Plant care
Drosera intermediatemperature & humidity
Drosera intermedia
More about drosera intermedia
Ideal temperature for drosera intermedia
Temperature kills fewer drosera intermedia plants than you'd think. What kills them is the micro-climate within a normal-temperature room — a leaf pressed against single-glazed winter glass, the hot dry updraft directly above a radiator, the cold blast from an AC vent. The thermostat reading at 18-30°C (growing); temperate forms 0-10°C winter dormancy (65-86°F (growing); temperate forms 32-50°F winter dormancy) is fine; the spot you put the plant in matters more. Below roughly 18°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Drosera intermedia is comparatively hardy (USDA 6-9 (temperate forms; needs cold dormancy), RHS H4). Within that range it tolerates a cold dormant spell outdoors; outside it, grow it in a container you can move under cover or overwinter in a cool but frost-free spot. Hardiness assumes an established plant in well-drained soil — a wet, cold root zone kills far more plants than cold air alone.
Humidity for drosera intermedia
Drosera intermedia sits happiest at around 50-70% relative humidity. Appreciates moderate to high humidity to keep the mucilage dewy; tolerates lower levels in bright light if the media stays saturated. Tray water plus good airflow works well. 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.
Drosera intermedia temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for drosera intermedia?
Drosera intermedia grows best between 18-30°C (growing); temperate forms 0-10°C winter dormancy (65-86°F (growing); temperate forms 32-50°F winter dormancy). 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 drosera intermedia tolerate?
Drosera intermedia starts to suffer below roughly 18°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 6-9 (temperate forms; needs cold dormancy), but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does drosera intermedia need?
Drosera intermedia prefers about 50-70% relative humidity. Appreciates moderate to high humidity to keep the mucilage dewy; tolerates lower levels in bright light if the media stays saturated. Tray water plus good airflow works well.
How do I raise humidity for drosera intermedia?
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 drosera intermedia live outside?
Drosera intermedia is rated for USDA zone 6-9 (temperate forms; needs cold dormancy) and RHS hardiness H4. Within that range it can stay outdoors; outside it, grow it in a moveable container and protect the roots from a wet, cold winter.
More drosera intermedia care
In the UK? Keeping drosera intermedia warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full drosera intermedia care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.