Temperate Sundew
Drosera
Care Sheet
Light
Temperate Sundews need strong light. They like a sunny location in the yard with a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight. If grown indoors they need a very sunny window and/or to be 2 to 4 inches directly under a fluorescent light that is on for 12 to 18 hours a day.
Water
Do not water Temperate Sundews with tap water, purified water, drinking water, or mineral water. They must have Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water only. You can buy Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water at the water store or grocery store. Just check the fine print to make sure it doesn’t have anything else added to it. Put your Temperate Sundew’s pot in a bowl or saucer. Fill up the bowl or saucer with Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water to about 2/5ths the way up the pot. When the water evaporates to near the bottom of the container refill it back to about half way up the pot again. Never let the Temperate Sundew’s soil dry out.
Feeding
Temperate Sundews must eat tiny insect like ants or smaller insects. They can be sprinkled on to their sticky leaves. If you grow your Temperate Sundew outside you do not need to feed it all. It will catch bugs on its own. Don’t use fertilizers for your Temperate Sundew.
Leaf/Trap Growth
Temperate Sundews tend to keep their leaves for a while but if their leaves are shed they can usually grow new ones right back as long as the roots are still healthy.
Potting
To pot up your Temperate Sundew first put your long fibered sphagnum moss in a bowl with Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water. Make sure to loosen the fibers and mix it around in the bowl to help it hydrate. Then use this as your potting soil for your Temperate Sundew. You don’t need to firmly pack it into your pot. It is better if it is loose and airy.
Dormancy
Every Winter Temperate Sundews need to go dormant. If you grow your Temperate Sundew outdoors or you get more than a light frost where you live you will need to put it next to a sunny windowsill for the winter. Do not put it back outside until the last frost is over. If you only get light frosts where you live during the Winter you can leave your Temperate Sundew outside for the Winter. When Temperate Sundews go dormant their leaves dry up and turn black and they grow a hibernaculum for Winter. If you see this happen to your Temperate Sundew in November to December don’t throw your Temeprate Sundew away. They are supposed to die down every Winter. They are annuals. They will regrow right back every Spring and maybe make flowers for you too.