Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Drosera burmanni (Drosera burmanni)— schedule & NPK
Also called Tropical Sundew, Burmann's Sundew.
More about drosera burmanni
About Drosera burmanni
Drosera burmanni · also called Tropical Sundew, Burmann's Sundew · houseplant
Drosera burmannii is a small, fast-growing tropical annual-to-short-lived sundew from Asia and Australia, forming tight rosettes whose marginal tentacles snap inward on prey in seconds — among the quickest of any sundew. Easy and rewarding, it grows year-round without dormancy, wants strong light, constant moisture, pure water, and acidic peat-sand media.
Growth habit: Small tropical annual or short-lived perennial forming flat, near-stemless rosettes; grows and flowers rapidly, then sets abundant seed within a single season.
What fertiliser drosera burmanni actually wants — and why
Drosera burmanni is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for drosera burmanni: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed drosera burmanni, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For drosera burmanni:
No root fertiliser. Its fast tentacles catch gnats and small flies; indoors, offer tiny insects or a very dilute foliar orchid-fertiliser mist onto the leaves at most every few weeks during active growth. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when drosera burmanni is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for drosera burmanni
Half strength is the safe default for drosera burmanni — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water drosera burmanni first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the drosera burmanni watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding drosera burmanni
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for drosera burmanni:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding drosera burmanni
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full drosera burmanni care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of drosera burmanni with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for drosera burmanni
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising drosera burmanni — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does drosera burmanni need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Drosera burmanni is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed drosera burmanni?
No root fertiliser. Its fast tentacles catch gnats and small flies; indoors, offer tiny insects or a very dilute foliar orchid-fertiliser mist onto the leaves at most every few weeks during active growth. No root fertiliser. Its fast tentacles catch gnats and small flies; indoors, offer tiny insects or a very dilute foliar orchid-fertiliser mist onto the leaves at most every few weeks during active growth. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for drosera burmanni?
Half strength is the safe default for drosera burmanni — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding drosera burmanni look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding drosera burmanni year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of drosera burmanni?
Flush the pot of drosera burmanni with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Drosera burmanni care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water drosera burmanni — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 3899 fertilising guides in the Growli library