Pinguicula rotundiflora

 

Butterwort - Pinguicula

Growing:
Pinguicula "Aphrodite"
Pinguicula cyclosecta
Pinguicula emarginata
Pinguicula esseriana
Pinguicula gigantea X moctezuma
Pinguicula gypsicola
Pinguicula laueana
Pinguicula lusitanica
Pinguicula moranensis
Pinguicula rotundiflora

 

Light: I grow my Pinguicula in a terrarium with a 1 - 96 watt 6,700K Aqualight Power Compact Fixture.

Soil: I grow mine in an equal mix of peat moss, long fiber sphagnum, perlite, and vermiculite. Top 1/4" of soil is pure vermiculite.

Water: Use rainwater, distilled, or reverse osmosis. Use the tray method. Place your Butterwort's in a plastic water tray with 1/2" of water. I let the water in the tray evaporate and stay dry for a day or two before I water the plant again.

Humidity: Varies between species. The higher the better, but I have experimented with growing different Pinguicula as windowsill plants and have had great results.

Climate:
Temperate Pinguicula: These butterworts have a winter rest period in which they form a tight cluster of leaves called a hibernaculum.
Warm Temperate Pinguicula: These butterworts have vegetative growth year-round because the temperatures are not as severe. They can usually with stand light frosts.
Tropical Pinguicula: These butterworts have vegetative growth year-round. Some do have a wet and dry season.

 

Pinguicula grow throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arctic Circle down through Europe, Siberia, and North America. Many spectacular forms exist in Mexico. South America also has a few species.

Pinguicula are typically small plants which grow in a rosette fashion. The leaves of pings have tiny transparent hairs which secret a sticky glue. There are also sessile glands on the leaf which are dry, until an insect is captured. When an insect is caught the sessile glands secret acids and enzymes which start to dissolve the insect. Then the sessile glands reabsorb the nutrient rich fluid. Pinguicula in Latin means "little greasy one".

 

Temperate Pinguicula

Pinguicula grandiflora Currently do not grow
Pinguicula grandiflora is native to Europe.
I grew Pinguicula grandiflora outside spring - fall and then moved the plant into my garage over winter. I grew this plant over a year, but lost the plant to aphids. Or maybe more correct, to too strong a solution of insecticide to kill the aphids.

 

Warm Temperate Pinguicula

I typically grow my Warm Temperate Pinguicula as windowsill plants year round in a south facing window.

Pinguicula primuliflora Gave up on this one
Pinguicula primuliflora is native to southeastern US.
I have tried to grow Pinguicula primuliflora 3 times, all ended in failure. I grew the plant outside spring to fall with great results. As winter approached the first time I moved the plant to a south facing windowsill. The plant rotted before spring arrived. The second one I tried, as winter approached, I moved the plant to my garage. This plant also rotted before spring. I was in Lowe's and they had all there CP cubes on clearance. They happened to have a small cube with a Pinguicula primuliflora for $1.00. I decided I would try this plant again. I have it growing in live LFS moss. It did not last long in this mix either. I'm done trying this plant.

Pinguicula lusitanica germinated form seed 5/10/04
Pinguicula lusitanica is native to Europe and northwestern Africa.
Pinguicula lusitanica grows as an annual in the wild, but I have had plants growing over 2 years. Pinguicula lusitanica can become a weed in your collection as the plant will self pollinate.

 

Tropical Pinguicula

I grow my Tropical Pinguicula year round in a terrarium. This is my favorite group of Pinguicula and for me are the easiest to grow.
They are easily propagated with leaf cuttings.

Pinguicula "Aphrodite" (P. agnata x P. moctezumae) 7/16/05
Pinguicula "Aphrodite" is by far my favorite Pinguicula of the one's I grow. This plant has multiple blooms on it all year.
I tried pollinating the flowers from this Pinguicula but have never gotten seed.

Pinguicula cyclosecta 4/26/07
Pinguicula cyclosecta is native to Mexico.

Pinguicula emarginata from leaf cuttings 1/1/06
Pinguicula emarginata is native to Mexico.

Pinguicula esseriana 8/03
Pinguicula esseriana is native to Mexico.
A very small Ping, mine do not exceed 1" in diameter. It also has compact leaves.
I tried pollinating the flowers from this Pinguicula but have never gotten seed.

Pinguicula gypsicola 8/10/06
Pinguicula gypsicola is native to Mexico.

Pinguicula laueana 4/26/07
Pinguicula laueana is native to Mexico.

Pinguicula moranensis 6/6/04
Pinguicula moranensis is native to Mexico.
I have self pollinated the flowers and gotten seed.

Pinguicula rotundiflora 4/26/07
Pinguicula rotundiflora is native to Mexico

 

e-mail me

Copyright © 2005-2008 elgecko. All rights reserved.