Repotting guide

When & how to repot Lance-leaved Sundew (Drosera adelae)

Also called Lance-leaved sundew, Lance-leaf sundew, Sword sundew.

More about lance-leaved sundew

About Lance-leaved Sundew

Drosera adelae · also called Lance-leaved sundew, Lance-leaf sundew · houseplant

Drosera adelae, the lance-leaved sundew, is a beginner-friendly carnivorous houseplant from Queensland, Australia. Its sword-shaped leaves are covered in glistening, sticky tentacles that trap small insects. Grow it in wet sphagnum, bright light, and pure rain or distilled water, with no dormancy. Not ASPCA-listed; treat as mildly toxic and check with a vet.

Mature size: Leaves roughly 8-15 cm (3-6 in) long; individual rosettes about 5-10 cm (2-4 in) across, spreading into a wider clump over time as root plantlets fill the pot.

Watch for — Leaves go long, green, and floppy: Stretched, pale, dew-poor leaves with no red colour mean insufficient light. Give brighter light or 8-12 hours under a grow light to restore compact, reddish, well-armed growth.

How to tell lance-leaved sundew needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For lance-leaved sundew, 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 lance-leaved sundew) 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 lance-leaved sundew

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded. Lance-leaved Sundew 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. Low, clumping rosette of upright, sword- or lance-shaped leaves that flatten as they mature, each densely covered in red, mucilage-tipped tentacles. Readily produces plantlets along its shallow roots, slowly forming a dense colony. Evergreen and tropical, with no winter dormancy..

What size pot to step lance-leaved sundew up to

Go up only one pot size — roughly 2–3 cm (about an inch) wider in diameter, no more. Lance-leaved Sundew 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 lance-leaved sundew 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 lance-leaved sundew

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for lance-leaved sundew. 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 lance-leaved sundew

Confirm it actually needs it. Slide lance-leaved sundew 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 lance-leaved sundew 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 pure long-fibred sphagnum moss (or a 1:1 peat-and-perlite/silica-sand 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 lance-leaved sundew 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 lance-leaved sundew

Lance-leaved Sundew wants pure long-fibred sphagnum moss (or a 1:1 peat-and-perlite/silica-sand carnivorous mix). Use only nutrient-free, lime-free media; never standard potting soil or fertiliser-enriched compost, which burns the roots. Long-fibred sphagnum is the preferred medium; a peat moss and washed silica sand or perlite blend also works. Pot at least 5 inches tall to hold moisture and the spreading root system. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting lance-leaved sundew — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot lance-leaved sundew?

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded for lance-leaved sundew. Only repot lance-leaved sundew 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 pure long-fibred sphagnum moss (or a 1:1 peat-and-perlite/silica-sand carnivorous mix). The key mistake is over-potting: a too-big pot stays wet and rots the roots.

What size pot does lance-leaved sundew need?

When is the best time of year to repot lance-leaved sundew?

Does lance-leaved sundew like to be root-bound?

Yes — lance-leaved sundew 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 lance-leaved sundew after repotting?

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