Inventions & Side Projects

Drosera regia Setup

Dedicated environment for the King Sundew.

Drosera regia — the King Sundew — is the giant of the genus, with leaves reaching 60 cm in mature plants. Endemic to a small area of the Bain’s Kloof valley in the Western Cape of South Africa, it tolerates Mediterranean-type conditions but with specific requirements that don’t mesh well with the highland tropical regime.

Why a separate setup?

D. regia is at its best with:

  • Cool nights (8–15 °C) and moderately warm days (20–28 °C) — Mediterranean rather than tropical
  • Strong, direct light
  • A pronounced winter dormancy period — incompatible with the no-dry-rest highland terrarium policy
  • Mineral-poor, peat-based substrate kept on the drier side compared to typical Drosera

Status

Currently building. Setup details, substrate recipe, and growth progression will be added.