Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    33 Colorful Houseplants You’ll Love

    March 15, 2023

    14 Indoor Plants That Grow From Seeds

    March 14, 2023

    7 True Low-Light Houseplants

    March 13, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Garden WisperGarden Wisper
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    SUBSCRIBE
    • Home
    • Gardening

      Best Gardening Trousers 2023: Men’s And Women’s Options

      March 10, 2023

      10 Best Gardening Hats For Men And Women

      March 9, 2023

      Gardening For Children | Kids Gardening Tools

      March 3, 2023

      Planting Guide For Home Gardening In Alabama

      February 16, 2023

      National Gardening Day – Holidays Calendar

      February 14, 2023
    • How To

      How To Get Rid Of Centipedes In Houseplants

      March 11, 2023

      How Often Should You Fertilize Indoor Plants? What To Know

      March 8, 2023

      How To Stop Mold On Indoor Plants: 8 Tips

      March 4, 2023

      How To Get Rid Of Mint Plant Pests

      March 4, 2023

      How To Start Home Gardening In Hawaii For Beginners

      February 1, 2023
    • House Plants

      14 Indoor Plants That Grow From Seeds

      March 14, 2023

      7 True Low-Light Houseplants

      March 13, 2023

      17 Of The Most Fragrant Houseplants To Grow Indoors 

      March 12, 2023

      How Often Should You Fertilize Indoor Plants? What To Know

      March 8, 2023

      15 Rare & Unusual Houseplants To Add To Your Collection

      March 8, 2023
    • Pests & Diseases

      How To Get Rid Of Centipedes In Houseplants

      March 11, 2023

      9 Cucumber Pests You Need To Watch Out For

      March 8, 2023

      How To Get Rid Of Mint Plant Pests

      March 4, 2023

      13 Most Common Strawberry Plant Pests And Diseases

      February 15, 2023

      Diseases And Pests Of Jalapeno Pepper Plants

      February 15, 2023
    • Recommendations

      How Much Does an Arborist Cost in 2022?

      November 24, 2022

      How Much Does Bush Removal Cost in 2022?

      November 24, 2022

      13 Signs Your Tree Is Dying

      November 22, 2022

      Common Types of Tree Fungus

      November 14, 2022

      What Is Dollar Spot?

      November 11, 2022
    • Weed Control

      Is Roundup Dangerous?

      November 10, 2022

      What is Cheatgrass?

      November 10, 2022

      How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Home and Yard – A Basic Guide

      November 1, 2022

      9 Best Post-Emergent Herbicides

      October 18, 2022

      7 Best Battery-Powered Weed Eaters of 2022

      October 11, 2022
    Garden WisperGarden Wisper
    Home»How To»How to Grow and Care for Sundew Plants 
    How To

    How to Grow and Care for Sundew Plants 

    Huoma GwenBy Huoma GwenApril 4, 2022Updated:April 4, 2022No Comments6 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp Email
    Sundew Plants
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Email

    Table of Contents

    • What is Sundew?
    • Growing Sundews 
    • How to Care for a Sundew 
      • Maintenance
      • Which Containers Should You Use For Growing Sundews?
      • How Do You Propagate Sundews?
    • What To Feed Sundews
      • What Are The Different Kinds Of Sundews?
    • Conclusion 

    Did you know that there are carnivorous plants just like animals? You may have heard of the Venus flytrap, one of the most well-known carnivorous plants in the world – but have you heard of its cousin, the sundew?

    While the Venus flytrap puts on an action-packed show, snapping closed dramatically when it traps insects, the sundew employs more subtle tactics.

    It quietly produces sap that lures smaller insects in for a taste and ensnares them more passively, and without as much pomp.

    But, why does it do that?

    You’re in the right place to find answers to that question, and to learn all about how to propagate, grow, and care for this amazing plant indoors.

    Read Also:

    • How to Grow Gooseberries 
    • How to Grow Hazelnut Trees
    • How to Grow American Persimmons

    What is Sundew?

    Sundew species are less threatened in the wild than the Venus flytrap, which is the most well-known. They also have a significantly broader range, with different species blooming on practically every continent on the planet.

    Except in the southwestern part of the country, where the environment is desert, they can be found in the wild across the United States.

    Most perennial plants may flourish in any wetland where winter temperatures are below 50°F, as they require three to four months of freezing temperatures to become dormant in the winter.

    Sundews in Australia, on the other hand, reverse this and go dormant in the summer due to the severe environment. D. erythrogyne, an Australian species, is one of the largest summer-dormant species and a climber, reaching a maximum length of two feet.

    Hundreds of trichomes can cover each leaf, or they can only be found on one side of the leaves, as in the Cape sundew, D. capensis.

    Foraging insects are attracted to the secretions, which appear as dewdrops on the leaves – hence the name – and attempt to settle to feed on them. They are caught in the material rather than nipping the honey and continuing on their journey.

    Growing Sundews 

    • Carnivorous sundew plants are good for managing gnats and other small insects, whether grown indoors or outdoors.
    • Sundew plants do well in a mixture of sphagnum moss and vermiculite or perlite as potted plants. 
    • The pot must be maintained moist at all times, and a humid environment is ideal for optimal growth.
    • Warm temperatures and moist conditions are required for carnivorous sundew plants to thrive.
    • When planted near a water feature or even in moist soil, outdoor plants thrive. 
    • To boost the acidity of the soil when growing sundews outside, totally till it and mix it with sphagnum moss. The plant thrives in full sun, although it can also be grown in partial light.

