Pinguicula Weser – Butterwort.
Butterworts are another great family of carnivorous plants that are best suited to growing all year round on a bright windowsill in the home. So called due to the buttery, insect attracting mucus that coats the plant during most of the year. Butterworts differ slightly to most other carnivorous plants where they don`t necessarily die back and rejuvenate in spring, but instead will produce non carnivorous winter dormancy leaves. These leaves photosynthesise to provide the additional energy required when there`s a natural lack of prey to feed on.
Insects are attracted to the plants vibrant colour and scent of sweet nectar, where they become trapped in the buttery mucilage. The insect`s soft tissue is slowly digested, leaving only the outer exoskeleton.
So if you need natural pest control then give a Butterwort a try.
Secrets of success:
Summer Care:
Light: Bright light, with a few hours of morning or evening sun.
During spring and summer an east or west facing windowsill is ideal.
Avoid direct summer sun as the plant will dehydrate and scorch.
Water: Butterworts, as with most carnivorous plants are native to moist, bog-like conditions. Stand the plant in a saucer with 1cm of, preferably, rain water. Avoid tap water. When the plant has absorbed all of the water, then top it up again.
Never allow the compost to dry out.
Do not use any sort of liquid fertiliser, and don`t try to force feed any captured or alternative foods. Mosquitoes, flies and gnats are the only foods required. If you feel there`s a lack of these then a spell outdoors, once temperatures are above 10c, will give the plant its best chance of attracting its prey. Again just avoid direct sun.
Minimum Temp: 10c
Aftercare:
Winter care: A naturally cool Autumn and Winter period, with a lack of insects to feed on will allow the plant to rest.
Temperatures around 12c, and bright light for 4 to 5 hours is best.
Keep moist as usual, although the frequency with which you will need to top up the water will be less during this time.
As mentioned above the production of non-carnivorous leaves will keep the plant evergreen during this time, and once spring arrives the new growth of the buttery carnivorous leaves will appear with vigour.
Carnivorous plants don`t tend to require regular potting on. When necessary make sure to only use a specific carnivorous plant compost, any other will kill the plant.
Warnings: Not known to be toxic to humans or pets.
