Sundews Plant

Cape Sundew (Drosera capensis) is a useful starting point if you can provide strong light, low-mineral water and consistent moisture. Capensis Alba offers greener foliage and white flowers; Alice’s Sundew gives a low rosette rather than Cape Sundew’s longer leaves.

Choose for the setup you can maintain. Andromeda needs more deliberate humidity and temperature conditions, while Cape Sundew does not need a cold winter rest. Native temperate sundews can have different dormancy requirements, so check the species instead of applying one rule to every Drosera.

No. Cape Sundew and Alice's Sundew benefit from strong light, including sun when gradually acclimated, or an appropriate grow light. Drosera Andromeda prefers less intense, filtered light with cool conditions and high humidity. A hot, sunny enclosure can be unsuitable for it, even when another sundew thrives on a sunny windowsill.

Use distilled, reverse-osmosis or clean rainwater to avoid a buildup of minerals. Ordinary pitcher filters and boiling do not reliably make mineral-rich tap water suitable. Keep the growing mix moist, using a shallow water tray where appropriate to the species. Choose a low-nutrient carnivorous-plant mix without added fertilizer rather than ordinary enriched houseplant soil.

Cape Sundew does not require a cold winter rest. It can keep growing indoors with adequate light and suitable temperatures, although growth may slow when days shorten. Do not assume it should spend a Canadian winter outside. Other sundew groups have different seasonal needs, so always check the species rather than applying one dormancy rule to all Drosera.

Yes. A sundew catches adult fungus gnats that land on its sticky leaves, so it can be a useful part of a houseplant display where you notice flying gnats. Choose a position that meets the sundew’s own light and moisture needs.

It does not remove larvae living in other pots, so address those breeding sources too. Read our fungus gnat guide for affected houseplant pots. Compare butterworts if you prefer a different sticky-leaf plant; neither guarantees complete pest control on its own.