Drosera intermedia (Oblong-leaved Sundew) care

Light

Drosera intermedia needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Full sun to very bright light; at least 4-6 hours direct. Strong light turns the leaves and tentacle drops red and keeps the rosette compact; shade gives floppy green growth. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water drosera intermedia keep permanently saturated; stand in 1-3 cm of pure water at all times during growth. 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 only rainwater, distilled, or RO water. This bog species likes wet feet and high water tables; never let the media dry out while in active growth.

Soil and pot

Drosera intermedia grows best in acidic, nutrient-poor peat and sand mix. Around 1:1 sphagnum peat to silica sand, or live sphagnum moss. No fertiliser or lime — the fine roots scorch in any enriched medium. 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

Drosera intermedia sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 18-30°C (growing); temperate forms 0-10°C winter dormancy (65-86°F (growing); temperate forms 32-50°F winter dormancy). Appreciates moderate to high humidity to keep the mucilage dewy; tolerates lower levels in bright light if the media stays saturated. Tray water plus good airflow works well. If you keep the room above 18 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 drosera intermedia sparingly. No root fertiliser. The dew traps gnats and small flies; indoors, feed occasional small insects or a light foliar misting of dilute orchid fertiliser onto the leaves at most monthly. 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 drosera intermedia in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Loss of dew — Tentacles stop producing sticky droplets when light is too low or humidity drops sharply. Increase light and keep the media constantly wet.
• Mineral water damage — Tap water builds up salts and kills the roots. Water exclusively with rain, distilled, or RO.
• Missed dormancy (temperate forms) — Temperate clones kept warm year-round decline; let them form a winter hibernaculum at cool temperatures.
• Drying out — If the tray empties, the thin leaves crisp quickly. Keep the pot standing in pure water through the growing season.

Propagation

Easily raised from seed sprinkled on damp peat (cold stratify temperate forms). Also propagates readily from leaf cuttings laid on wet media and from root cuttings; mature plants self-seed freely in cultivation. 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

Drosera intermedia is pet-safe. Drosera sundews are not classified as toxic by the ASPCA and carnivorous-plant authorities report sundews are non-toxic to cats and dogs. No toxic principle; ingesting plant material can still cause mild, temporary GI upset, so chewing should be discouraged. 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).

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.

Drosera intermedia deep-dive guides

Every aspect of drosera intermedia care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Drosera intermedia watering schedule
• Drosera intermedia light requirements
• Best soil mix for drosera intermedia
• Drosera intermedia fertilizing guide
• When to repot drosera intermedia
• How to propagate drosera intermedia
• Drosera intermedia growth rate & size
• Drosera intermedia cold hardiness
• Drosera intermedia temperature & humidity
• Is drosera intermedia toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is drosera intermedia toxic to cats?
• Is drosera intermedia toxic to dogs?
• Getting drosera intermedia to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Drosera intermedia qualifies for 10 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Best pet-safe flowering plants — Flowering houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — colour and blooms in a pet home, without the worry.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best small & tabletop houseplants — Compact houseplants that stay under about 40 cm — desk, shelf and windowsill plants that never outgrow a small space.
• Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Best small pet-safe plants — Compact, tabletop houseplants that are also ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe greenery for a desk or shelf.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Drosera intermedia is also commonly called Oblong-leaved Sundew or Spoonleaf Sundew.

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