Sundew Plant Care

Light
Very bright light. Aim for 4–6+ hours of direct sun (outdoor or in a sunny window) or strong grow lights indoors. Brighter light = redder, dewier leaves. Shade reduces dew and appetite.

Water
Use filtered, rain, or reverse-osmosis water. Keep consistently moist. Most sundews like the tray method: stand the pot in ¼–½" of pure water during active growth and let the tray dry briefly before refilling. Never let go bone-dry.

Humidity & Temperature
Moderate to high humidity helps dew (40–70%+), plus good airflow.

Soil & Fertilizing
Nutrient-poor, airy mix: sphagnum peat moss + perlite or silica sand (1:1). No regular fertilizer in the soil. They feed on insects. Optional: 1–2×/month a tiny pinch of dried bloodworms/fish food on a few leaves (skip if plants catch enough bugs).

Pet Safety
Generally considered non-toxic (not edible). Keep pets from licking off the sticky mucilage.

Native Region
Global Drosera species occur on every continent except Antarctica (many in Australia, South Africa, Europe, and the Americas).

Fun Fact
Each leaf is lined with glandular “tentacles” that exude sticky nectar, when prey lands, the tentacles bend and the leaf can slowly curl to digest it.