King Sundew (Drosera regia) in Distress: Repotting and Feeding Mistakes

A grower reports their Drosera regia (King Sundew) declining after repotting and root cutting. The plant was repotted into standard carnivorous plant mix with four Osmocote pellets, and the grower also fed it dried bloodworms. The expert identifies two critical errors: taking root cuttings from a plant too small to withstand the stress, and combining soil fertilizer with foliar feeding – a combination that can overwhelm the plant.

Why the Plant is Struggling

Drosera regia is inherently slow-growing. Root cuttings from Cape Sundews (D. capensis) yield sellable plants in six months; D. regia takes at least a year, plus additional months to mature. The added Osmocote in the soil provides steady nutrition, making supplemental feeding unnecessary and risky. Placing pellets directly on leaves would likely kill them.

Recovery Plan

• Stop all feeding – Let the soil fertilizer work alone.
• Provide stable conditions – Bright light, consistent moisture, cool temperatures (65–75°F ideal).
• Be patient – Recovery may take months. New growth will be better adapted.

The expert emphasizes that D. regia demands patience – its slow pace is why it commands higher prices. With time and restrained care, the plant should recover.