Lance-Leaf Sundew • Standard Care Guide

Care overview

A tropical North Queensland rainforest sundew. Unlike Cape Sundews, it prefers filtered light, high humidity and relatively mild temperatures. It frequently produces new plants from spreading roots.

Light

Bright filtered light or a moderate grow light. Avoid intense hot direct sun. More light can increase red colouring, but excessive light and heat can scorch the broad leaves.

Watering

Keep continuously moist to wet with rainwater, distilled water or RO water. A shallow water tray is suitable, but avoid stale, overheated water and provide airflow.

Humidity

High humidity with consistent airflow. It is less tolerant of dry air than most commonly sold subtropical sundews.

Temperature

15–27°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 sphagnum with perlite or a loose carnivorous plant mix. Keep wet with rainwater, distilled water or RO water.

Propagation

Root cuttings, leaf cuttings, division and offsets

Support

Broad, ground-level leaves spread from a central crown. 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

Lance-Leaf Sundew (Drosera adelae) 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 Lance-Leaf 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 Lance-Leaf 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.