Overview

Introduce a touch of the extraordinary to your home or garden with the drosera intermedia sundew. This remarkable carnivorous plant, often referred to as the Oblong-leaved Sundew, is shipped to you as a healthy, rooted specimen in a 2.5-inch pot, ready to thrive. Known for its sticky, dew-covered tentacles that glisten in the light, the Drosera intermedia effectively traps small insects, making it a natural and captivating form of pest control. Its unique appearance and fascinating predatory behavior make it a standout addition to any collection, providing endless hours of observation and wonder. Whether you’re a seasoned carnivorous plant enthusiast or new to the world of insect-eating flora, the drosera intermedia sundew offers an engaging and rewarding growing experience. Its compact size makes it suitable for terrariums, windowsills, or bog gardens.

Key Benefits

The drosera intermedia sundew offers a range of benefits that extend beyond its striking appearance, making it a fantastic choice for plant lovers. Its unique characteristics provide both aesthetic appeal and practical advantages, enhancing any environment it inhabits. This particular carnivorous plant is a marvel of nature’s design.

• Natural Insect Control: This drosera intermedia sundew is an incredibly effective natural pest controller, trapping and digesting small insects like gnats, fruit flies, and mosquitoes. Say goodbye to chemical sprays and welcome a natural solution.
• Educational & Fascinating: Observing the sticky dewdrops on its leaves and watching it capture prey is an endlessly fascinating process, making it an excellent educational tool for children and adults alike. It’s a living science experiment in your home.
• Unique Aesthetic Appeal: With its vibrant green and sometimes reddish leaves adorned with glistening, sticky tentacles, the Drosera intermedia adds an exotic and intriguing visual element to any plant collection, terrarium, or bog garden.
• Low Maintenance for Carnivorous Plants: While it has specific needs, once its basic requirements for water and light are met, the drosera intermedia sundew is relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for beginners in the carnivorous plant hobby.
• Compact Size: Shipped in a convenient 2.5-inch pot, this plant remains relatively small, making it ideal for windowsills, desks, or enclosed environments like terrariums where space is limited.
• Conversation Starter: Its unusual nature and predatory habits are sure to spark curiosity and conversation among guests, making it a unique focal point in any room.
• Contributes to Biodiversity: By supporting a carnivorous plant, you are engaging with a unique aspect of plant biodiversity and appreciating the specialized adaptations of these incredible species.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your drosera intermedia sundew is a rewarding experience, provided you understand its specific needs as a carnivorous plant. These plants thrive in conditions that mimic their natural boggy habitats. Proper care ensures vigorous growth and abundant dew production, essential for its insect-trapping capabilities. Understanding carnivorous plant care is key to its longevity.

For sunlight, the Drosera intermedia prefers bright light. Provide at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. An east-facing window that receives morning sun is ideal, or a south-facing window with some protection from intense midday sun. If growing outdoors, choose a spot with full sun to partial shade. Inadequate light will result in less dew production and a weaker plant. When it comes to watering, this sundew requires consistently moist, but not waterlogged, soil. The best method is to place the potted plant in a tray filled with about 1 inch of distilled water, rainwater, or reverse osmosis water. Tap water is generally too high in minerals and can harm the plant over time. Allow the tray to dry out completely for a day or two before refilling. This mimics the fluctuating water levels in its natural habitat and helps prevent root rot. Never let the pot dry out completely for extended periods.

The ideal soil type for Drosera intermedia is a nutrient-poor, acidic, and well-draining mixture. A common and effective mix is a 1:1 ratio of peat moss (or sphagnum moss) and perlite or horticultural sand. Avoid using regular potting soil, as it contains nutrients that can burn the roots of carnivorous plants. The plant thrives in temperatures between 60-85°F (15-29°C) and can tolerate brief dips below freezing if dormant, making it suitable for USDA zones 5-9 with proper winter protection or year-round indoors. Fertilization is generally not required; the plant obtains its nutrients from the insects it catches. If the plant is not catching enough insects, you can occasionally foliar feed with a very dilute carnivorous plant-specific fertilizer, or provide small, dead insects. Common problems include lack of dew (often due to insufficient light or improper water), and fungal issues if air circulation is poor. Ensure good airflow and monitor humidity levels. Following these guidelines will help you maintain a healthy and vibrant drosera intermedia care regimen.

Size & Details

This drosera intermedia sundew is a live plant, carefully rooted and shipped in a 2.5-inch nursery pot. At the time of shipment, the plant typically measures approximately 1-3 inches in diameter, though exact size can vary depending on growth stage and individual plant. The Drosera intermedia is a relatively small and compact sundew species, usually reaching a mature diameter of 2-4 inches. Its growth rate is moderate, and with proper care, it will continuously produce new leaves and dewy traps. It is delivered as a fully rooted specimen, ensuring a stable transition to its new home. Expect it to begin actively trapping insects shortly after acclimation. This species may enter a winter dormancy period, forming a hibernaculum (a compact bud of leaves) where growth slows significantly. This is a natural part of its life cycle and not a cause for concern. The plant will resume active growth in spring.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this sundew plant for sale get? A: The Drosera intermedia is a relatively small sundew, typically reaching a diameter of 2-4 inches at maturity. It’s perfect for windowsills or terrariums.
• Q: What size pot does the drosera intermedia sundew come in? A: Each drosera intermedia sundew is shipped as a rooted live plant in a 2.5-inch nursery pot, ready for you to place in your desired location.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This sundew can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, it thrives on a bright windowsill. Outdoors, it does well in bog gardens in suitable climates (USDA zones 5-9) or as a potted plant that can be moved indoors during colder months.
• Q: How much sunlight does the carnivorous plant need? A: The Drosera intermedia requires at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce ample dew. Bright indirect light can also work, but direct sun is preferred for best health.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: For a carnivorous plant, the Drosera intermedia is considered relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for beginners. The main requirements are proper water (distilled/rainwater) and sufficient light.
• Q: What condition will the buy sundew plant arrive in? A: Your drosera intermedia sundew will arrive as a healthy, rooted live plant, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey. Some minor stress from shipping is normal, but it should recover quickly.
• Q: Is it shipped in soil? A: Yes, the plant is shipped rooted in its appropriate carnivorous plant soil mix within the 2.5-inch nursery pot.
• Q: How long until it starts catching insects? A: Your drosera intermedia sundew should be ready to start catching insects shortly after it acclimates to its new environment and begins producing dew, usually within a few days to a week.
• Q: What is the best way to water this sundew? A: The best way to water is using the tray method. Place the pot in a tray with about 1 inch of distilled water, rainwater, or reverse osmosis water. Allow the tray to dry out completely between refills.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this plant can tolerate? A: While it can tolerate brief dips below freezing during dormancy, it generally thrives in temperatures between 60-85°F (15-29°C). If growing outdoors in colder zones, provide winter protection.