Plant care
Forked Sundewtemperature & humidity
Drosera binata
More about forked sundew
Ideal temperature for forked sundew
Aim for -5 to 35°C (winter dormancy at 4–12°C) (23–95°F (winter dormancy at 39–54°F)) 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 -5°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Forked Sundew is comparatively hardy (USDA 8-10, RHS H3). 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 forked sundew
Forked Sundew sits happiest at around 50–70% relative humidity. More humidity-tolerant than many sundews — average indoor humidity of 50% on a bright windowsill is usually adequate; plants grown outdoors in temperate summers handle lower ambient humidity without issue provided the soil stays saturated. 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.
Forked Sundew temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for forked sundew?
Forked Sundew grows best between -5 to 35°C (winter dormancy at 4–12°C) (23–95°F (winter dormancy at 39–54°F)). 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 forked sundew tolerate?
Forked Sundew starts to suffer below roughly -5°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 8-10, but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does forked sundew need?
Forked Sundew prefers about 50–70% relative humidity. More humidity-tolerant than many sundews — average indoor humidity of 50% on a bright windowsill is usually adequate; plants grown outdoors in temperate summers handle lower ambient humidity without issue provided the soil stays saturated.
How do I raise humidity for forked 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 forked sundew live outside?
Forked Sundew is rated for USDA zone 8-10 and RHS hardiness H3. 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 forked sundew care
In the UK? Keeping forked 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 forked sundew care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.