Drosera capensis (Cape Sundew)

Drosera capensis, commonly known as the Cape Sundew, is a striking carnivorous plant that captures and digests insects with its sticky, glandular leaves. It is both a fascinating specimen for botany enthusiasts and an effective natural pest controller.

Drosera capensis – Cape Sundew: An In-depth Look

Drosera capensis (Cape Sundew) features long, narrow leaves covered with red tentacle-like glands that exude a sticky, dew-like secretion. This secretion attracts and traps insects, which the plant then digests to obtain nutrients, particularly nitrogen, from habitats where it is otherwise scarce.

Native: This plant is native to South Africa, specifically the Cape region. It thrives in wetlands and marshy areas where the soil is poor in nutrients but high in moisture. It belongs to the sundew family (Droseraceae), a family of carnivorous flowering plants comprising approximately 180 species, including the popular Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula).

Plant Type and Habit: It is a carnivorous, herbaceous perennial with a rosette-forming habit. Its leaves grow from a central point, curling around trapped prey to enhance contact with its digestive enzymes. The Cape sundew is fast growing and single plants can live for many years with young suckers forming at the base.

Size: The Cape Sundew typically grows about 5-6 inches (12-15 cm) tall and wide. The size can vary with the amount of sunlight and moisture it receives.

Flowers: The plant produces clusters pink flowers on slender flower stalks, 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall from late spring into autumn. These flowers are quite pretty and contrast sharply against the carnivorous leaves below. After flowering, it produces small, black seeds in a tiny capsule. These seeds can be used for propagation. Discover unique flowers for a stunning and unforgettable garden

Foliage: Radiating from the stem, each leaf is long and narrow, typically growing to about 3 to 6 inches in length. The surface of the leaves is covered with tiny glandular hairs called tentacles, which produce a sticky, dew-like secretion. This secretion glimmers in the sunlight, giving the plant its common name, Cape Sundew.

The tips of these tentacles are adorned with a sticky substance containing digestive enzymes and mucilage. This viscous fluid serves to attract, trap, and digest insects, providing the plant with nutrients typically scarce in its native, nutrient-poor soil. When an insect is ensnared by the sticky droplets, the surrounding tentacles slowly curl inward, further entrapping the prey and bringing it into contact with more digestive glands. This movement allows for more efficient digestion of the captured insect.

The color of the leaves can range from bright green to a deep red, depending on the light exposure—the more intense the sunlight, the redder the leaves become. This color change is a response to ultraviolet light and helps protect the plant’s tissues from sun damage while enhancing its efficiency in capturing prey by making the sticky droplets even more visible.

Hardiness: Cape Sundew is relatively hardy and adaptable, suitable for growing in USDA zones 7 to 9. In cooler climates, it can be grown as an annual or maintained indoors in a terrarium to manage temperature and humidity.

Uses: Primarily used in cultivation by carnivorous plant enthusiasts and as a natural form of insect control in gardens or greenhouses. It is a conversation starter and a fascinating houseplant.

Toxicity: Drosera capensis is non-toxic to humans and pets, making it safe to grow indoors and around animals.

Invasiveness: Drosera capensis is classified as an invasive species in New Zealand, where it’s prohibited in plant retail due to its uncontrollable spread, often aided by water birds. This carnivorous plant has also been found in California and is classified as a naturalized weed.

Benefits: The main benefits include its ability to control pest populations naturally and its ornamental value as a unique and interesting plant species.

Cape Sundew: How to Grow and Care

The Cape Sundew is a striking and low-maintenance carnivorous plant that thrives in a variety of indoor environments. Here’s how to successfully grow and care for a Cape Sundew:

Light: Cape Sundew thrives in bright, indirect light. It can also tolerate direct sunlight but may need some protection from the harshest midday sun, especially in hotter climates. A sunny windowsill where it can get several hours of sunlight is perfect. If natural light is insufficient, grow lights can effectively supplement its light needs.

Soil: Use a nutrient-poor, acidic soil medium such as a mix of sphagnum peat moss and perlite or sand (in a 1:1 ratio). Avoid regular potting soil as the nutrients and fertilizers can harm the plant.

Water: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Use distilled water, rainwater, or reverse osmosis water, as tap water can contain minerals that might build up and harm the plant. A tray method can be effective, where water is kept in a tray beneath the pot, allowing the soil to wick moisture from the bottom.

Temperature: It does best in temperatures between 50°F (10°C) and 75°F (24°C). It can tolerate higher temperatures if the humidity and soil moisture are adequately maintained. The plant will go dormant if exposed to temperatures consistently below 40°F (4°C).

Humidity: Cape Sundew prefers high humidity, around 40-70%. If your home is dry, particularly in winter, use a humidity tray or a room humidifier to maintain these levels.

Fertilizer: Generally, fertilization is not necessary or recommended because the plant gets all the nutrients it needs from the insects it digests.

Pruning: It produces tall flower stalks with small pink flowers. While the flowers are pretty, allowing the plant to flower can weaken it. You can clip the flower stalks to conserve the plant’s energy for leaf production.

Propagation: Easily propagated from seeds, leaf cuttings, or by dividing the root mass during repotting. Leaf cuttings can be placed on wet sphagnum moss and covered with plastic to maintain humidity until they root.

Cape Sundew: Common Problems

The Cape Sundew is a fascinating carnivorous plant, but like all plants, it can experience some common issues. Here’s how to identify and address potential problems:

Insufficient Light

• Symptoms: Lack of dew production on the tentacles, pale or elongated leaves.
• Solution: Ensure the plant receives several hours of bright, indirect sunlight daily. If natural light is inadequate, consider using grow lights to supplement.

Poor Water Quality

• Symptoms: Brown tips on leaves, general decline in health.
• Solution: Use distilled, rainwater, or reverse osmosis water. Tap water often contains minerals and salts that can build up in the soil and harm the plant.

Overwatering or Poor Drainage

• Symptoms: Yellowing leaves, rot at the base of the plant.
• Solution: Although the soil should be kept moist, ensure it’s not waterlogged. Use a well-draining soil mix and consider the tray watering method to avoid excessive moisture at the roots.

Low Humidity

• Symptoms: Leaves drying out or the plant not producing sticky dew.
• Solution: Maintain a high humidity level around the plant using a humidity tray or a room humidifier. Enclosing the plant in a terrarium can also help maintain optimal humidity levels.

Pests

• Common Pests: Aphids, mealybugs, and thrips can infest the plant, especially under indoor conditions.
• Solution: Treat with a diluted pesticide or remove pests by hand. Do not use a soap-based insecticide.

Nutrient Issues

• Symptoms: Slow growth or lack of vigor.
• Solution: Avoid fertilizing as Drosera capensis obtains nutrients from the insects it captures. If it’s not catching enough insects, manually feeding the plant small insects can help.

Flowering Exhaustion

• Symptoms: The plant appears weakened or stressed during or after flowering.
• Solution: Since flowering can drain resources from the plant, consider cutting the flower stalks early, especially if the plant seems stressed. This redirects energy back to leaf production.