Repotting guide

When & how to repot Short-Horned Sundew (Drosera brevicornis)

Also called Short-horned sundew, Woolly sundew.

More about short-horned sundew

About Short-Horned Sundew

Drosera brevicornis · also called Short-horned sundew, Woolly sundew · tropical

Drosera brevicornis is a small tropical carnivorous perennial in section Lasiocephala, native to the Northern Territory and far north-west Queensland in Australia, where it grows on gravel slopes, creek banks, and shallow depressions in seasonally wet savanna. Unlike most sundews it has no dormancy period and demands consistently warm temperatures year-round — never let it drop below 20 °C. The petioles and leaf margins are covered in dense silky hairs that help trap moisture in the hot inter-monsoon period; keep humidity high and the soil permanently wet. Drosera is not listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database, but sundews contain plumbagin; classify as mildly-toxic until an authoritative listing confirms otherwise.

Mature size: Rosettes typically 3–8 cm in diameter.

How to tell short-horned sundew needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For short-horned 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 short-horned 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 short-horned sundew

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded. Short-Horned 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-growing perennial rosette with spreading peltate-glandular leaves on densely hairy petioles, no dormancy..

What size pot to step short-horned sundew up to

Go up only one pot size — roughly 2–3 cm (about an inch) wider in diameter, no more. Short-Horned 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 short-horned 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 short-horned sundew

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for short-horned 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 short-horned sundew

Confirm it actually needs it. Slide short-horned 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 short-horned 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 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 short-horned 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 short-horned sundew

Short-Horned Sundew wants 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. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting short-horned sundew — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot short-horned sundew?

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

What size pot does short-horned sundew need?

When is the best time of year to repot short-horned sundew?

Does short-horned sundew like to be root-bound?

Yes — short-horned 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 short-horned sundew after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting short-horned 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.