Repotting guide

When & how to repot Tropical Dewy Pine (Drosophila indica)

Also called tropical dewy pine, Indian sundew, tropical sundew.

More about tropical dewy pine

About Tropical Dewy Pine

Drosophila indica · also called tropical dewy pine, Indian sundew · houseplant

A fast-growing annual tropical sundew from Australia, India, and Southeast Asia, producing upright stems to 30 cm clothed in long, glandular leaves that glitter like dewdrops — inspiring the common name. Thrives in very bright, warm, humid conditions. Unlike temperate sundews it needs no dormancy, growing year-round in a warm windowsill or terrarium from seed.

Mature size: 15–30 cm tall, occasionally to 40 cm in ideal conditions

How to tell tropical dewy pine needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For tropical dewy pine, watch for these signs:

Roots poking out of the drainage holes or coiling visibly around the inside of the pot.
You are watering far more often than you used to because the rootball dries out within a day or two.
Water runs straight through and out the bottom without soaking in.
Top growth has slowed or new tropical dewy pine leaves are noticeably smaller than older ones despite good light.

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 tropical dewy pine

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast. Tropical Dewy Pine's growth habit — upright to scrambling annual herb; produces erect or lax stems clothed in strap-like leaves bearing long red glandular tentacles along their margins and upper surface — sets the pace. A fast-growing annual tropical sundew from Australia, India, and Southeast Asia, producing upright stems to 30 cm clothed in long, glandular leaves that glitter like dewdrops — inspiring the common name. Thrives in very bright, warm, humid conditions. Unlike temperate sundews it needs no dormancy, growing year-round in a warm windowsill or terrarium from seed.

What size pot to step tropical dewy pine up to

Step up one pot size — about 2–3 cm (an inch) wider. Tropical Dewy Pine grows fast, so it will fill that space within a season, but jumping several sizes at once still backfires: the unused soil stays soggy and rots even a vigorous root system. One size at a time, every year or so, is the rhythm.

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 tropical dewy pine

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for tropical dewy pine. 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 tropical dewy pine

Time it for spring. Repot tropical dewy pine in early spring as growth restarts so it re-roots quickly into the fresh soil.
Choose one size up. Pick a pot about 2–3 cm wider with drainage holes. One step only — a much bigger pot stays soggy and rots roots.
Ease the plant out. Water lightly the day before, then tip tropical dewy pine out and gently loosen any roots circling the bottom of the rootball.
Repot at the same depth. Put a layer of fresh 1 part unfertilised sphagnum peat to 1 part washed silica sand in the new pot, set the plant so its soil line is unchanged, and backfill, firming lightly.
Water and pause feeding. Water once to settle the soil. Hold off fertiliser for about a month — fresh mix already has nutrients and feeding now burns new roots.

Aftercare

Water tropical dewy pine once to settle the soil, then let the surface dry before watering again — fresh mix around the roots stays wetter than the old compacted ball, so the commonest post-repot mistake is overwatering. Keep it out of direct sun for a week or two while roots re-establish. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for tropical dewy pine

Tropical Dewy Pine wants 1 part unfertilised sphagnum peat to 1 part washed silica sand. Standard carnivorous plant medium. Ensure peat is unfertilised horticultural grade. Washed silica sand (not builder's sand) improves drainage and aeration. Live sphagnum moss is also suitable for surface-sowing seeds and growing small plants. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting tropical dewy pine — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot tropical dewy pine?

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast for tropical dewy pine. Repot tropical dewy pine roughly every 12–18 months, in early spring as growth restarts. It grows fast and circles its pot quickly, so step up one size (about 2–3 cm wider) into fresh 1 part unfertilised sphagnum peat to 1 part washed silica sand. Don't jump several sizes — that soggy excess soil is what rots vigorous roots.

What size pot does tropical dewy pine need?

When is the best time of year to repot tropical dewy pine?

Can you put tropical dewy pine straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing tropical dewy pine should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise tropical dewy pine after repotting?

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