Sundew is a carnivorous plant that traps small insects with its sticky hairs. Those who pass too close to him are thus stuck and ingested. Its natural habitat is in marshy areas. The sundew is nonetheless an aesthetic plant that will find its place perfectly in your interior. Here are all our tips for growing sundew.
Where, when and how to plant sundew?
The ideal time to plant sundew is in early spring, between March and April. Your substrate should be close to the bog of its natural environment. If you buy your pot at another time, you will repot your plant in peat next spring.
The pot should be wide and deep. The soil will be composed of 70% peat and 30% river sand to lighten the whole thing. It is therefore a poor and humid substrate, but this corresponds more or less to the swamps in which it lives.
The substrate must therefore remain moist during planting, but also on a daily basis by soaking the pot.
Choose a sunny position, especially during winter. But be careful, no hot sun. Ideally place the pot behind a window on the south side.
The interview
Although the sundew comes from swamps, it does not like water sprays at all. Indeed, the water cancels the sticky effect of the hairs. Without this glue, the plant cannot feed, because the insects will not get trapped.
You just have to keep the substrate moist at all times. During the summer season, place a pot in a cup filled with water.
Carry out a repotting every 4 years by completely renewing the substrate.
How does the sundew trap its prey?
The droplets you can see on the sundew are actually small, sticky tentacles. These droplets are activated as soon as an insect brushes against them. Once glued, the tentacle will wrap around the insect and release digestive juices to “ingest” the little beast.