Cape Sundew • Typical Form Care Guide

Care overview

Only use rainwater, distilled or RO water. Tap water will cause mineral damage.

Light

Very bright light, direct morning sun or strong grow lights. Dew production depends on high light.

Watering

Keep constantly wet using tray method. Sit in 1–2cm rainwater, distilled or RO water. Never allow to dry.

Humidity

Moderate to high. Light and water quality more important than humidity.

Temperature

18–28°C

Feeding and fertiliser

Do not fertilise the substrate. Allow the plant to catch insects naturally; use only species-appropriate foliar or pitcher feeding if ever needed.

Potting mix

Use nutrient-free carnivorous plant compost or a thoroughly rinsed coco coir/perlite mix. Never use fertilised houseplant compost.

Propagation

Seed, division, leaf cuttings

Support

Rosette-forming plant, no support required.

Mature size

Most rosettes remain compact at roughly 5–20 cm across, while forked or climbing sundews may produce taller foliage and flower stems.

Semi-hydro suitability

Suitability depends on the plant, root condition and the chosen semi-hydro system.

Dormancy and winter growth

No true dormancy is normally required indoors. Growth may slow during the darker UK winter, so reduce watering and feeding in line with the plant's actual growth rate.

About this plant

Cape Sundew (Drosera capensis) is held in the Snip & Sprout permanent collection and propagated in small batches when suitable parent growth is available.

Crown, rhizome or root decline

Likely cause

Causes vary by genus and can include unsuitable moisture, poor aeration, heat, cold, damaged tissue and disease.

What to do

Inspect the affected plant and correct conditions according to the genus rather than applying one watering rule to all carnivorous plants.

Mineral or fertiliser damage

Likely cause

Many commonly grown carnivorous plants are adapted to nutrient-poor conditions and can be damaged by mineral-rich water, unsuitable compost or inappropriate fertiliser use.

What to do

Use water and growing media recommended for the genus. Rainwater, distilled water or other suitably low-mineral water is appropriate for many commonly grown types.

Poor growth

Likely cause

Insufficient light, unsuitable water, the wrong growing medium, incorrect moisture or a normal dormancy period can all reduce growth.

What to do

Check the requirements of the genus and species. Carnivorous plants do not all share the same moisture, temperature or dormancy needs.

Does Cape Sundew go dormant in winter?

No true dormancy is normally required indoors. Growth may slow during the darker UK winter, so reduce watering and feeding in line with the plant's actual growth rate.

How large can Cape Sundew grow indoors?

Most rosettes remain compact at roughly 5–20 cm across, while forked or climbing sundews may produce taller foliage and flower stems.

What water should I use?

Use rainwater, distilled water or reverse-osmosis water unless the individual care guidance states otherwise. Mineral-rich tap water can damage many carnivorous plants over time.