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Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Drosera capensis 'Red' (Drosera capensis 'Red')— schedule & NPK

Also called Red Cape Sundew, All-Red Cape Sundew.

More about drosera capensis 'red'

About Drosera capensis 'Red'

Drosera capensis 'Red' · also called Red Cape Sundew, All-Red Cape Sundew · houseplant

Drosera capensis 'Red' is an all-red form of the Cape sundew from South Africa, whose strap-like leaves are coated in glistening, insect-catching tentacles that flush deep burgundy in strong light. It is one of the easiest carnivorous plants: give it bright sun, permanently wet mineral-free media watered with pure water, and it thrives and self-seeds readily.

Growth habit: Subtropical rosette sundew with long, narrow strap leaves to about 5-7 cm, densely tentacled and curling around captured prey. Forms a short stem over time and flowers freely with pink-purple blooms.

What fertiliser drosera capensis 'red' actually wants — and why

Drosera capensis 'Red' 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 capensis 'red': 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 capensis 'red', 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 capensis 'red':

Never feed the roots. It catches its own insects on its sticky leaves; indoors you can feed a leaf a small rehydrated insect or a few crumbs of fish food occasionally. No fertiliser in the media. 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 capensis 'red' 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 capensis 'red'

Half strength is the safe default for drosera capensis 'red' — 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 capensis 'red' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the drosera capensis 'red' watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding drosera capensis 'red'

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for drosera capensis 'red':

Signs you are under-feeding drosera capensis 'red'

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full drosera capensis 'red' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of drosera capensis 'red' 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 capensis 'red'

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 capensis 'red' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does drosera capensis 'red' 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 capensis 'Red' 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 capensis 'red'?

Never feed the roots. It catches its own insects on its sticky leaves; indoors you can feed a leaf a small rehydrated insect or a few crumbs of fish food occasionally. No fertiliser in the media. Never feed the roots. It catches its own insects on its sticky leaves; indoors you can feed a leaf a small rehydrated insect or a few crumbs of fish food occasionally. No fertiliser in the media. 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 capensis 'red'?

Half strength is the safe default for drosera capensis 'red' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.

What does over-feeding drosera capensis 'red' 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 capensis 'red' 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 capensis 'red'?

Flush the pot of drosera capensis 'red' 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.

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