Drosera Venusta

Caring for Drosera venusta, a beautiful subtropical sundew native to South Africa, is relatively straightforward if you meet its basic needs. Here’s a care guide to help it thrive:🌞 

Light Requirements

• Bright light to full sun is ideal. Provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day or supplement with a grow light (6500K, 12–16 hours/day).
• In lower light, the plant may lose its red coloration and grow weak.

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Watering

• Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy.
• Use the tray method: place the pot in a shallow tray of distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water. Avoid tap water unless you know it’s very low in minerals (TDS < 50 ppm).
• Never let it dry out completely.

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Soil

• Use a mix of peat moss (sphagnum peat) and perlite or silica sand in a 1:1 ratio.
• Do not use compost, fertilizer, or standard potting mix — they can kill the plant.

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Temperature & Humidity

• Prefers temperatures between 60–85°F (15–29°C).
• Tolerates lower humidity better than many sundews but will do best with 40–70% humidity.
• Can tolerate mild cold but should be protected from frost.

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Feeding

• Feeds on small insects like gnats or fruit flies.
• If growing indoors and no bugs are around, you can feed it crushed dried bloodworms or betta fish pellets once or twice a month. Use tiny portions on a few leaves.
• Do not fertilize the soil.

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Dormancy

• Drosera venusta does not require dormancy and can grow year-round under stable conditions.
• If it slows down in winter, reduce watering slightly, but keep moist.

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Pest Issues

• Watch out for aphids, fungus gnats, or mold. Good air circulation helps.
• Avoid chemical pesticides — use neem oil cautiously, or better, manual removal or beneficial insects.

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Repotting

• Repot every 1–2 years to refresh the medium and prevent mineral buildup.
• Use the same peat-based soil mix.