Drosera Spiralis Care

Drosera spiralis care guides are kind of hard to find because these plants are not widely cultivated. But if you want to grow one of these, it is possible. In this post you will discover the best ways to take care of D spiralis and what mistakes to avoid.

Drosera spiralis grow in full sunlight at a temperature of up to 80 F (26 C). The ideal soil mix is 1:1 peat and perlite or sand, and it must be kept constantly moist and properly aerated.

Drosera Spiralis Care Sheet

Soil	1:1 peat and perlite, soil has to be moist
Water	Rainwater, distilled or purified
Light	Full direct light, natural or indoor grow lights
Food	Insects, fish food, freeze dried bloodworms and mealworms
Temperature	40-80 F (4.4-26 C)
Humidity	50%
Dormancy	Not required
Propagation	Leaf and root cuttings

Drosera Spiralis Characteristics

First a brief overview of the plant. This is necessary so you will know what it is supposed to look like when healthy and what the ideal environment is for growth.

D spiralis are native to the grasslands in Brazilian mountains. These are tropical sundews which can grow indoors, and they look like D filiformis and D tracyl found in the US. Adult D spiralis produce leaves 10 to 12 inches long.

Just like other sundews, the leaves become red under intense sunlight. During spring they produce purple colored flowers. It takes a couple of seasons for a D spiralis to produce flowers and mature.

Drosera Spiralis Light and Temperature Requirements

These plants benefit most from full, direct sunlight. At least 6 hours of light is needed for optimum growth. Artificial light may also be used provided it is warm enough. If natural light is limited you can combine it with fluorescent light fixtures.

D spiralis prefers lots of light but a cool climate. Temperatures under 80 F (26 C) is ideal. The plant can handle cold weather down to 40 F (4.4 C). However these plants cannot survive a frost so you have to bring it indoors during a winter freeze. So before you buy a D spiralis, check how cold it gets in your area.

It should come as no surprise D spiralis flourishes in plenty of light and cool temperature. That is the kind of weather you would expect in Brazilian mountains so the plant prefers that kind of environment.

That being said, D spiralis has a wide temperature range. Find a south facing window of your house, place the plant there and it will receive the energy it needs. Remember that drosera grows best with several hours of light and not necessarily heat. If you want to cultivate the plant indoors you can use Bloom Plus LED Lights as it works as well as sunlight.

Drosera Spiralis Soil and Pot Requirements

For soil, use 1:1 peat moss and perlite or silica sand. Never use compost, fertilizer or regular potting soil as they will harm the plant.

You can also use a 2:1 mixture of peat moss and silica sand or perlite. Long sphagnum moss is often used for sundews and you may try that. However peat moss is the best option.

Rinse the soil media before using it. Mix them according to the instructions provided in the package. Be as thorough as possible and add as much water as necessary.

When the soil is ready, drop the drosera spiralis seeds on the soil. Do not bury the seeds, just place them on the surface. The soil needs to be kept moist at all times so sitting the sundew in water is the best option.

If you bought a potted D spiralis obviously you do not need to prepare any soil. Knowing how it is done helps though in case you want to propagate the plant or have to repot it. If you need soil for newly grown D. spiralis, a nice option is the Gardenera Potting Mix.

D spiralis needs plenty of aeration and the pot should have several drainage holes. Soil should not be too compact but not too loose either.

Like D indica other sundews, D spiralis can only grow in poor soil. This is fatal to most plants but for sundews it is exactly what they need. The plant extracts nutrients from the insects it catches and eats.

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient but other elements are needed as well. D spiralis feeds mostly on small insects because they contain the nutrients required. They are also small enough for the plant to capture and feed on. Insects are also found in sundew habitats so they became prey. This also explains why soil nutrients are not needed and can actually harm the plant.

How Much Water Does Drosera Spiralis Need?

Just like most sundews, D spiralis needs plenty of water. The soil must always be moist and there must be high humidity around the plant.

These sundews benefit from rain so you can keep it outdoors during a downpour. During summer let the plant sit in water.

Mineral free water is recommended. If that is not possible, the mineral content has to be fifty parts per million. Minerals inject all kinds of elements in the soil and leaves which are detrimental to the plant. Distilled or purified water are the best for D spiralis.

Before you sit the plant in water, make sure the pot has several drainage holes. D spiralis roots are sensitive and need frequent nourishment.

Place the pot in a tray. Most D spiralis are sold in 3 inch pots so an inch of water in the tray is fine. You can just leave the plant there and refill the water when the tray has emptied.

Now if you are cultivating seeds, you can prevent the moisture from evaporating by covering the tray with plastic wrapper. This ensures humidity does not escape and is healthy for the seeds.

Or you can just leave the D spiralis in the tray. Position the tray towards a south facing window and your setup is complete. The only thing you need to do is check the water level and soil moisture.

Refill the tray when the water level is almost gone and keep an eye for any mold or fungus that might grow in the tray. This can happen with stagnant water so clean the tray every few weeks.

Tips For Growing Drosera Spiralis

Reproduction is similar to other sundews, Root and leaf cuttings are effective as is growing seeds. If you want to reproduce D spiralis, Do this only if the plant has matured and healthy enough.

When you have cut the leaf or roots, plant them in equal parts peat moss and perlite or sand. Provide several hours of light -natural or artificial – and sit their containers in water.

Adult D spiralis love to eat. The more they eat the faster the plant can grow. Well fed drosera have vivid colors, lots of dew and just looks healthy.

If you just a potted D spiralis and it looks weak, give it time to adjust. Moving to a new location means different temperature, humidity, light conditions etc. Give the plant time to get used to it. You can cut holes in the pot for extra soil aeration which can help.

D spiralis are vulnerable to high temperature. A few degrees above 80 F will not hurt. But if it reaches 90 F or higher that could be risky. Relocate the plant to a cooler room or install a humidifier.

Even though D spiralis is not cultivated often, it does well in households. If you bought a potted plant from a reputable vendor, you do not have to worry about mixing the soil. Follow the guidelines here for proper caring and it should be fine.

Heat is the biggest concern, but as along as it is around 80 F the plant will be all right. An adult D spiralis can catch insects on its own. If it is indoors, you can give it re-hydrated mealworms, bloodworms, insects and fish pellets.

Regular feeding helps speed up their growth. If you are propagating the plant, you need to provide as much light as possible but without exposing them to too much heat.

Conclusion

If you want a sundew that stands out from the rest, the drosera spiralis is a good choice. While raising one of these can be challenging, it is not impossible. As shown here, you can keep a drosera spiralis alive without too much difficulty with the right approach.