Drosera capensis (Cape Sundew)

Botanical & Common Names
- Botanical name: Drosera capensis
- Common names: Cape Sundew

Background & Origin
Drosera capensis alba, commonly known as the Cape Sundew, is a carnivorous plant native to South Africa. Part of the Drosera genus, which includes nearly 200 species found across Europe, Australasia, and Africa, this sundew uses sticky hairs along its leaves to trap and digest small insects for nutrients. The alba variety features striking pale foliage, making it both a functional and visually appealing addition to greenhouses, terrariums, or bright indoor spaces.

Care Level
- Care level: Moderate
- Suitable for beginners: Follow care instructions

What It Loves
- Bright warm spot
- Rain water
- Moist soil

What It Dislikes
- Dry soil
- Dark spots
- Tap water
- Being poked and prodded

Best Rooms for This Plant
- Bedroom
- Living room
- Office
- Conservatory

Growth Potential
- Typical height indoors: Up to 10-15 cm tall with time
- Typical spread: Up to 10-15 cm wide
- Growth rate: Moderate to fast in growing season
- Pruning required: Occasional, to manage dead foliage

Is This Plant Right for You?
This plant is a great choice if you:
- Love unusual, conversation-starting plants
- Have a bright spot to show it off
- Appreciate plants with personality
- Don’t mind giving a little extra attention

Light
- Best light: Bright warm spot with direct sunlight 4-6 hours a day.
- Avoid: dark shady spot

Watering
- Frequency: Never allow this plant to dry out. Place pot in a saucer of water. Use distilled water or ideally rainwater. Avoid flooding the top of the soil with water- water from below in a dish is best.
- Seasonal note: Reduce watering in winter when growth slows to almost none and keep in a cool place.

Humidity
- Prefers: High humidity
- Extra humidity helpful?: Thrives with added moisture in the air — try grouping plants together, placing in kitchens or bathrooms, or using a humidifier to create a more comfortable, tropical feel.

Feeding
- Feed with: Insects
- Frequency: Feed with insects every 2-4 weeks during the growing season, careful not to over feed. This plants are normally quite good at catching their own insects.

Toxicity
- Pet safe: No
- Notes: Keep out of reach of pets and small children

Repotting
- How often: Signs of Overcrowding: Repot when the pot becomes crowded or when the plant outgrows its current container. Use a mixture of sphagnum moss and perlite in a ratio of 1:1.

Autumn/Winter: Foliage can fall off or go brown, at this point cut off the old foliage. this is nothing to worry about.
They need a winters rest - can start to grow back in about February.