Pictures and Variety Names of the Carnivorous Plant Pinguicula primuliflora
Chinese name: Pinguicula primuliflora
Latin scientific name: Pinguicula primuliflora
Family and genus: Lentibulariaceae, Pinguicula
Place of origin and distribution: United States
Pinguicula primuliflora is the easiest butterwort species to grow, with low requirements for light, temperature and so on, and it can successfully pass through summer and winter in various places. It also has very strong reproductive capacity, producing new plants at the tips of its leaves, making it very suitable for beginners to grow!
Pinguicula primuliflora is super easy to propagate and is also the easiest butterwort to keep. The propagation method is to take leaves near the base and pull them off one by one like tearing apart a napa cabbage, or simply cut the leaves off near the base with scissors, then place them in moist pure sphagnum moss, cover them to keep in humidity, and put them in a place with indirect light. After about several weeks they will sprout. It is just that simple.
How do you propagate Pinguicula primuliflora?
Butterworts have many species and a relatively wide distribution, and their growing requirements also differ. Generally they all like bright light, cannot tolerate harsh sun exposure, are afraid of heat, and most require alkaline substrate. Today let us learn together how butterworts are propagated.
Peel an entire leaf from the mother plant, insert it obliquely or lay it flat on clean substrate, maintain high humidity and bright light, and in about 2 months it can grow shoots.
Some butterwort varieties will produce new shoots at the rhizome, leaf margins, stolons and so on. When these have grown large enough, separate them from the mother plant and cultivate them separately.
For some varieties, mainly temperate populations, under the stimulation of low winter temperatures, some bulbils, commonly known as winter buds, will grow at the base of the rosette leaves. After the bulbils mature they will fall off. At this time they can be taken out, gently pressed bottom-down onto the surface of clean substrate, and when the temperature warms up in spring they will grow new shoots.
Generally butterworts require cross-pollination to set seed. You can choose flowers that have been open for about two days, use a toothpick or similar tool to pick up pollen and apply it to the stigma of another flower. If pollination is successful, generally after 1-2 months the capsule matures and splits open, releasing tiny seeds. When sowing, they can be scattered directly on the surface of clean substrate, maintaining high humidity and bright light, and they will germinate in about one month. The seeds of some temperate populations need to be refrigerated for one winter before they will germinate, and refrigeration in a refrigerator can also achieve the same effect.
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How to properly care for the carnivorous plant butterwort
Carnivorous plant butterworts have many species and a relatively wide distribution, and their growing requirements also differ. Generally they all like bright light, cannot tolerate harsh sun exposure, are afraid of heat, and most require alkaline substrate.Substrate: Because butterworts grow in different environments, their requirements for substrate are also different. The substrate formula must be reasonably adjusted by considering two factors: the habits of the variety and the materials available locally. Populations represented by Mexican butterworts mostly grow in limestone mountainous areas and require alkaline or neutral substrate formulas. Generally a mix of multiple mineral substrates is used, and a small amount of organic substrate can also be added. For example, you can mix 2 parts perlite, 2 parts vermiculite, 1 part gypsum, 1 part sand, and 1 part coconut coir or peat. Other populations can use acidic substrate formulas, such as mixing 1 part peat and 1 part perlite.
Water: Use a water source with low mineral concentration. During the growing season, most varieties that prefer dry conditions (such as most Mexican butterworts) can keep the substrate slightly moist but must not be waterlogged, while a few moisture-loving varieties (such as Pinguicula primuliflora) can keep the substrate fairly moist. It is suitable to supply water from the bottom of the tray. Plants should not be sprayed frequently, so as not to dilute the sticky mucus on the leaves. Varieties with a dormancy habit need reduced or stopped watering during the winter dormant period, keeping the potting soil relatively dry.
Humidity: The air humidity for butterworts should be kept above 50%. A general growing environment can meet this, and no special humidification is needed.
Temperature: Tropical and subtropical populations, represented by Mexican and southern United States varieties, generally have a suitable growing temperature of 20-30 degrees, and in winter can be kept at 2-10 degrees. Most can survive at 2-35 degrees, and individual varieties can withstand low temperatures of 0 degrees or high temperatures of 38 degrees. Varieties from high mountain areas such as Mexico like a large temperature difference between day and night. Temperate populations, represented by varieties from Europe, have a suitable growing temperature of 10-20 degrees, and most can survive at 0-25 degrees, while individual varieties can withstand low temperatures of -3 degrees or high temperatures of 30 degrees.
Light: Butterworts like bright light and can also tolerate partial shade. They are suitable for growing in places with bright indirect light such as windowsills, and can also receive soft sunlight, but strong direct sun exposure must be avoided.
Nutrients: During the growing season, a general compound fertilizer diluted five thousand times can be sprayed on the leaves, 1-2 times per month. When fertilizing, it is better to apply thin fertilizer frequently, and never use too high a concentration, so as to avoid the serious consequences of fertilizer burn or even fertilizer death. Do not fertilize casually without experience. It is not advisable to provide nutrients by feeding food, so as not to affect the ornamental value.
Diseases: High summer temperatures easily cause stem rot. Good ventilation, cooling, and a large day-night temperature difference all help reduce the occurrence of disease. Once part of the stem is found to have rotted, it is generally very difficult to cure. You can cut off uninfected leaves for leaf cuttings so that it can continue. Butterworts can also be attacked by snails. Sometimes a large patch of leaves will be eaten overnight, and small plants may even be left with only the rhizome. You can use covers, water trays and so on to isolate the plants, then wait for the night-time "culprit" to appear and catch it!
The above is Zuihua Wang's introduction to the carnivorous plant butterwort. I hope everyone can gain something from it!