Question
QUESTION: Hi. I've had and interest in carnivorous plants for a long time and have really enjoyed growing them. I recently found a species of sundew called the King Sundew on a website (can't remember what it was) but was disappointed to find that it, A: needed cool nights, and B: was out of stock. I took the first with a grain of salt knowing that they sell their Venus Flytraps in terrariums. But then I saw today that you guys also carry King Sundews, but again it says on the instructions that they NEED cool nights. I grow all of my carnivorous plants on a windowsill and that's where I intend on putting that one, if I get it. So would that be a good idea, or would that kill it or stunt it's growth? Thanks.

ANSWER: Hi Sean,

I'm sorry to disappoint you!  The king sundew (Droser regia) is a mountainous plant from South Africa.  It grows in an area where it's warm during the day and cool at night.  In cultivation, it's important to replicate these temperature swings.  That's just the nature of growing mountainous plants in cultivation.

We've experimented with growing this species in a very controlled environment where the night temperature didn't drop below 72癋, and we lost an entire crop!  We even had growers in Hawaii and Florida complain that their plants didn't live very long, which I attribute to their warm nights.  Cool nights (45?- 65癋) are essential for this species.  It's not just a recommendation, it's a requirement.

You didn't state where you live, so I can't comment on your climate or if this species will thrive for you.  Given that we are in the middle of fall and that the night temperatures will naturally be cool, you can certainly give this plant a try.  The only issue is your summer temperatures.  At our nursery, we are fortunate enough that our nighttime summer temperatures naturally drops to the low 50s.  

If you need further assistance, I invite you to submit a follow-up question.  Please include your location so I can properly assist you.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I live up here in Bismarck North Dakota, so because it gets around 30-35 below in the middle of winter, putting it outside wouldn't really be an option.

Answer
I'm a bit confused because I didn't mention about growing this species outdoors.  Drosera regia is a tropical species, so you'll need to protect it from frost.  The point I was making was that it's easier to provide cool nights when your nights are naturally cool.  Since we're in the middle of fall and nights are getting cold outside, it'll be much easier to provide cool nights in your home.  (To do that, just place your plant next to a window and away from the heat vents.)  During the summer months in North Dakota, your nights might be relatively warm, so it might not always be possible to provide cool nights unless you intend to use an air conditioner.  So I'm not talking about growing it outdoors.  I'm talking about using Mother Nature to your advantage.

Again, cool nights are 45?- 65癋.  As long as you can keep the temperature at night below 65癋 (and above 45癋), you'll have better success in growing this species.  This is much easier to do in fall and winter in pretty much all parts of the continental United States.  It just gets a bit tricky in summer when nighttime temperature doesn't fall below 65癋.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin