Repotting guide

When & how to repot Drosera capensis 'Alba' (Drosera capensis 'Alba')

Also called White cape sundew.

More about drosera capensis 'alba'

About Drosera capensis 'Alba'

Drosera capensis 'Alba' · also called White cape sundew · tropical

Drosera capensis 'Alba' is the all-green, anthocyanin-free form of the Cape sundew from South Africa, with strap-like leaves covered in glistening sticky tentacles that curl around trapped insects. One of the easiest carnivorous plants for beginners, it grows fast, self-seeds freely, and thrives on a sunny windowsill in wet, mineral-free bog conditions.

Mature size: Leaves reach about 5-7 cm long, with the whole rosette spanning roughly 10-15 cm across; flower stalks rise to 20-30 cm.

Watch for — No dew / dry tentacles: Caused by too little light or roots drying out. Increase light and keep the pot standing in mineral-free water; healthy plants should glisten with dew.

How to tell drosera capensis 'alba' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For drosera capensis 'alba', watch for these signs:

Roots spiralling thickly out of the drainage holes or pushing the whole plant up out of the pot.
The pot is so packed that water runs straight through in seconds and barely wets the soil.
It has split a plastic pot, or the rootball is a solid mass with almost no soil left when you slide it out.
Growth and (for drosera capensis 'alba') flowering have clearly stalled despite good light and feeding — but remember this plant likes being snug, so a little crowding alone is not a reason to repot.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot drosera capensis 'alba'

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded. Drosera capensis 'Alba' is one of the plants that genuinely prefers a snug pot — it grows and flowers better with its roots a little restricted, so resist the urge to repot it on schedule. Fast-growing subtropical rosette sundew producing long, narrow strap-like leaves lined with glistening, insect-catching tentacles. It flowers readily with small white blooms and self-pollinates, scattering abundant seed; old plants develop a short upright stem of dead leaf bases..

What size pot to step drosera capensis 'alba' up to

Go up only one pot size — roughly 2–3 cm (about an inch) wider in diameter, no more. Drosera capensis 'Alba' positively prefers a snug pot: it flowers and grows better when the roots are a little restricted. The single biggest repotting mistake here is over-potting — dropping drosera capensis 'alba' into a pot two or three sizes up. All that surplus soil holds water the small root system cannot use, stays cold and wet, and rots the roots within weeks. When in doubt, choose the smaller pot.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot drosera capensis 'alba'

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for drosera capensis 'alba'. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting drosera capensis 'alba'

Confirm it actually needs it. Slide drosera capensis 'alba' out and check the roots. Only continue if it is genuinely packed — this plant prefers a snug pot, so if there is still soil and room, put it straight back.
Pick a pot only one size up. Choose a pot just 2–3 cm wider with good drainage. Resist anything bigger; over-potting is the main killer here.
Ease it out gently. Water lightly the day before, then tip drosera capensis 'alba' out, supporting the base. Tease the outer roots free only enough to stop them circling.
Repot at the same depth. Add a layer of fresh acidic, nutrient-poor carnivorous mix, set the plant so the soil line sits exactly where it did before, and backfill around the sides, firming lightly.
Settle it in. Water once to settle the soil, then let it sit. Hold off on more water until the top of the soil dries — fresh soil around a small root system stays wet for a while.

Aftercare

Because the new soil holds more water than the old crammed rootball did, ease right back on watering — let the top of the soil dry before you water drosera capensis 'alba' again, or you will rot the roots in the very pot you just moved it to. Keep it out of harsh direct sun for a fortnight. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for drosera capensis 'alba'

Drosera capensis 'Alba' wants acidic, nutrient-poor carnivorous mix. Sphagnum peat moss with horticultural sand and/or perlite, roughly 1:1, lime-free and unfertilised. Pure long-fibre sphagnum also works. Never use ordinary potting compost or any feed-enriched soil. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting drosera capensis 'alba' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot drosera capensis 'alba'?

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded for drosera capensis 'alba'. Only repot drosera capensis 'alba' every 2–4 years, and only when it is genuinely root-bound — it flowers and grows best slightly crowded. Step up just one pot size in spring using acidic, nutrient-poor carnivorous mix. The key mistake is over-potting: a too-big pot stays wet and rots the roots.

What size pot does drosera capensis 'alba' need?

When is the best time of year to repot drosera capensis 'alba'?

Does drosera capensis 'alba' like to be root-bound?

Yes — drosera capensis 'alba' genuinely flowers and grows best when slightly pot-bound, so do not rush to repot it. The mistake to avoid is over-potting into a much larger pot: the excess soil stays wet, the roots cannot use it, and the plant rots. Only repot every few years and only one snug size up.

Should you fertilise drosera capensis 'alba' after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting drosera capensis 'alba'. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.