How to Replant Drosera Capensis

Drosera capensis is also known as the cape sundew. Sundews are carniverous plants with long stems that terminate in wide sticky pads. The sundew lures and catches insects to supplement its nitrogen needs, since the soil it grows in is nutrient poor. Native to South America, the plant is a perennial which has sticky hairs on the leaves or pads, which are coated in a sweet sap. These hairs capture prey and then the pad folds over the insect. The plant then digests the insect. Drosera capensis likes mildly acidic, wet soils, such as peat moss. Repot sundews when they are dormant and roots are beginning to show.

Pot
Peat moss
Sand
Tray
Distilled or rain water

Instructions

- 1
  Chose a pot that is just slightly larger than the previous housing for the plant. Cape sundew has a moderate to slow growth rate and will not outgrow the pot quickly. Transplant in the dormant winter months.
- 2
  Fill the pot with a 2 part peat moss and 1 part sand mixture. This will ensure acidic conditions and good drainage so the crown of the plant is not growing in a boggy medium.
- 3
  Remove the Drosera capensis from its previous pot and gently shake off the old soil. Dig a hole in the pot just large enough for the roots and spread them out in the hole. Situate the plant with the stem above the soil line and fill in around the roots with the medium.
- 4
  Place the pot in full sun to partial shade on a tray. Fill the tray with 1/2 inch of water. Use distilled or rain water as the plant is sensitive to excess minerals often found in tap water.
- 5
  Reduce water in the winter months. Alternate between dry and wet periods. Divide the plant every two or three years as needed during the repotting process by cutting the root ball into two pieces and planting each as a separate plant.

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