Drosera Capensis

Carnivorous

Cape Sundew

There is always someone who wants to challenge you. You know the type. The ones who hear who’ve gotten into gardening and plants, so they bring you a completely different type of plant than you know what to do with. In walks carnivore plants and all of their special needs.

Years later, you now are the mother of 100’s of baby Sundews. There “dew” dipped leaves helping to contain gnats and fruit flies throughout the house.

That person is no longer in my life. He caused a lot of pain and confusion, and his absence is a blessing. But the love for carnivorous plants is a piece from his chapter that I am grateful for. Life can’t always be sunshine and rainbows. We need the challenges and pain to help us grow and appreciate the good things that life brings us. Since the bad times with him, I have found new love, thrived in new travel and hobbies, and have fallen even deeper down the plant rabbit hole.

Common Names: Cape Sundew

Scientific Name: Drosera capensis

Plant Family: Droseraceae (Sundew family)

Origin: Western and Eastern Cape regions of South Africa

Hardiness Zones: USDA 9–11 (Commonly grown as an indoor carnivorous plant) Does not like frost!!!

Sun Requirements:
Bright light to full sun.
Strong light encourages the plant to produce its signature sparkling “dew” droplets, which are actually sticky mucilage used to trap insects.
Indoor growers often place it in a south-facing window or under grow lights.

Watering:
High moisture needs.
Keep soil consistently moist. Think “bog”.
Best method: tray watering (place pot in a shallow tray of water)
Use distilled, rainwater, or reverse-osmosis water only!!!

❗ Avoid tap water, which contains minerals that can damage carnivorous plants.

Soil:
Carnivorous plant mix only.
Typical mix: Peat moss, Perlite, and sand.

❗ Never use regular potting soil or fertilizer!

Feeding:
This plant naturally catches small insects such as gnats and flies.
Sticky tentacles trap prey and leaves slowly curl around insects and digest them.
Indoor plants will still thrive even if they catch few insects.

Growth Habit:
Forms a low rosette of narrow leaves
Leaves are covered with red-tipped sticky tentacles (clear for Albino var.)
Produces delicate pink or purple flowers on tall stalks (or white on Albino var.)

Important Notes:
One of the easiest carnivorous plants for beginners.
Can live for many years with proper water and light.
May self-seed and produce baby plants nearby.
It is normal for leaves to curl dramatically when catching prey.

Fun Fact:
The shimmering droplets on the leaves look like morning dew, which is how sundews got their name. In reality, it’s a sticky digestive substance that turns the plant into a tiny living fly trap.