Plant Characteristics
Origin of the Name
The Sundew is a fascinating and often highly protected plant from the Droseraceae family. Its botanical name, Drosera, comes from the Greek word “drosos” (meaning dew), and its common English name, Sundew, reflects the same idea. The name was given because the surface of the plant’s leaves is covered in glandular tentacles that secrete drops of sticky mucilage. These drops glisten in the sunlight, looking exactly like morning dew. However, this “dew” is a deadly trap designed to attract thirsty insects. The Sundew is a predatory plant that catches and digests its victims — typically small flies, gnats, and mosquitoes.
How the Trap Works
The tiny, hair-like tentacles on the plant’s leaves are incredibly sensitive to movement. When an insect lands on the sticky “dew” and struggles, the surrounding tentacles slowly curl inward, wrapping around the victim in a tight embrace. The plant then secretes powerful digestive enzymes that break down the insect’s body, allowing the Sundew to absorb the nitrogen and other essential nutrients it lacks from the soil. It takes about 5 to 10 days for the plant to fully digest its meal, after which the leaf unfurls again, ready for the next hunt.
Natural Habitat
In the wild, Sundews thrive in nutrient-poor, acidic environments like peat bogs, swamps, and mossy wetlands. While early species were widely documented in the 18th century, we now know that Sundews grow on almost every continent. In the United States, several native species can be found in coastal bogs from the Pacific Northwest down to Florida and across the Eastern seaboard.
Depending on the specific variety, Sundew leaves can range in size from tiny 0.2-inch (5 mm) pads to long, strap-like leaves reaching up to 24 inches (60 cm). Most indoor varieties form compact rosettes with leaves about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
Varieties
Today, botanists have identified over 190 species of this fascinating plant. Among them, three are particularly popular for indoor growing: the Cape Sundew (Drosera capensis), the Oblong-leaved Sundew (Drosera intermedia), and the Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia).
Planting Guide
1. Acquiring the Plant. You can buy mature Sundews at large nurseries, order dormant bare-root plants or hibernacula (winter resting buds) online, or grow them from seed yourself.
2. Choosing the Right Pot. As a bog plant, the Sundew needs a constant supply of moisture. It’s crucial to mimic its natural, damp climate. A plastic or glazed ceramic pot (about 4 inches / 10 cm tall) with ample drainage holes is ideal. Avoid unglazed terracotta, which dries out too quickly and can leach minerals into the soil.
3. Preparing the Soil. The soil for a Sundew must not be fertile. Standard potting soil will kill it. The plant gets its nutrients from insects, not the ground. You must never use fertilizers. The optimal potting mix is a simple blend of pure sphagnum peat moss and horticultural sand (or perlite) in a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio.
4. Planting. If growing from seeds, simply sprinkle them on the surface of the wet soil — do not bury them, as they need light to germinate. If planting a mature specimen or bare root, make a small hole in the wet medium, gently place the roots inside, and ensure the crown of the plant sits perfectly level with the soil surface.
Indoor Care Guide
Pay close attention to the soil moisture at all times: the medium must never dry out completely. Use the tray method — place the pot in a shallow saucer and maintain about ½ inch (1.3 cm) of distilled or rainwater in it at all times. Check the tray daily and only refill it once the previous water has been fully absorbed. If water is still sitting in the tray the next day, do not add more.
You can mist the leaves themselves with a spray bottle using the same pure distilled or rainwater. This also helps keep the sticky tentacles hydrated and active.
Where to Place Your Sundew
Sundews love bright light but cannot tolerate intense midday summer sun, which can scorch their delicate leaves. The ideal spot is a south- or east-facing windowsill where the plant gets direct morning sun or filtered afternoon light. Under proper lighting, the leaf petioles will stand upright and develop a healthy reddish or ruby color on the tentacles. In spring and fall, move the plant to a balcony or porch if temperatures allow.
Feeding Your Sundew
When grown indoors and not catching enough insects on its own, you will need to supplement your Sundew’s diet. Feed it small live or freeze-dried insects — fruit flies (Drosophila), fungus gnats, or small mealworms work perfectly. Freeze-dried bloodworms (sold at fish supply stores and on Amazon) are a popular and convenient alternative to live prey. Simply place a tiny pinch on an active, dewy leaf every 2–4 weeks — this is enough time for the plant to fully digest a meal. Never overfeed: feeding one or two leaves at a time is sufficient. Do not place large insects on the plant, as they can damage or kill the leaf.
