Drosera capensis, commonly known as the Cape sundew, is a small rosette-forming carnivorous species of perennial sundew native to the Cape in South Africa. It has become one of the most common sundews in cultivation.
Cape sundew Care
Drosera capensis
What is the plant
Drosera capensis or the Cape Sundew is one of the easiest of all carnivorous plants to grow. It is medium-size with long strap-like leaves, loaded with red tentacles. It has a nice overall green and red appearance and glistens brightly in the sunlight. Insects are lured to the plant and get mired in the sticky dew of the tentacles. The leaves slowly roll over on to the prey in about 30 minutes, creating an effective digestive pouch around the victim. Digestion takes a few days and the leaf uncurls to leave the prey remains behind. It is a tropical plant growing year round, as long as the conditions are warm and bright. In cooler temperatures it stops growing, but holds its traps.
humidity
Normal
lighting
Full Sun
temperature
18°C - 18°C
hardiness zone
min 6a
difficulty
Medium
Invasive
Weed
How to Care for the Plant
Water
Aim to keep the potting medium evenly moist. Use rain water or distilled water.
Fertilizer
Don't fertilize because it will burn the roots and may kill the plant. Since sundews are unlikely to catch insects in the house, you can feed it dead flies spring through fall. Don't use flies that have been exposed to insecticide because it will damage the plant.
Sunlight
Provide bright indirect light.
Ease your plant care routine with PlantIn's personalized system.
Soil
Live sphagnum moss or a half-and-half mix of peat moss and horticultural sand.
Temperature
Average room temperatures of 60-75°F/16-24°C are fine. It will tolerate a wider range. Cold air may cause dormancy so it's best to maintain normal room temps for it year-round.
Container
Choose any type of container with enough drainage holes.
Ease your plant care routine with PlantIn's personalized system.
Popularity
1,924 people already have this plant 278 people have added this plant to their wishlists
What's wrong with your plant?
Related Plants
Discover more plants with the list below
Popular articles
Want more articles?
