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Plant care

Lance-leaved Sundew (Adelaide's sundew) care

Drosera adelae

Also called Lance-leaved sundew, Adelaide's sundew.

RHS H1bUSDA 10-12Pet-safeIndoor Rosettes 15–20 cm in diameter with leaves up to 15 cm long.

Watering rhythm

Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)

Keep tray topped up year-round

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Light

Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)

Soil

Carnivore mix — peat or coir with perlite or pure sphagnum

Humidity

60–90%

Temp

15–30 °C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

Rosettes 15–20 cm in diameter with leaves up to 15 cm long.

Care at a glance

Light

Lance-leaved Sundew wants the spot a few feet back from a sunny window — bright enough to read a paperback at noon, but the sun never falls directly on the leaves. Prefers bright but indirect light — 2,000–5,000 lux is ideal; direct midday sun scorches the leaves. A north- or east-facing windowsill, or a grow light at 30 cm distance for 12–14 hours daily, works well. A faint hand shadow at midday is the right amount; a sharp dark shadow means it's getting direct sun and probably too much.

Watering

Water lance-leaved sundew keep tray topped up year-round. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Use the tray method with 1–2 cm of rain water, distilled water, or reverse-osmosis water at all times. Tap water contains minerals that accumulate and damage roots; never use it.

Soil and pot

Lance-leaved Sundew grows best in carnivore mix — peat or coir with perlite or pure sphagnum. A 1:1 blend of peat and perlite, or live/dried long-fibre sphagnum moss, is ideal. The mix must be nutrient-free; standard potting compost or added fertiliser will kill the plant. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Lance-leaved Sundew sits happiest at around 60–90% humidity and 15–30 °C (59–86 °F). High humidity suits this rainforest species; below 50% the leaf margins crisp and dew production drops. A humidity tray or a partially enclosed terrarium maintains suitable levels without sealing the plant completely. If you keep the room above 15–30 °C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed lance-leaved sundew sparingly. Feed 2–4 times per year by placing a small live or freeze-dried insect on an active leaf; never apply soil fertiliser. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on lance-leaved sundew in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • 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.
  • Loss of dew / trap failure — When glands stop producing sticky mucilage the plant is usually stressed by low humidity, excess light, or root damage. Raise humidity, move to a shadier spot, and check for root rot caused by stagnant (not fresh) water in the tray.

Propagation

Easily propagated by leaf pullings (remove a healthy leaf at the base and lay it flat on moist sphagnum) or root cuttings; plantlets emerge within 4–8 weeks. Also spreads naturally by root division. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Lance-leaved Sundew is pet-safe. Drosera adelae is not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA. The sticky mucilage may cause minor mouth irritation if chewed, but no toxic principles are documented; the plant is considered non-toxic to pets. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435 in the US, or Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000 in the UK).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Lance-leaved Sundew care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Drosera adelae?

Drosera adelae is most commonly called Lance-leaved Sundew, but it is also known as Lance-leaved sundew, Adelaide's sundew. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Lance-leaved Sundew apply identically to anything sold as Adelaide's sundew.

How much light does lance-leaved sundew need?

Lance-leaved Sundew grows best in medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window). Prefers bright but indirect light — 2,000–5,000 lux is ideal; direct midday sun scorches the leaves. A north- or east-facing windowsill, or a grow light at 30 cm distance for 12–14 hours daily, works well.

How often should I water lance-leaved sundew?

Water lance-leaved sundew keep tray topped up year-round. Use the tray method with 1–2 cm of rain water, distilled water, or reverse-osmosis water at all times. Tap water contains minerals that accumulate and damage roots; never use it. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is lance-leaved sundew toxic to cats and dogs?

Lance-leaved Sundew is pet-safe. Drosera adelae is not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA. The sticky mucilage may cause minor mouth irritation if chewed, but no toxic principles are documented; the plant is considered non-toxic to pets.

What USDA hardiness zone does lance-leaved sundew grow in?

Lance-leaved Sundew is rated for USDA zone 10-12 (indoor in most climates) and RHS hardiness H1b. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Lance-leaved Sundew deep-dive guides

Every aspect of lance-leaved sundew care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Lance-leaved Sundew qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Lance-leaved Sundew is also commonly called Lance-leaved sundew or Adelaide's sundew.