What to Avoid
Never spray or water your Sundew with tap water, flavored water, or any solution containing minerals or fertilizers. Even a small build-up of dissolved salts will damage the root system and cause the tentacles to stop producing mucilage. Additionally, never place the plant in harsh, unfiltered direct afternoon sun, especially through glass in summer.
In nature, Sundews grow in open bogs with intense but diffused light. Direct sun through a south-facing window in summer can be magnified by the glass and cause leaf burn — always watch for signs of browning tips.
Life Cycle
Flowering
With the arrival of spring, the Sundew sends up a tall, slender flower stalk. The blooms have a beautiful double perianth with pairs of petals in red, pink, or white. If pollinated successfully, the plant will produce seed capsules that ripen within about a month and can be harvested for sowing new plants. If you move your Sundew outdoors in spring, pollinators like bees will do the work for you. Indoors, the plant will typically self-pollinate. To ensure cross-pollination (which produces more viable seeds), gently transfer pollen between two flowers of the same species using a soft paintbrush. Note that during flowering, the plant becomes noticeably less active in its carnivorous behavior, as it directs most of its energy toward producing the flower.
Winter Dormancy
Whether your Sundew needs a winter dormancy depends on the species. Tropical varieties like the Cape Sundew (Drosera capensis) can be grown indoors year-round with no dormancy required. Temperate varieties — such as Drosera rotundifolia and Drosera intermedia — need a cold rest period of 3–4 months to stay healthy long-term. During dormancy, move them to a cool spot (a garage, unheated porch, or refrigerator crisper drawer at around 35–45°F / 2–7°C), reduce watering to keep the soil just barely damp, and do not worry about light. Younger plants need a shorter dormancy of 2–3 months. Resume normal care in early spring.
Propagation
For division, use a sterile, sharp blade or scissors to carefully split a mature plant into sections, making sure each piece retains intact roots. For leaf pullings, gently remove a healthy leaf with its base intact from the mother plant, lay it flat on the surface of moist live sphagnum moss, and cover loosely with a clear plastic bag or dome to maintain humidity. New plantlets will emerge from the base of the leaf within several weeks.
Reader Photos
FAQ
No — the Sundew poses absolutely no threat to people or animals. Its sticky traps are designed exclusively to catch small insects, not larger creatures. If you accidentally brush a leaf with your finger, nothing will happen — the mucilage may feel slightly sticky, but it cannot harm human skin. That said, as with any plant, it is best to discourage small children and curious pets from chewing on the leaves.
Most commonly grown Sundew varieties live between 2 and 10 years under typical indoor conditions. However, some long-lived temperate species — such as Drosera rotundifolia — can survive for up to 50 years in ideal conditions with proper dormancy cycles each winter.
Absolutely. As far back as the 16th century, Sundew extracts were believed to be a key ingredient in an "elixir of life." Even today, Drosera extracts are used in herbal medicine and homeopathic remedies, particularly in Europe, as a natural treatment for dry coughs and bronchial irritation. Historically, it was even used to flavor a traditional Italian liqueur called "Rosolio" (or "Rosa Solis"), which remained popular until World War I.
Don't panic — if this happens in late fall or early winter, your plant has most likely entered its natural winter dormancy. This is completely normal for temperate species. Simply clean the pot of any dry, dead leaves, reduce watering, move it to a cool spot, and wait. By early spring, fresh new leaves will begin to emerge.
Yes — and many US growers actually prefer this method. A full-spectrum LED grow light running 12–14 hours per day works excellently and often produces vibrant red coloring in the tentacles. Keep the light 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) above the plant for best results.
Sundews are increasingly available online from specialized carnivorous plant nurseries such as California Carnivores, Carnivorous Plant Nursery, and Predatory Plants. They can also be found on Etsy from hobbyist growers, and occasionally at Home Depot or Lowe's garden centers in spring. The International Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS) also runs a seed bank for rare species.
It is not required, but it helps — especially in dry climates like the American Southwest. A simple glass or plastic terrarium maintains the high humidity that Sundews love. However, many US growers successfully keep Cape Sundews (Drosera capensis) on a sunny windowsill without a terrarium, as long as they use the tray watering method consistently.
Without regular feeding, the plant will survive but grow more slowly and look less vibrant. If your home has very few insects, plan to hand-feed your plant once every 2–4 weeks using freeze-dried bloodworms (available at pet stores and Amazon) or small live fruit flies. A well-fed Sundew will reward you with brighter colors and more active dew production.