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Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Short-Horned Sundew (Drosera brevicornis)— schedule & NPK

Also called Short-horned sundew, Woolly sundew.

More about short-horned sundew

About Short-Horned Sundew

Drosera brevicornis · also called Short-horned sundew, Woolly sundew · tropical

Drosera brevicornis is a small tropical carnivorous perennial in section Lasiocephala, native to the Northern Territory and far north-west Queensland in Australia, where it grows on gravel slopes, creek banks, and shallow depressions in seasonally wet savanna. Unlike most sundews it has no dormancy period and demands consistently warm temperatures year-round — never let it drop below 20 °C. The petioles and leaf margins are covered in dense silky hairs that help trap moisture in the hot inter-monsoon period; keep humidity high and the soil permanently wet. Drosera is not listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database, but sundews contain plumbagin; classify as mildly-toxic until an authoritative listing confirms otherwise.

Growth habit: Low-growing perennial rosette with spreading peltate-glandular leaves on densely hairy petioles, no dormancy.

What fertiliser short-horned sundew actually wants — and why

Short-Horned 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 short-horned 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 short-horned 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 short-horned sundew:

Feed sparingly by placing 2–3 small live insects or dried bloodworms on the leaves once or twice a month during active growth; liquid fertiliser diluted to 1/4 strength can be misted on leaves monthly. Treat that as monthly 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 short-horned 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 short-horned sundew

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

Signs you are over-feeding short-horned sundew

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

Signs you are under-feeding short-horned sundew

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

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of short-horned 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 short-horned 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 short-horned sundew — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does short-horned 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. Short-Horned 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 short-horned sundew?

Feed sparingly by placing 2–3 small live insects or dried bloodworms on the leaves once or twice a month during active growth; liquid fertiliser diluted to 1/4 strength can be misted on leaves monthly. Feed sparingly by placing 2–3 small live insects or dried bloodworms on the leaves once or twice a month during active growth; liquid fertiliser diluted to 1/4 strength can be misted on leaves monthly. Treat that as monthly 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 short-horned sundew?

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

What does over-feeding short-horned 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 short-horned 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 short-horned sundew?

Flush the pot of short-horned 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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