How to Propagate Sundew
Drosera spp.
| Methods | Leaf cutting, seed, division |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Best season | Spring |
| Time to root | 4–8 weeks |
| Group | Houseplant |
Like Venus flytrap, sundew requires mineral-free water and media. Leaf cuttings laid flat on damp sphagnum, kept humid, are the most reliable method for most species.
Leaf cutting
- Remove a healthy leaf.
- Lay it flat on the surface of moist, mineral-free sphagnum moss.
- Keep humid and in bright indirect light.
Small plantlets emerge along the leaf in 4–8 weeks.
Division
Some species form multiple crowns that can be separated during repotting.
When to propagate
Spring, in stable warm, humid conditions.
Common problems
Leaf rotted instead of sprouting. Tap water minerals are a common cause — use only distilled or rainwater.
Questions people ask
Do I need to feed it insects for the cutting to survive? No — a new plantlet gets enough energy from light for its first stages of growth.
Related
Similar plants: Venus Flytrap, Tropical Pitcher Plant