How to Care for Temperate Sundews (Drosera)

Temperate sundews (Drosera) are among the most beginner-friendly carnivorous plants — glittering with sticky dew-tipped tentacles that trap insects with ease. Native to regions with cold winters, they're well-suited to South African conditions and surprisingly easy to grow outdoors. Here's everything you need to know.

Water

Keep the pot standing in a tray of reverse osmosis, rain, or distilled water at all times. The soil must stay evenly moist and should never dry out. Tap water contains dissolved minerals that are harmful to sundews — always use pure water only.

Light

Temperate sundews need full sun — at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Place them outdoors in a sunny spot for best results. Good light intensifies the red colouration of the tentacles and keeps the plant compact and vigorous. Note that some species, such as Drosera binata, can tolerate slightly lower light levels.

Temperature

During the growing season, temperate sundews prefer 18–30°C. In winter dormancy they require cool temperatures of 0–10°C to rest properly — this cold period is essential for long-term health.

Dormancy

In South Africa, temperate sundews go dormant from approximately May to August. During dormancy, plants may lose most of their leaves and look bare or dead — this is completely normal. Keep them cool, moist, and in a sheltered spot outdoors. They will regrow from September as temperatures rise in spring.

Feeding

Outdoors, temperate sundews will catch plenty of insects on their own using their sticky tentacles. Manual feeding is not necessary, but you can occasionally place small live bugs directly onto the leaves if you'd like to supplement.

Soil

Use a 50/50 mix of fertiliser-free peat moss and perlite. Never use standard potting soil, compost, or any fertiliser. Repot every 1–2 years, preferably during dormancy. Our Standard Carnivorous Plant mix is pre-blended and suitable for temperate sundews.

Shop Temperate Sundews

Browse our range of temperate sundews — available in a variety of species, grown with care at Botanic Bites.