Question
Would you ever set either of these sundews outside for any length of time? They seem to get dry leaves even in shady areas.

Answer
Hi Craig,

Dry leaves on a sundew are most often caused by lack of sunlight, so I'm not surprised your plants developed dry leaves in the shade.  The dew is a nectar secretion.  To produce it, the plant needs a tremendous amount of energy, and it gets its energy from sunlight (photosynthesis).  Without adequate lighting, sundews lose their dew.

You can grow these species outdoors provided that your weather is warm enough.  The spatulata can take full sun and heat, but the adelae will need to be sheltered during hot weather.  Adelae prefer temperatures less than 80癋. For this reason, I recommend growing adelae indoors in a bright sunny windowsill.  I have an adelae in my south kitchen window.  It's been there for over 2 years, and it's growing like crazy.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin