Repotting guide

When & how to repot Pink Sundew (Drosera capillaris)

Also called pink sundew, hair-leaf sundew.

More about pink sundew

About Pink Sundew

Drosera capillaris · also called pink sundew, hair-leaf sundew · houseplant

Drosera capillaris is a small North American sundew native to wet coastal plain habitats from the southeastern United States through the Caribbean. It forms tight flat rosettes with spoon-shaped leaves bearing vivid red sticky tentacles and produces charming pink flowers on wiry scapes. It self-seeds freely and tolerates heat, making it an easy beginner carnivore.

Mature size: Rosette 2-6 cm across; flower scapes to 20 cm

Watch for — Leaves flattening and losing red colour: Indicates insufficient light. Increase light intensity or duration. Plants in good light are compact and deeply red; shaded plants become green and elongated.

How to tell pink sundew needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For pink 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 pink 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 pink sundew

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded. Pink 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. Flat rosette-forming annual or short-lived perennial.

What size pot to step pink sundew up to

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

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for pink 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 pink sundew

Confirm it actually needs it. Slide pink 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 pink 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-poor peat-sand or peat-perlite 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 pink 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 pink sundew

Pink Sundew wants nutrient-poor peat-sand or peat-perlite mix. A 1:1 blend of sphagnum peat and horticultural perlite or washed silica sand is ideal. The mix must be free of fertilisers, lime, and organic matter beyond peat. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting pink sundew — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot pink sundew?

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded for pink sundew. Only repot pink 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-poor peat-sand or peat-perlite mix. The key mistake is over-potting: a too-big pot stays wet and rots the roots.

What size pot does pink sundew need?

When is the best time of year to repot pink sundew?

Does pink sundew like to be root-bound?

Yes — pink 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 pink sundew after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting pink 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.