Short-Horned Sundew (Woolly sundew) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Short-Horned Sundew burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Provide strong bright light (4–6 hours per day) but shield from intense midday tropical sun; under artificial lighting use a full-spectrum LED at roughly 20 W per sq ft, 14–16 hours daily. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering short-horned sundew: constantly moist — tray method year-round. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Sit the pot in 1–2 cm of distilled or rain water at all times; never allow the soil to dry out, and always use mineral-free water as this species is particularly sensitive to dissolved salts.

Soil and pot

Short-Horned Sundew grows best in nutrient-poor peat–sand mix. Use 2 parts peat moss to 1 part washed coarse sand or perlite; avoid compost, fertilisers, or any mineral-rich growing media. 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

Short-Horned Sundew sits happiest at around 60–90% humidity and 20–35 °C (68–95 °F). High humidity is critical; a covered terrarium or humidity tray significantly improves growth, as dry air causes leaf tips to brown and tentacle dew drops to evaporate. If you keep the room above 20–35 °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 short-horned sundew sparingly. 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. 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 short-horned sundew in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Crown rot — Caused by poor air circulation combined with standing water touching the crown; ensure airflow around the plant and keep the tray water below crown level.
• Loss of dew on tentacles — Tentacles stop producing mucilage when humidity drops below ~50% or the plant is stressed by mineral water; switch to distilled water and raise humidity to restore adhesive function.

Propagation

Leaf cuttings placed on moist sphagnum in a humid environment; seed sown on the surface of damp peat–sand mix under bright light. 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

Short-Horned Sundew is mildly toxic to pets. Drosera species are not individually listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database; they contain plumbagin (a 1,4-naphthoquinone) which can cause gastrointestinal irritation. Classify as mildly-toxic for cats and dogs until an authoritative non-toxic listing is confirmed — consult a vet if ingestion occurs. 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.

Short-Horned Sundew deep-dive guides

Every aspect of short-horned sundew care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common short-horned sundew problems & fixes
• Short-Horned Sundew watering schedule
• Short-Horned Sundew light requirements
• Best soil mix for short-horned sundew
• Short-Horned Sundew fertilizing guide
• When to repot short-horned sundew
• How to propagate short-horned sundew
• How to prune short-horned sundew
• What's eating my short-horned sundew?
• Short-Horned Sundew growth rate & size
• Short-Horned Sundew cold hardiness
• Short-Horned Sundew temperature & humidity
• Is short-horned sundew toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is short-horned sundew toxic to cats?
• Is short-horned sundew toxic to dogs?
• All 46 Drosera varieties

Featured in these plant shortlists

Short-Horned Sundew qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best small & tabletop houseplants — Compact houseplants that stay under about 40 cm — desk, shelf and windowsill plants that never outgrow a small space.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Short-Horned Sundew is also commonly called Short-horned sundew or Woolly sundew.

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