Sunlight: These plants love sun. I mean, they really like direct sun. They grow in open bogs where there is minimal shade, so make sure they have a sunny spot. Put it on a bright windowsill, a patio table, or anywhere sunny. It should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day. If the leaves don’t have dew, then this is a sign that your plant is not getting enough sunlight. For photos and more information, you can read about sundews on my website.

 

Water: Keep your plant sitting in its tray of water at all times. All you have to do is add water to the tray when it gets low. Try not to get water on the leaves, since that will wash away the sticky dew (don’t worry - it will make more). In general, carnivorous plants do not like water that has minerals, salts, and chemicals in it, and sundews are no exception. Distilled water is a good option, as it has 0 PPM (parts per million) of total dissolved solids (TDS). Tap water isn’t suitable for use in many places. I would consider buying a TDS meter (~$10-15), a helpful tool that measures the PPM of water. Measure the water to make sure it is good. It should be as close to 0 PPM as possible, but anything under 100 PPM is ok.

Soil: Your plant will come potted, but if repotting is necessary (when the plant gets bigger), a mix of 3 parts sphagnum peat moss to 1 part perlite works well. The perlite isn’t essential, but it helps to make the soil more airy. Make sure that you use sphagnum peat moss, and that it has no fertilizers added, as these will kill your plant. Wash the peat thoroughly in a bucket with holes in the bottom before use. I triple-wash my peat and then measure with my TDS meter to be safe. I will probably be offering washed soil mix for sale in the future.

 

Humidity: Humidity isn’t too much of an issue with these plants, as long as they are in a sunny spot.

 

Dormancy: These plants are subtropical, so the temperature stays pretty stable, but the summers are a bit warmer and the winters a bit cooler. Keeping your plant indoors is fine if there is enough sunlight.

 

Pests: If grown indoors, this shouldn’t be a problem. But if grown outside, you might come across a few bugs. Aphids and mealybugs are the main bugs that you have to worry about for this species. If you have issues, I recommend buying BAYER all-purpose spray if this becomes an issue. Some signs that you might have pests are if the leaves are weird-looking or look wilted (but this could also be lack of sunlight). Feel free to send me a photo if you have a question or are worried about your plant for any reason.

 

Feeding: If grown well, and there is dew, it should catch its own food (such as fruit flies and gnats), but if you happen to catch a bug, like a spider or a fly, feel free to feed your plant. Simply stick the bug on the leaf. Only do this if there is dew, and the plant looks healthy. And don’t overcrowd each leaf. I recommend a maximum of 1 bug per leaf.

 

Overall, these plants are really easy to grow, and if it seems like it’s dying, ask these questions: Am I using distilled water (or water with low PPM)? Is it getting enough sunlight (is there dew forming on the leaves)? Are there pests? Otherwise, good luck and have fun!