Florida Sundew is a carnivorous perennial endemic to the pitcher plant bogs and wet flatwoods of the Florida panhandle. Its threadlike leaves reach up to 40 cm and are densely lined with red, stalked mucilage glands that trap and digest insects, compensating for the near-total lack of available soil nutrients in its native habitat. It is considerably larger and more vigorous than the northern threadleaf sundew (var. filiformis) and maintains foliage through mild winters with little or no true dormancy.
Grow in full sun in an unfertilized, acidic peat-and-sand or peat-and-perlite mix, pH 4.0–5.0. Water exclusively with distilled water, collected rainwater, or reverse osmosis water; mineral ions from tap water accumulate in the substrate and are lethal over time. Use the tray method — keep the pot sitting in 1–2 cm of standing water year-round. Adding any fertilizer overwhelms the plant's carnivorous physiology. Considered threatened across its narrow range due to wetland drainage and fire suppression that allows taller vegetation to shade out open bog communities.
The Drosera genus has a documented role in European herbal tradition for respiratory complaints. Naphthoquinone compounds including plumbagin confer antispasmodic activity; preparations from Drosera species — primarily D. rotundifolia — appear in the German Commission E monograph for bronchitis and whooping cough.
Botrytis (grey mould)
Grey fuzzy mould on petals and stems, worst in cool wet conditions.
Remove affected parts immediately. Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Apply copper fungicide if severe.
Root rot
Plants wilt, yellow, and stunt even in moist soil; lower stems and roots turn brown, soft, and mushy and the plant may collapse. Most common in heavy, wet, or poorly drained ground.
Improve drainage and stop overwatering, and never plant too deep. Lift and destroy badly affected plants along with the soil around the roots. Grow in raised or free-draining beds to prevent it returning.
Damping Off
Seedlings collapse at the soil line with thin, water-soaked stems; seeds may fail to emerge or rot before sprouting.
Sow in well-draining mix, avoid overwatering, and ensure good airflow. Remove affected seedlings and let the surface dry between waterings.