Care Guide | Sundews

You may have become intrigued with carnivorous plants after watching the 60s cult classic The Little Shop of Horrors. Or perhaps you’ve seen a sticky sundew leaf slowly curl around an unlucky insect. Either way, you’ve probably realized these plants aren’t dangerous monsters—but they are fascinating. Here’s what you should know about sundews and how to care for them.

Characteristics

Sundews are small, low-growing carnivorous plants known for their glistening, sticky tentacles that trap insects.

Each leaf is covered in tiny glandular hairs tipped with a droplet of sticky “dew.” When an insect lands, it becomes stuck, and the leaf may slowly curl around it to aid digestion.

They typically stay compact but vary widely depending on the species. Some form flat rosettes, while others grow upright or vine-like. Sundews are found worldwide, especially in nutrient-poor, acidic wetlands, and are highly adapted to these conditions.

Popular Varieties

Overview

🏷️ Scientific Name: Drosera spp.
📊 Classification: Carnivorous perennial plant
📍 Origin: Worldwide (especially wetlands and bogs)
🗺️ USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies by species (many 7–11 equivalent)
📏 Height Potential: 1–12+ inches depending on type
🏡 Planting: Indoors or outdoors (with strong light)
☀️ Light: Full sun to bright light
💧 Soil/Watering: Nutrient-poor, consistently moist (pure water only)
🍴 Fertilizer: None required
✂️ Pruning: Remove dead leaves
❄️ Cold Weather Care: Some species require dormancy
🍎 Feeding: Small insects or carnivorous plant food
🕷️ Common Pests: Aphids, fungus gnats, spider mites
🐈 Toxic to Pets? No

Scientific Name

Sundews belong to the Droseraceae family and the genus Drosera, which includes over 150 species. This diversity makes them one of the largest groups of carnivorous plants.

Classification

Sundews are carnivorous perennials that trap insects using sticky mucilage instead of snapping traps. Once prey is captured, enzymes break it down and nutrients are absorbed through the leaf.

Unlike flytraps, sundew leaves can move slowly, curling around prey to improve digestion.

USDA Hardiness Zones

Most sundews grow best in USDA Zones 7–10. They can tolerate mild winters but require a cold dormancy period each year. Most can be grown indoors anywhere with proper conditions.

Plants have a culture they prefer, just as people from various countries and households have their own customs and traditions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture created the USDA hardiness zone map to help gardeners identify the areas in which plants tend to grow well based on past average temperatures/climates. On the USDA's site, you can enter your zip code to identify your hardiness zone. No fear if you live outside the hardiness zone—you can make adjustments to help it thrive. The most important is protecting it from temperature extremes.

Height Potential

Sundews vary greatly in size: Small species: 1–3 inches, Medium: 4–8 inches, and Larger types: up to 12+ inches. They may spread over time, forming clusters or colonies.

Planting

Plant sundews in containers or bog-style setups, using shallow pots with good drainage.

Light

Sundews thrive in full sun and require minimum 4–6 hours of direct sunlight daily. More light results in stronger growth and vibrant coloration. For the healthiest plants, provide 12 hours of light and 4 hours of direct sun during the spring through fall, sundews' active growing season. If grown indoors, a strong grow light is essential for healthy development. If they don't get sufficient light, their growth may be weak and they may have little to no sticky dew to trap insects. 

Soil/Watering

Sundews require nutrient-poor, acidic soil and pure water. Use only soil that has no fertilizer added. Peat moss with some perlite or long-fiber sphagnum moss are the most common choices. Never use standard potting soil or fertilizer, as excess nutrients will damage the plant. 

Keep soil consistently moist. Carnivorous plants do best when saturated in water. Use distilled, filtered, or rainwater for best results. Plant in a pot with holes and then place it in a saucer or tray of water. Keep water in the tray filled to keep the pot in about 1/4 inch of water. 

Fertilizer

Do not fertilize sundews. They obtain nutrients from insects. Fertilizer can damage or kill the plant.

Pruning

Minimal pruning is required. Remove blackened or dead leaves to keep the plant healthy and prevent mold. Leaves naturally die off after several uses.

Cold Weather Care

Most sundews require a winter dormancy period lasting 3–4 months. During this time, growth slows and some growth may die back.

Keep plants in a cool environment between 35–55°F. Reduce watering slightly but keep the soil damp. Protect from hard freezes, especially in containers.

Feeding

If grown outdoors, Sundews will catch their own food. Indoors, you can feed them small insects like flies, spiders, or carnivorous plant food. Avoid overfeeding as too much can stress the plant.

Common Pests

Sundews can occasionally attract aphids, spider mites, and fungus gnats. These can be managed with neem oil and insecticidal soap or by improving airflow and growing conditions.

Toxic to Pets?

Sundews are not toxic to pets. However, they are delicate and can be easily damaged by curious animals.

After Arrival Care

Please give your plant a little TLC after its journey through the mail 📬. Here are a few steps we recommend:

• Unwrap immediately to provide fresh air to the plant and soil.
• Wait a few days before exposing to full sunlight so your plant can adjust after being in a dark box for several days.
• Always protect from heat and cold because temperature extremes can be stressful or deadly for plants.
• Water. Your baby plant may be parched and even a little wilted but thorough hydration will help it recover.
• Grow out in a larger pot to increase your chances of success—i.e., a quarter gallon—Then transplant to the ground or the next pot size up once the roots fill to the bottom. This will help the plant get sufficient water and nutrients directly to the roots.

Learn more in our After Arrival Care Guide. 

Repotting

We highly recommend growing your baby plant out in a larger pot 🪴 to increase your chances of success 🏆. Repotting helps focus the water and nutrients directly towards the roots. If the pot is too large or if your baby is planted in the ground, the water and nutrients have more room to spread to the wrong places where they aren’t needed. This can be extra detrimental to a baby plant that needs all the support it can get as it’s growing up.

You don’t have to repot immediately, but the sooner you do, the more room it has to grow. 

Here are some general repotting tips:

• Start with a pot that's 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the starter-sized pot it came in. A pint or quart would be great.
• Transplant to the next pot size up once the roots fill to the bottom.

Learn more in our Repotting Guide. 

Grow Your Own Sundews

Start or continue growing your Sundew collection with Wellspring Gardens.

Happy planting! 🪴