Plants
Cape sundew care: light, water & problems
Scientific name: Drosera capensis · Common name: Cape sundew
A rosette of long leaves covered in glistening insect-trapping glands; the ‘dew’ is not misting water.
Editorial revision:
Care at a glance
- Light
- It needs strong light; under glass, shield unacclimatised plants from scorching sun.
- Watering
- Keep a nutrient-poor acidic medium continually moist with rainwater.
How to identify it
A rosette of long leaves covered in glistening insect-trapping glands; the ‘dew’ is not misting water.
Light
It needs strong light; under glass, shield unacclimatised plants from scorching sun.
Watering
Keep a nutrient-poor acidic medium continually moist with rainwater.
Conditions vary with pot, season and location. Always check the mix and your plant's response.
Environment and placement
Avoid ordinary fertiliser and rich compost; its needs differ from a tropical pot plant.
Potting mix and feeding
Use a nutrient-poor acidic medium suitable for carnivorous plants. Ordinary compost and mineral-rich water can harm it.
Do not apply ordinary fertiliser: these plants obtain nutrients from prey and need different care from foliage houseplants.
Problems to check
If dew disappears, review light, water and new leaves before trying to feed it.
How to assess yellow leavesCommon question
Should the mix dry out?
No. RHS advises keeping it moist, even standing it in a saucer of rainwater.
