DS013 Drosera madagasgariensis Sundew

Drosera madagascariensis – Madagascar Sundew

Drosera madagascariensis, commonly known as the Madagascar Sundew, is an attractive upright-growing tropical sundew with slender stems lined with beautiful, sticky insect-catching leaves.

Native to parts of Madagascar and mainland Africa, this unusual carnivorous plant develops an increasingly upright habit as it matures. The leaves are covered with fine red tentacles tipped with glistening droplets of sticky mucilage, giving the plant a sparkling appearance when grown in good light.

These sticky leaves attract and capture small insects such as fungus gnats, midges and small flies. Once an insect becomes trapped, the plant digests its prey and absorbs nutrients that are naturally scarce in the soils where Drosera grow.

With its upright growth, attractive colour and masses of glistening leaves, Drosera madagascariensis is an excellent choice for anyone wanting something a little different in their carnivorous plant collection.

How to Grow Drosera madagascariensis

Light & Position

Drosera madagascariensis enjoys plenty of bright light.

Grow it in a sunny greenhouse, conservatory or on a bright windowsill. Good light encourages strong, compact growth, attractive red colouration and plenty of sticky dew on the leaves.

If a sundew produces very little dew or becomes weak and elongated, insufficient light can be one of the causes.

Watering Drosera madagascariensis

Always use rainwater, distilled water or reverse-osmosis water.

During active growth, keep the compost consistently moist. The pot can be stood in a shallow saucer containing approximately 1–2 cm of water.

Never allow the compost to completely dry out.

Avoid ordinary tap water, particularly in hard-water areas, as dissolved minerals can accumulate in the compost and eventually damage the plant.

Best Compost for Drosera madagascariensis

Drosera madagascariensis requires an acidic, low-nutrient carnivorous plant compost.

For growing and repotting this sundew, we recommend our COM1 Carnivorous Plant Compost, available from Hampshire Carnivorous Plants.

COM1 provides the moisture retention, low nutrient levels and growing conditions required by many Drosera species. It is the same reliable mix we use ourselves for our carnivorous plants at the nursery.

Never use ordinary multipurpose compost, garden soil or compost containing added fertiliser.

Repotting

Repot Drosera madagascariensis when the plant becomes crowded or when the existing compost begins to deteriorate.

For best results, repot using fresh COM1 Carnivorous Plant Compost. Water thoroughly with rainwater after repotting and return the plant to a bright position.

Temperature & Winter Care

Drosera madagascariensis is a tropical to subtropical sundew and should be protected from frost.

Unlike temperate carnivorous plants such as Sarracenia and Venus flytraps, it does not require a cold winter dormancy.

Keep the plant in a bright, frost-free position during winter. Growth may naturally slow when temperatures and light levels are lower.

Does Drosera madagascariensis Need Feeding?

There is normally no need to hand-feed your sundew.

The sticky leaves are very effective at catching small flying insects naturally. If grown indoors, they can be particularly useful at catching fungus gnats and other tiny flies.

Never feed the plant meat and never use conventional plant food or fertiliser.

Flowers

Established plants can produce slender flower stems carrying attractive small flowers above the sticky foliage.

The combination of upright growth, colourful leaves and delicate flowers makes Drosera madagascariensis a particularly interesting species for the carnivorous plant collector.

Is Drosera madagascariensis Easy to Grow?

Drosera madagascariensis is relatively straightforward to grow when provided with warmth, good light, pure water and the correct carnivorous plant compost.

For best results:

• Give the plant plenty of bright light
• Keep the compost consistently moist
• Use only rainwater, distilled water or reverse-osmosis water
• Grow and repot using COM1 Carnivorous Plant Compost
• Keep frost-free during winter
• Never use ordinary compost or conventional fertiliser

With the correct care, Drosera madagascariensis develops into an unusual upright sundew covered with masses of sparkling, insect-catching leaves.

Hampshire Carnivorous Plants – specialist UK growers of Drosera, Venus flytraps, Sarracenia and other carnivorous plants.

Check out our YouTube channel link below for detailed instructions

https://youtu.be/8caWCiApcbg