Expert: Christopher Littrell - 2/22/2008

Question
My butterwort is looking pretty sickly. I sprayed it with a pesticide / fungicide but it still looks bad. It might have been getting too much water also. Its a young plant and after getting rid of all the sick leaves theres hardly anything left. I was wondering if it could be cut off like a drosera and regrow itself from the roots. If you have any other advice on salvaging it that would be helpful too. It may be beyond help but i want to try and save it. Thanks for any help

Answer
Hello Vivian,

When Butterworts are given too much water, as in a water tray or soil that does not drain quickly, they do tend to rot from the roots up. If this is what is occurring with your plant it is not going to have roots to grow back from. Typically, a waterlogged butterwort will blacken rather quickly as the roots drown and rot. Fungus and rotting can also affect the leaves when water is sprayed or poured on them and remains for long periods of time unevaporated.

If the plant is declining quickly and suddenly it is probably dying in a rather final manner. Just try again with a new, healthy butterwort and make sure that it is potted in fast draining soil and that water does not stand in any large quantity under its pot.

In any case, just keep giving the plant what it needs, indirect, but strong, light from a morning sun window, acidic sphagnum moss and perlite or sand for soil with 1 part moss and two parts drainage material, mineral free water enough just to keep it soil moist, and no fertilizers. If it can make a comeback, it will.

I hope your butterwort pulls through,

Christopher