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Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Pink Sundew (Drosera capillaris)— schedule & NPK

Also called pink sundew, hair-leaf sundew.

More about pink sundew

About Pink Sundew

Drosera capillaris · also called pink sundew, hair-leaf sundew · houseplant

Drosera capillaris is a small North American sundew native to wet coastal plain habitats from the southeastern United States through the Caribbean. It forms tight flat rosettes with spoon-shaped leaves bearing vivid red sticky tentacles and produces charming pink flowers on wiry scapes. It self-seeds freely and tolerates heat, making it an easy beginner carnivore.

Growth habit: Flat rosette-forming annual or short-lived perennial

What fertiliser pink sundew actually wants — and why

Pink 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 pink 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 pink 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 pink sundew:

Feed through prey capture only. Allow the plant to catch small insects naturally, or hand-feed freeze-dried bloodworms or fruit flies to one or two leaves per month during the growing season. No soil fertilisation. 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 pink 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 pink sundew

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

Signs you are over-feeding pink sundew

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for pink sundew:

Signs you are under-feeding pink sundew

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

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of pink 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 pink 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 pink sundew — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does pink 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. Pink 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 pink sundew?

Feed through prey capture only. Allow the plant to catch small insects naturally, or hand-feed freeze-dried bloodworms or fruit flies to one or two leaves per month during the growing season. No soil fertilisation. Feed through prey capture only. Allow the plant to catch small insects naturally, or hand-feed freeze-dried bloodworms or fruit flies to one or two leaves per month during the growing season. No soil fertilisation. 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 pink sundew?

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

What does over-feeding pink 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 pink 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 pink sundew?

Flush the pot of pink 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.

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