Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 7/14/2011

Question
QUESTION: Please disregard my last question, as I forgot to put the photo along with my question. Sorry! This one has the photo included.

The species I have is a Butterwort. I do not know the exact name other than that.

The issue I have been experiencing with my Butterwort is that the leaves seem to be very thin and papery to the touch. They also have begun to shrivel slightly around the edges of the older leaves. They also do not produce any sticky dew like they did when I first purchased them. Is this an over-watering, humidity, or sunlight issue?

The lighting I am currently using is the windowsill on a south-eastern window for good light, but not full strength, direct sunlight that would harm the plant. (I also have a grow light with 2000 initial lumens, 6500k color temperature, and full spectrum light rays that I can use if needed. I am using distilled water to keep it moist, but not waterlogged. This Butterwort is planted in 100% peat moss in a 5" plastic pot and I also have the option of placing a thin layer of sphagnum around the base of the plant. I just bought the plant, so I have grown it for around 2 weeks myself.

I live in Pennsylvania, a few miles south from the capital, Harrisburg. If you MapQuest it, you should find a rough idea of where I am located if you feel the need to do so.

Thanks so much for your time and knowledge!

ANSWER: Hi Devon,

Thank-you for the picture and information.  That always helps.

It looks like you have a Pinguicula primuliflora.  This is the most common butterwort in cultivation, and mass marketed.  It looks like the plant was in low light, and very high humidity before you got it.  Did you purchase it in one of those little cubes from a store?  If you did, plants marketed like this always tend to be weak, and take some time to adjust to normal conditions.

For right now what you're doing is fine.  Bright light, but not hot sun, keep the soil moist, and give it time.  Once it looks like better leaves are being produced, then move it to brighter conditions.  Once it is hardened off, it will enjoy a sunny window.  When grown in proper light, P. primuliflora has leaf margins that roll up some.  This plant also tends to do better in larger pots.

This plant does have a reputation for being a bit fussy, as are most butterworts from the Southeastern U.S.  Be sure to not to keep the soil waterlogged since it is very prone to root rot.  If you have an interest in butterworts I strongly recommend Mexican butterworts since they are easier to care for, and often large and showy.  

Good Growing!

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



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I did not buy it in the "death cube" containers as people call them. They were in a tiny 2" plastic green pot, which is a tiny version of the one I have it planted in right now. It had a clear plastic lid that was rounded on the sides and flat on the top.

Yes, I am pretty sure it had semi-low light and very high humidity, as the small container kept the air all inside the small enclosure. Right now I have a plastic container overtop of it to keep the humidity enclosed, and I also put a thin bed of sphagnum moss around the base of the Butterwort to also help with the humidity.

I will show a picture of the plastic container I am using, as I don't know if it is letting enough sunlight through to the plant, as it is a thicker plastic.

I have a plant growing light that I recently purchased that is 2000 initial lumens and 6500k color temperature/full spectrum. Would you know if that would be a good way of it getting light if my windowsill can't get much sunlight, or would that be too intense and make the plant shrivel? It has an adjustable strap so it can be directly above it to about a foot and a quarter away from the plant.

Thanks once again for your great advice and time helping me! Have a great day!

Answer
Hi Devon,

You're cooking your plant.  For the transition period you can keep this partially over the plant, but brace it up some so you have ventilation in there.  Keep increasing the amount of the opening over a couple of weeks, then remove it.  The goal here is to not have the cover at all.  The humidity requirements you often read about of carnivorous plants are overblown at best, with just a grain of truth for certain species, none of which you have.

Moving the butterwort to your fluorescent light is a good idea for now.  The light is softer and not as hot.  Keep it about 3 inches above the plant.

Good Growing!

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