Drosera indica is found in Africa, Australia, India (the name indica is derived from India). The plant is naturally found along ephemeral creeks on sandy soil and in seasonal swamps. Forms vary mostly in plant and flower color. Plants can be green or red, and flowers may be either white, pink, or orange. Drosera hartmeyerorum is like a red plant, pink flowered D. indica. The only difference is found in the "runway lights" on D. hartmeyerorum. Both species have the same culture requirements.

Drosera indica is an annual which means under normal circumstances within one growing season it will grow quickly, bloom, set seed and die. In nature the seeds sprout with the onset of the summer rainy season. It requires very warm and bright conditions to do well. The plants bloom and then die in the fall as the ground dries out.

Drosera indica unlike most sundews does not seem to do well in the regular sopping wet peat mix. A soil mix of mostly or even complete sand works best. Some people have told of success using an airy mix of peat and perlite. Sow the seeds on the surface and put the pot in a very warm and bright location. I put pots with seeds in a sunny windowsill or close to florescent lights. A temperature about 25°C (80°F) works best. This sundew prefers drier soil. You can allow the pots to go dry between waterings. The seedlings may be a little slow growing at first but they are definitely faster than most Drosera species.

Once the plants are large enough you can try feeding them small insects or get some dried blood worms at a pet shop. The dried blood worms can be rehydrated in water or milk and placed on the dewy leaves—don't feed a plant that isn't dewy. Use the leftover milk on your butterworts.

Drosera indica never reproduces from root or leaf cuttings. You may prolong its life by cutting the top off and re-rooting. This does not always produce a healthy plant. It is best to start over again from seed. The plant is a strict annual and will die after setting seed. When you grow them you should always be thinking about getting enough seeds to make sure you will have the plants again next year.

-- John Brittnacher

For more information please see:

Schlauer, Jan (2001) Drosera hartmeyorum spec. nov. (Droseraceae), a new sundew in sect. Arachnopus from Northern Australia. Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 30(4):104-106

Hartmeyer, Siegfried and Irmgard Hartmeyer (2001) Observations on a new Drosera species in the Ord River region (Australia). Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 30(4):107-110 ( )

Gibson, Robert (2002) Drosera indica from Narrabri, New South Wales. Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 31(1):20-24 ( )

Hartmeyer, Irmgard and Siegfried R.H. Hartmeyer (2010) Snap-tentacles and runway lights: Summary of comparative examination of Drosera tentacles. Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 39(4):101-113

Hartmeyer, Siegfried R.H. and Irmgard Hartmeyer. Drosera Snap Trap Tentacles and Runway Lights.