid the nutrient-rich potting soils in this case. After all, these can do much more damage than good for your Sundew. Would you like to know more about repotting your sundew? Then read our interesting and informative blog.
Pruning your sundew
It is important to prune your sundew regularly to remove dead and/or diseased leaves so that the plant can put its energy back into growing. Incidentally, this is also keyto keeping your plant healthy. Besides, they stay at their best when the leaves are green again. This gives your plant a chance to shine.
Only use clean tools to prune your sundew, such as tweezers or a sharp, clean knife. This way, you also prevent any damage to your Sundew. Pruning is also the best way to prevent fungal growth.
Does a sundew go into hibernation?
In winter, many species of sundew go into hibernation, also called a rest period. During this period, they are less active and will grow at a slower rate. When your Sundew reaches this stage, it is important to reduce watering. But keep the soil moist. In addition, protect your sundew against freezing temperatures or extreme cold in general. Would you like to know more about the dormancy period of carnivorous plants? Then read our interesting blog.
Additional tips for general pest or disease control
Carnivorous plants are generally resistant to the diseases and pests that are quite common among plants. Nevertheless, carnivorous plants like the Sundew can run into a problem. Take a fungal disease for example, this can be contracted when your Sundew is in a room that is too damp.
You can easilyprevent this by ensuring good ventilation and not too wet soil. Insect infestation is very rare in the carnivorous plant world, yet it is very easy to treat with a biological pesticide. Always look out for signs of pests, this could be discoloured leaves, possible holes or a sticky discharge.
If your Sundew looks unhealthy or grows poorly, this could be due to insufficient light, too much or too little water or maybe even the wrong potting soil, for example. Look very carefully at the routine you have for your plant and at the potting soil. Adjust things here if necessary. Your little plant also shows stress very easily, this could be through drooping leaves, leaves turning brown or even poor growth of its leaves. The Sundew easilyshows when something is wrong and lets you respond to this easily. If you now know all about carnivorous plants and want to buy your (first) carnivorous plant, take a look at our Drosera Capensis.
Conclusion
We at Carnivory.eu agree that keeping a carnivorous plant like the Sundew is an extremely fascinating hobby. Especially when you can give your sundew the optimal living conditions, you will see a happy and beautiful plant grow and bloom, which you in turn can enjoy immensely. So we would like to share this hobby with everyone. If you have always wanted a sundew, be sure to have a look at our product range.