Tropical Sundews

New Zealand Temperates North American Temperate Pygmy South African Temperate
South African Tropical South American Australian Tuberous Australian Non-Tuberous
Growing Media:

Outdoors, I have mine growing in pure sphagnum, with a little peat moss mixed within the root zone.  Indoors, I have them in a mixture of 1 part Peat moss, perlite, and sand. 

Temperatures:
 
Text say to grow them in the summer at 70-95F, and winters 60-70F.  These plants can be grown year round at summer temperatures.  My best guess as to why mine die is the terrarium is dipping too close to 70F for most nights, confusing the plant to which season it could be.....
Water & Humidity:
 
If you are going to grow them year round, then give high humidity and plenty of water. The plants should not be in stagnant water.
 
Light:
 
Grow  D. adelae, prolifera, and schizandra in indirect light to shaded areas, while the others grow in direct bright light all day, indoors or out. 
 
Dormancy Requirements:
 
As mentioned, they can be grown year round inside, but if you wish, some can take a light winter (see the temperatures though).  D. peltata will die back in the heat of the summer, and grow well in the winter zone.  D. petiolaris grows best in the winter zone also, but will not die back in the summer as much as D. peltata.
Asexual Reproduction:
 
Almost all the ones listed above will do well with leaf cuttings (except burmannii, indica, spathulata). 

Some specefic information:

camera.gif (1903 bytes) Picture available at the CP Database, just click on the camera and  enter "Drosera" and the species. Also check out the pictures available at the Galleria Carnivora, First floor. 

 

D. adalea
A shade loving sundew. Will have smaller leaves under direct light, indoors or out.  This was my first problem with the plant, but I found it does well hiding under my Nepenthes in the terrarium.    It has wider leaves than some sundews, and doesn't seem to wrap its leaf around the prey.   Mature plants can have leaves up to 8 inches! It blooms small red flowers, too small worth taking a picture of (couldn't focus). Doesn't set seed easily. Will easily reproduce with root cuttings or leaf cuttings...I know from experience. Thin out the plants to avoid over cropping, which invites fungus.

D. affinis
Easily propagated by stem cuttings, and easily self-pollinates. 
 
D. banksii
A self-pollinater. 

D. burkeana camera.gif (1903 bytes)  
Has small round leaves on a small petiole, a small plant. Blooms white to pink flowers.  Known to easily self-pollinate. 

D. burmanii  camera.gif (1903 bytes)  
An annual Sundew, that easily self-pollinates so it shouldn't be much trouble for repeat plants.  Change or add additional soil every couple of years.   Will not produce plantlets from leaf cuttings easily.

D. indica  camera.gif (1903 bytes)  
Another annual sundew, follow the same growing guidelines as above.   Also has problems growing plantlets from leaf cuttings. 
 
D. madagascariensis 
Self pollinater

D. peltata camera.gif (1903 bytes)  
This one is listed here and under Temperate Sundews & Tuberous Sundews due to it's very unique habit.  Sometimes confused with D. auriculata.  It's a little hard to find, but a good beginner's plant according to Peter at Cambrian Carnivores.   When it gets too hot, cold, or dry, it dies back to a underground bud for dormancy. The plant itself forms a basal rosette, then grows an erect stem up to 8-10" (20-25cm).  Flowers are  white & self-pollinate easily. Native to Australia.  Can be propagated by leaf cuttings.
 
D. petiolaris   camera.gif (1903 bytes)  
Beautifull sundew with a heavy red color.  Leaves are very narrow, with the traps located at the end as small round glands. Pink to white bloomer. Doesn't easily set seed.
 
D. pilosa 
Self pollinator, and easily propagated by stem cuttings.  

D. prolifera
Pink to red bloomer,  grow in indirect light. Short and stocky plant with small petiols, and the sticky leaf at the end, round as a coin.  Very nice sundew with a very 'fertile' habit. Every flowering scape produces a new plant, and this sundew blooms all year long.  If that's not enough for you, it also spreads by runners.  I'm in the process of acquiring one. 
D. schizandra  camera.gif (1903 bytes)  
Another sundew for indirect light.  Sundew with white or dark red flowers, with nice sized leaves, up to 6 inches. Doesn't set seed easily.  Forms a basal rosette with wide leaves. Easily propagated from leaf cuttings.  
 
D. spathulata  -- camera.gif (1903 bytes)  
A spoon shape leafed sundew, white to pink blooming.  Forms a small basal rosette.  Can go into dormancy when growing conditions are temporarily non-desirable.  Self-pollinating, but doesn't propagate well from leaf cuttings.  
 

Last update 07/30/01
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