Plant care
Derby Sundewtemperature & humidity
Drosera derbyensis
More about derby sundew
Ideal temperature for derby sundew
Aim for 20–40 °C (growing); 18–28 °C (rest) (68–104 °F (growing); 64–82 °F (rest)) on the thermostat and you've handled the easy part. The hard part is the half-metre around the plant: window glass that drops to near-freezing on a January night, a radiator pumping out hot dry air, a draught from an opened front door. Move the plant 30 cm and you've usually fixed the problem. Below roughly 20°C the damage starts — soft blackened patches, translucent leaves, sometimes overnight.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Derby Sundew is frost-tender (USDA 10-12 (indoor in most climates), RHS H1b). It cannot survive a frost, so in most of the US and UK it lives indoors year-round or summers outside and comes back in well before the first autumn frost — once nights drop toward 10-12°C is the cue, not the first frost warning. Acclimate it over a week when moving between indoors and out so the leaves do not shock.
Humidity for derby sundew
Derby Sundew sits happiest at around 55–85% (growing); 35–55% (rest) relative humidity. Moderate-to-high humidity during the wet growing season supports robust leaf development and copious sticky mucilage. During the dry rest, reduced humidity (combined with warmth) is beneficial and reduces the risk of fungal crown rot. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Derby Sundew temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for derby sundew?
Derby Sundew grows best between 20–40 °C (growing); 18–28 °C (rest) (68–104 °F (growing); 64–82 °F (rest)). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can derby sundew tolerate?
Derby Sundew starts to suffer below roughly 20°C. It is frost-tender and will be damaged or killed by a frost, so bring it indoors once nights fall toward 10-12°C.
What humidity does derby sundew need?
Derby Sundew prefers about 55–85% (growing); 35–55% (rest) relative humidity. Moderate-to-high humidity during the wet growing season supports robust leaf development and copious sticky mucilage. During the dry rest, reduced humidity (combined with warmth) is beneficial and reduces the risk of fungal crown rot.
How do I raise humidity for derby sundew?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can derby sundew live outside?
Derby Sundew is rated for USDA zone 10-12 (indoor in most climates) and RHS hardiness H1b. Outside that range it must come indoors before the first frost — treat any outdoor stint as a summer holiday, not a permanent home.
More derby sundew care
In the UK? Keeping derby sundew warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full derby sundew care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.