Repotting guide

When & how to repot Alice's Sundew (Drosera aliciae)

Also called Alice's sundew, Alice sundew, Alice's flytrap.

More about alice's sundew

About Alice's Sundew

Drosera aliciae · also called Alice's sundew, Alice sundew · houseplant

Alice's sundew is a compact, carnivorous rosette from South Africa's Cape, prized for spoon-shaped leaves studded with glistening, insect-trapping tentacles. It is one of the easiest sundews indoors: give it bright light, mineral-free water by the tray method, and lean peat-sand soil. ASPCA does not list it, so treat as mildly toxic and verify with your vet.

Mature size: Compact: a flat rosette roughly 5-7 cm (2-3 in) across, occasionally to 10 cm in ideal light. Slender flower stalks rise well above the foliage, typically 20-30 cm and up to 40 cm tall.

Watch for — Tentacles lose their dew / not sticky: Usually too little light, low humidity, or a recently moved plant. Increase light to a bright sunny window or grow light, keep it in one stable spot, and raise local humidity; never mist the dew off.

How to tell alice's sundew needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For alice's 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 alice's 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 alice's sundew

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded. Alice's 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, ground-hugging evergreen rosette of spoon- to wedge-shaped leaves radiating from a central crown, each covered in red, dew-tipped glandular tentacles. Old leaves are retained beneath, slowly building a small mound, and mature plants throw up a slender stalk of pink to purple flowers..

What size pot to step alice's sundew up to

Go up only one pot size — roughly 2–3 cm (about an inch) wider in diameter, no more. Alice's 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 alice's 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 alice's sundew

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for alice's 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 alice's sundew

Confirm it actually needs it. Slide alice's 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 alice's 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 nutrient-free carnivorous mix — never standard potting compost or fertilised soil, 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 alice's 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 alice's sundew

Alice's Sundew wants nutrient-free carnivorous mix — never standard potting compost or fertilised soil. A 1:1 blend of sphagnum peat and silica sand (or peat and perlite), or 100% long-fibred sphagnum moss. Use a tall pot — its few roots run long. Any compost, lime, or added nutrients will burn the roots and kill the plant. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting alice's sundew — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot alice's sundew?

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded for alice's sundew. Only repot alice's 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 nutrient-free carnivorous mix — never standard potting compost or fertilised soil. The key mistake is over-potting: a too-big pot stays wet and rots the roots.

What size pot does alice's sundew need?

When is the best time of year to repot alice's sundew?

Does alice's sundew like to be root-bound?

Yes — alice's 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 alice's sundew after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting alice's 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.