Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 11/13/2011

Question
My Pinguicula moranensis plant has been attempting to produce blooms of late, but the flowers and their stalks always wither away at the early stages of growth (this has happened 3 times now). My plant seems perfectly healthy amongst my Pinguicula laueana and moctezumae in the same pot (of which the moctezumae has been producing flowers for several months now). I am using the typical butterwort mix for soil and the pot (which is 10 in in diameter and 5in tall) sits in a water tray with distilled water halfway up the pot. The pot sits in my dorm room in a south facing window with my other carnivorous plants, so they get enough if not more than enough sunlight. Our days up here in Grand Forks, ND are quickly getting shorter all the time and I'm not sure if that would play a factor or not. That a basic overview of the conditions, and like I said the plant appears perfectly healthy so I'm not sure what the problem is.

Thanks,

Garrett Jepsen

Answer
Hi Garrett,

I've had this happen in the past with Moranensis.  It is usually caused from a couple of things.  Light is the first suspect.  If light levels are too low they often won't finish blooming.  If you have other Butterworts blooming well in the same window your light should be fine.  The other suspect is food.  Try giving your P. moranansis a bi-weekly fertilizer spray with a 1/4 strength orchid fertilizer.  Try to find one that is urea-free.  I've had great luck with this one:  http://www.amazon.com/GROW-Orchid-Fertilizer-20-10-20-green/dp/B000YL7GDE/ref=pd  Just gently mist the leaves.  You should see it start to bloom like crazy.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com