Cape Sundews Stunted Under Fluorescents: Dry Soil and Low Light Fixed

A grower's Drosera capensis under 2×40W T12 tubes (6" away) in 50/50 peat/perlite showed slow growth, no dew, yellow/brown new tips. House 63–64°F, drafty, weekend heater in adjacent room. Seedlings under plastic wrap thrived.

Root Cause: Chronic Underwatering + Insufficient Light

• Soil too dry. Top 1" dry, moisture only at ¼ depth. Drosera need constantly moist surface. Mold fear led to over-correction.
• Light too far. 6" from T12 = very low intensity. Plants pale, no red color = light starvation.

Fixes

1. Water: Top-water until ¼" stands in tray. Let tray dry 1–2 days max. Never let soil surface feel dry. Spray sulfur fungicide (Safer Brand) to control mold.
2. Light: Lower plants to 2" from tubes. Use blocks to raise pots. Expect mild burn on pale leaves—new growth will be normal.
3. Photoperiod: 12 hrs/day year-round. Don't reduce for "dormancy"—Cape sundews don't need it.
4. Heater: Irrelevant once water/light fixed.
5. No terrarium. Creates new problems (fungus, rot). Open tray is better.

Follow-Up: Purple Pitcher & Fungus Gnats

• S. purpurea slow in winter—normal. Keep water in pitchers. Feed small insect if empty 3+ months. Move to 2–3" from lights.
• Fungus gnat larvae in seedling pots: neem oil spray (per label) kills them and suppresses mold. Scrape algae if it covers seedlings.

One month of wetter soil and closer lights transforms struggling sundews.