Question
My questions are about the Drosera binta ssp. multifida. Will this plant do well in a terrarium. Does it have to have a dormancy period, if so how should this be done. If I choose to keep it on a window sill all year round would that be ok in a window that might get a bit cold in Michigan?                     Thanks for you help.

Answer
Hi Ken,

Firstly, we're not a big fan of terrariums.  While there are some plants that actually need to be grown in a terrarium, this sundew isn't one of them.  

The primary requirement for this plant is sunlight, partial to full sun.  So you will actually do best growing this in a south windowsill during the winter months.

Now this plant doesn't require dormancy, but it will go dormant if you give it the opportunity.  We grow several types of fork leaf sundews, both in our greenhouse and outdoors.  Those outdoors go dormant in winter and endure temperatures as low as 15癋.  Those in our greenhouse simply grow all year round without any ill effects of missing their dormancy, like flytraps would.  For this reason, we list the plant as a tropical plant in that winter dormancy is not required.

If you have it next to a window, however, the cool air and drop in daylight hours may trigger it to go dormant.  So if you want to keep it growing throughout winter, you may need to move it to a warmer part of your home and use strong fluorescent lights.

So it's a bit of a judgment call on your part based on your current growing conditions.  Your plant won't mind it either way.  Just make sure that if you choose to keep it growing in winter, the lights need to be fairly strong (40 watts or more), kept about 6 inches above the plant and kept on for 14 hours per day.  

Otherwise, you can allow it to go semi-dormant in your windowsill.  In this case, keep the soil damp, but not sitting in water.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin