Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Lance-leaved Sundew (Drosera adelae)— schedule & NPK
Also called Lance-leaved sundew, Adelaide's sundew.
More about lance-leaved sundew
About Lance-leaved Sundew
Drosera adelae · also called Lance-leaved sundew, Adelaide's sundew · tropical
Drosera adelae is a carnivorous sundew native to the rainforest gullies of north-east Queensland, Australia, where it grows in shaded, humid conditions along stream banks. Unlike most of its tropical Australian relatives it thrives in lower light and consistent year-round moisture, making it one of the more forgiving sundews for indoor cultivation. The single most important care fact is that it must never dry out — the tray method (1–2 cm of pure water beneath the pot at all times) suits it perfectly. Drosera is not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA and is considered non-toxic to pets.
Growth habit: Rosette-forming perennial with elongated, lance-shaped leaves bearing red, sticky, glandular hairs.
Watch for — Mineral burn from tap water: Chlorine, fluoride, and dissolved salts in tap water accumulate in the nutrient-poor soil and cause leaf-tip browning and root die-back. Always use rain, distilled, or RO water.
What fertiliser lance-leaved sundew actually wants — and why
Lance-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 lance-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 lance-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 lance-leaved sundew:
Feed 2–4 times per year by placing a small live or freeze-dried insect on an active leaf; never apply soil fertiliser. 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 lance-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 lance-leaved sundew
Half strength is the safe default for lance-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 lance-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 lance-leaved sundew watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding lance-leaved sundew
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for lance-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 lance-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 lance-leaved sundew care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of lance-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 lance-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 lance-leaved sundew — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does lance-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. Lance-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 lance-leaved sundew?
Feed 2–4 times per year by placing a small live or freeze-dried insect on an active leaf; never apply soil fertiliser. Feed 2–4 times per year by placing a small live or freeze-dried insect on an active leaf; never apply soil fertiliser. 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 lance-leaved sundew?
Half strength is the safe default for lance-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 lance-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 lance-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 lance-leaved sundew?
Flush the pot of lance-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
- Lance-leaved Sundew care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water lance-leaved sundew — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
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- How to fertilise antigonon leptopus
- How to fertilise dypsis madagascariensis
- All 10153 fertilising guides in the Growli library