Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Fork-leaved Sundew (Drosera binata)— schedule & NPK
Also called Forked sundew.
More about fork-leaved sundew
About Fork-leaved Sundew
Drosera binata · also called Forked sundew · tropical
Drosera binata is a vigorous, easy temperate-to-subtropical sundew with tall, repeatedly forked leaves edged in glistening, insect-trapping tentacles. It thrives in bright light, permanently wet acidic peat, and pure water, catching gnats and small flies. Hardier than tropical sundews, it tolerates a light winter rest and is an excellent beginner carnivore.
Growth habit: Clumping rosette of slender, repeatedly forked (Y-shaped) leaves held upright on wiry stems, the lamina lined with dewy red tentacles.
Watch for — Leaf tips browning and dying back: Mineral build-up from tap water or fertiliser, or the peat dried out. Flush with pure water and keep permanently wet.
What fertiliser fork-leaved sundew actually wants — and why
Fork-leaved Sundew 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 fork-leaved sundew: 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 fork-leaved sundew, 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 fork-leaved sundew:
Do not fertilise the roots. It feeds itself by catching small insects; indoors, occasional rehydrated bloodworm or a fruit fly placed on the dew is plenty. Mineral fertiliser scorches the roots. 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 fork-leaved sundew 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 fork-leaved sundew
Half strength is the safe default for fork-leaved sundew — 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 fork-leaved sundew first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the fork-leaved sundew watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding fork-leaved sundew
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for fork-leaved sundew:
- 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 fork-leaved sundew
- 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 fork-leaved sundew care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of fork-leaved sundew 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 fork-leaved sundew
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 fork-leaved sundew — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does fork-leaved sundew 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. Fork-leaved Sundew 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 fork-leaved sundew?
Do not fertilise the roots. It feeds itself by catching small insects; indoors, occasional rehydrated bloodworm or a fruit fly placed on the dew is plenty. Mineral fertiliser scorches the roots. Do not fertilise the roots. It feeds itself by catching small insects; indoors, occasional rehydrated bloodworm or a fruit fly placed on the dew is plenty. Mineral fertiliser scorches the roots. 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 fork-leaved sundew?
Half strength is the safe default for fork-leaved sundew — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding fork-leaved sundew 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 fork-leaved sundew 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 fork-leaved sundew?
Flush the pot of fork-leaved sundew 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
- Fork-leaved Sundew care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water fork-leaved sundew — 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 monstera
- How to fertilise pothos
- How to fertilise fiddle leaf fig
- All 1284 fertilising guides in the Growli library