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Carnivorous Plants/P.macroceras hibernacula question

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Expert: - 9/28/2008


Question
Hi Guy,
my macroceras have started developing their hibernacula and I was wondering how should I over winter them? I know they can rot if kept too wet so I was wondering how you guys do it.
                                           Thanks,
                                                 Mark W.

Answer
Hello Mark,

I am a bit new to Pinguicula as well, however; the general idea is to keep the soil barely moist by watering the plants about half as much as during the growing seasons. Keeping them cool, down to about 40 degrees for temperate plants like P. macroceras, also reduces the chances of mold as does a dose of ultraviolet light for several hours a day.

I would ask this question of Sarracenia Northwest for a definitive answer since I am working on actively growing the Pinguiculas. I am currently only growing the South American species.

Be aware that butterworts tend to let their roots die back a bit during hibernation, so might even float free of the soil if too much water is poured into their pots at once. This has not harmed some of the South American species I have been growing, however; they are not yet ready for their dry season hibernation.

So long as there is no standing water and the soil is never too waterlogged, the plants should be fine.

Christopher

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Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

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