Question
Got my woolly sundew last season and I grow it in southern window w/ the easier sundew (cape, the forked one etc) but the leaves browned up over the fall and winter. Was wondering if it does not like the cool window or is it a humidity thing. It has since sent up a flower spike so I think it is alive. But is there something I am missing. Also my cute australian came in great condition and fairly quickly dropped some of it's pitchers. It seems to have mellowed out and I am not sure if that is a humidity thing or maybe I was not keeping the water constant. I have been watching the water level better ( as I had a couple of days when I noticed I let it go dry in the saucer) but also wondered if it would like to be in a terrarium w/ a sun pitcher or does it like the cool nights in this window. All the other sundews there seem to do great.

Answer
Hi Lynne,

Woollies are an enigma, even for experienced growers such as us.  In general, they like it hot, humid and very bright.  We struggle growing them in the winter because we just can't keep them warm enough enough.  

In less than optimal conditions, these sundews will form a woolly resting bud.  They remain in this state until the conditions are once again warm, humid and bright.  This plant will obviously grow better in summer, as they have demonstrated for us last summer.

The Australian pitcher plant will grow fine in a terrarium like a sun pitcher.  I used to have a very large Cephalotus and Heliamphora growing side by side in a terrarium.  Cephalotus will also grow well as a houseplant in a sunny windowsill. They don't mind the cool nights as that's what they experience in the wild.  In fact, cool nights is the secret to growing this species.

If you have very bright fluorescent lights over your terrarium, move your woollies in there as well.  Keep them fairly close to the light (4-6 inches) to simulate full sun.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin