I set up an outdoor bog garden last year and had a couple D. capensis in there. After I planned them, I read that they weren't cold hardy being native to South Africa. So I'd written them off as being a plant I'd have for just one year.
Lo and behold, they survived! It took them some time to wake back up, and I wasn't even sure what plant I was looking at when they first sprouted. But it's pretty clear now. It's the Cape Sundews that I thought were doomed!
I thought that was pretty cool. Anybody else have success overwintering these outdoors in cold climates?
by SeaBearsFoam
15 Comments
Yes, many sub-tropicals can come back from the roots. I had several capensis, spatulata, tokaiensis, etc. die back to the roots and all of them came back. They were frozen solid for a week straight.
Yes, many sub-tropicals can come back from the roots. I had several capensis, spatulata, tokaiensis, etc. die back to the roots and all of them came back. They were frozen solid for a week straight.
I have too many capensis now from seed!
More people need to see this. People underestimate how hardy many of these plants are, as long as you give them sun and the correct water.
Sundew, the weed among carnivorous plants.
Opposite side here! Last summer had them outside in FL and they melted, gone, poof into the oblivion. Come fall time I went to re home some vfts overgrown in that area and boom 2 babies under them. Now I have like 200 capensis..
Yup! Canada here, they survived the winter just fine! I always recommend d.capensis to anyone wanting to start out with carnivorous plants because they are almost bullet proof!
-20 ! Really ?
Well mine are getting a hard time with 38/40°C right now 😅 new growth tipo are black already
There are at least two species of sundew that are native to Alaska. They are very widely adaptable plants.
So I started a bog bowl about 3-4 weeks ago, and it seems to be doing ok. I’ve needed to add water a few times,
but it’s in full sun and quite a bit of rain and seems to be ok. Came back after a week of zero attention and my deadish sundews are now sparkling.
What do I do in winter. Leave outside (protected? Not protected?) Put in garage to overwinter? Bring in my house (bright indirect light for only part of day in winter. New Jersey, I believe I’m 7a
Thanks!
I live in Cape Town. People don’t realize how cold it gets here in winter. I’m currently under 3 blankets.
And in the cedarberg mountains etc where Capensis grows there’s snow and ice.
looks like a large mulched setup which is a good insulator since bogs are so dense already
oh wow
I remember mine were completely unfazed with temperatures below -5°C. On the other hand they could barely tolerate the scorching summer temperatures.