Seeds Sundew (Drosera capensis)

Sundew / 200 seeds / including carnivorous soil

(Drosera capensis)

The most well-known "sticky trap" in the plant kingdom!

Interesting facts: The sundew is one of the sticky traps.

Mosquitoes and fruit flies in particular, which are attracted by the honey scent of the sticky droplets on the tentacles, settle on it and then cannot get away from it. Slowly (within 2 to 3 hours) the tentacles roll up and the glands secrete digestive enzymes that break down the insect. When the humidity is a little higher, these tentacles are covered with large sticky nectar drops, with and on which the insects are attracted and caught. The flower sits on a 20-25 cm high flower stalk and appears white or pink.

There are 138 different species on all continents. This sundew, which is so easy to cultivate, with its often reddish to red tentacles, is widespread and comes from South Africa. However, it is found from Asia through the Philippines to southeast Australia.

The ideal location is bright to sunny. If the sun is very strong, the plant should be shaded if necessary. As a subtropical plant, the carnivorous plant likes to be kept warm all year round and can cope with a cool place in winter. A warmer location is just as suitable. The sundew needs a higher humidity to produce abundant droplets. 40% is enough, or you can spray the plant very lightly. Watering should always be done from below, i.e. in a saucer or similar.

For the winter dormancy, you should choose the coolest but brightest place in your home and continue to water evenly from below. Simply cut out unsightly or brown tentacles with scissors. The plant will then sprout again in spring.

It takes just half a year from sowing to flowering. The germination time when grown from fine seeds is also only 2-5 weeks. The seeds are light germinators and therefore only need to be pressed down lightly. Before this, they require a period of frost and must therefore be exposed to the cold for 2-3 weeks (e.g. refrigerator / freezer) or placed outside in winter.