SUNDEWS Page Index - Introduction - What are Sundews? - How do they capture insects? - What species are suitable for cultivation in Malaysia? - Cultivation guide Introduction D. burmanii Sundews are another group of interesting carnivorous plants that I am very excited about. I will expand this section and update it as I acquire more experience and knowledge growing them. Sundew plants grow in areas similar to Pitcher Plants and other carnivorous plants in hot, humid bogs and swamps. They are widely distributed and can be found in almost every continent in the world except the north and south poles. There are more than 160 species of Sundews in the world and many new species are being found as more enthusiasts and botanist search the world for them. So no matter where you are in the world, you will most probably find Sundews where you are. [ Back to top ] What are Sundews? D. spathulata Sundews or Drosera are also carnivorous plants. They too actively lure, capture, kill and digest insect for growth and survival. However, they do not produce “pitchers” to capture insects but uses an active glue trap. This trap is in the form of tiny tentacles on their leaves. At the end of each tentacle the plant produces a droplet of sticky substance that looks like morning dew when the sun shines on it. The droplets of “dews” promise sweet delicious nectar to unsuspecting insects. Their tentacle-covered leaves comes in various shapes and forms making them a very interesting plant to cultivate. [ Back to top ] How do they capture insects? Nothing about the Sundew plant suggests the horrors of its carnivorous nature to the insect world, but by the time an insect finds out the truth about its murderous intent, it is already too late. When an insect lands on the Sundew, it will find itself caught in the sticky substance of the “dews” at the tip of each tiny tentacles on the leaves. As the insect struggles to free itself, more sticky tentacles around the insect would slowly move towards the insect to prevent its escape. The sticky glue suffocates and kills the insect and the plant secretes burning acids and enzymes that slowly breakdown the insect body. The insect’s bodily fluid is then released and the plant reabsorbs this rich nutrient to help in growth. Some species have rather dramatic movement such as D. burmanni, a tropical species and D. scorpiodes, a “giant” pygmy species. They are able to curl around an insect within a minute. The Sundew’s movement abilities is different from species to species. Many are able to curl their leaves around an insect. Others are just able to move their tentacles. Still others are able to grab the insect like a clenched fist. D. madagascarinsis Unlike the Pitcher Plant fluid that drowns the insects within seconds, insects that are caught by a Sundew might struggle a horrible few days before it dies. In those long few days, its bodily fluids are slowly being drained out. This happens when only part of the insect body is caught on the Sundew while the other half hangs in mid air. Sometimes I wonder what thoughts and nightmares the insect goes through in those long few days before its demise. A truly horrible experience I would not want to go through myself. [ Back to top ] What species are suitable for cultivation in Malaysia? There are many species of Sundews from all over the world. Therefore it is important to find out which location the plants originated from and match their climate or growing environment from where you are. The list below is compiled from information I found from books, the Internet and other growers. They are mainly tropical or sub-tropical species. Currently I am trying to grow some of them and will update this section on which species grows best in Malaysia. I would appreciate your feedback if the information here is found to be wrong or if you would like to add to my list. My email is david "at" petpitcher "dot" "com". - D. adelae - D. anglica (Hawaii) - D. burmanni - D. backsii - D. capensis - D. cuneifolia - D. dielsiana - D. intermedia (Cuba) - D. indica - D. prolifera - D. petiolaris - D. peltata - D. spatulata - D. slackii - D. schizandra - D. venusta [ Back to top ] Cultivation Guide Below is the basic cultivation information for growing Sundews. I grow my Sundews under artificial lighting in the house. Light Sundews need lots of light and sun. Only a few species prefer to be shaded. If they do not receive enough sun, they may not produce dews that made them so pretty and their colour will not be vibrant. If they are grown in a terrarium or under artificial lights, they have to be placed within inches of the lights or they won’t grow as robust and colourful as they should be. Humidity Humidity has to be high but there must be some flow of air unlike Pitcher Plants that loves stale humid air. Do not grow Sundews in an air-conditioned room unless you grow them in a terrarium to protect them from the air in an air-conditioned room. Water Generally, Sundews like lots of water and the growing media should never dry out unless it is a winter growing species that require drying out during summer. Most of them would be happy growing on the tray method that keeps the growing media permanently wet. Growing Medium The growing medium has to be acidic in pH. Commonly used growing medium is a mixture of sphagnum peat moss with sand or perlite. Usually growers use one part sphagnum peat and one part sand/perlite. Some species require a sandier mix. Only a few do best with long fiber sphagnum moss. Feeding & Fertilizing Any suitably sized insect such as ants, termites, gnat flies can be fed to the Sundew. You do not need to hand feed the plants if they are place outdoors where they are able to capture their own insect prey. Do not feed them food other than insects. It is not advisable to fertilize Sundews as their roots are made primarily to deliver only water to the plant. When it comes in contact with fertilizers, the roots will burn and die. They are carnivorous for a reason. The nutrients they receive from insect prey are sufficient. [ Back to top ] Enjoy my good plants with your good judgment... PetPitcher artwork and pictures may not be reproduced without the written consent of David Tan