    How to Care for a Sundew 

    Potted plants don’t need fertilizer, but they do need distilled or rainwater because they can’t tolerate excessive mineral levels.

    Humidity should be between 40% and 60%. Setting a saucer filled with small pebbles beneath the plant and filling it with water is a simple way to accomplish this.

    The evaporation will assist in moistening the surrounding air. Remove any wasted stems or leaves as soon as they appear. When they outgrow their pots, transplant them.

    Maintenance

    Some perennial sundew species in temperate climates will fall dormant throughout the winter, as I described.

    They can either die back to the roots or develop a hibernaculum, which is a bud from which new growth will emerge once the dormant period is through.

    When you notice seasonal die-off, move dormant plants to a cooler zone so they can relax and store energy for the upcoming growing season.

    Allowing dormant plants to freeze or allowing the soil to dry out is not a good idea, and keeping them shielded from temperatures below 32°F is also a good idea. These are fantastic possibilities if you have a cold nook in your garage or a location in the back of your refrigerator where the plant may overwinter in temps of 35 to 50°F.

    Allow two to three months for the plant to adjust to the cooler environment before relocating it to a warmer spot for a few hours every day. You can return it to its normal growing environment after three to five days of exposure to warmer temps.

    Which Containers Should You Use For Growing Sundews?

    Choose plastic containers with holes on the bottom for growing sundews. Sundews that thrive in humid environments can thrive in plastic or glass containers without holes. Keep them in a humid, wet environment.

    For small sundews, a pot size of 4 inches is ideal, and for larger ones, a pot size of 7-10 inches is ideal.

    How Do You Propagate Sundews?

    Cuttings of leaves

    Leaf cuttings are the greatest approach to propagate sundews. Snip a few leaves from the main stem and soak them for 2-2.5 months in demineralized or other mineral-free water. Then, using leaf cuttings, gradually lower the water level in the container.

    Finally, place the cutting in a tiny 3-4-inch pot filled with a carnivorous plant soil mix (perlite and sphagnum moss). There is only one cutting per container.

    What To Feed Sundews

    Sundew feeding may be a lot of fun. If your temperature is suitable for the sundew plant, you can leave it outside and it will self-feed for the most part. Sundews are attractive plants that attract their own prey.

    If you keep it indoors you can feed it insects or other foods. Houseflies, ants, spiders, gnats, moths, and fruit flies are examples.

    If you can’t find any live insects, freeze dried insects such as fly larvae can be purchased. Make the meal softer by moistening it, and avoid feeding your sundews insects that are difficult to digest, such as crickets or grasshoppers.

    What Are The Different Kinds Of Sundews?

    1. Pygmy sundews are a type of sundew found in Australia. They’ve adapted to Australia’s sweltering summers by covering themselves in hair and going dormant during the summer.
    1. Tuberous sundews are a type of sundew native to Australia. They go dormant in the summer to avoid the heat.
    1. Sundews that grow in temperate climates such as Europe and North America are known as temperate sundews. Because most of them have cold winters, they go dormant throughout these months.

    Conclusion 

    The sundew is the houseplant for you if you want something that does more than just look good. While it certainly attracts attention, it also thrills with activities that never cease to astonish.

    Of course, some maintenance and caretaking will be required. But, as you’ve seen, it’s all about understanding your plants’ requirements.

    Do you intend to cultivate your sundew in a container or terrarium? Please let us know in the comments section below! We’d be pleased to assist you if you have any questions.

    Huoma Gwen
    • Website

    Related Posts

    How To Get Rid Of Centipedes In Houseplants

    March 11, 2023

    How Often Should You Fertilize Indoor Plants? What To Know

    March 8, 2023

    How To Stop Mold On Indoor Plants: 8 Tips

    March 4, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Don't Miss

    33 Colorful Houseplants You’ll Love

    By Vikky jayMarch 15, 20230

    In the world of gardening, there are hundreds of houseplants with different varieties each with…

    14 Indoor Plants That Grow From Seeds

    March 14, 2023

    7 True Low-Light Houseplants

    March 13, 2023

    17 Of The Most Fragrant Houseplants To Grow Indoors 

    March 12, 2023
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Our Picks

    33 Colorful Houseplants You’ll Love

    March 15, 2023

    14 Indoor Plants That Grow From Seeds

    March 14, 2023

    7 True Low-Light Houseplants

    March 13, 2023

    17 Of The Most Fragrant Houseplants To Grow Indoors 

    March 12, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from SmartMag about art & design.

    Affiliate Program

    Garden Wisper is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and some of other companies linked to on this site.

    Latest Posts
    About Garden Wisper
    About Garden Wisper

    Here at Garden Wisper, we strive to provide the best practical, real-world advice and tips on how to make your garden the best it can be.

    Garden wisper provides detailed information ranging from plant growth, food production, plant care, and general gardening advice for your home.

    Continue Reading: HERE

    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms and Conditions
    © 2023 Garden Wisper. Designed by WACN.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.