Terrestrial Bladderwort (Utricularia)
Utricularia make up the largest family of carnivorous plants, growing in fresh water and wet soil as terrestrial or aquatic species across every continent except Antarctica. Most often cultivated for their flowers, which are often compared with those of snapdragons and orchids. They capture small organisms by means of bladder-like traps that suck up the little bugs like a vacuum cleaner.
Watering
Please keep my tray full with water all the time, right throughout the year. We come from a variety of very wet areas.
It’s best to just fill my tray, my special soil mix will give me what I need.
Light
Full to part sun.
Where to Keep Me
NZ is far from my home but has very similar weather. I love a hot day and don’t mind cold, even if it snows. I can live outside or inside on a windowsill.
Dormancy
I may slow down a little when it’s colder but I will grow year-round, so you can show me off to your friends any time you like.
Feeding
My traps are all in the soil. You’ll see the little white bags on my roots if you ever choose to repot me. Since my traps are so tiny there’s nothing you can feed me, I’ll just catch the tiny stuff living in the soil around my roots.
Please do not use fertilisers on me as a lot will harm me more than they will help me.
Soil Recipe
I live in a special mix of sphagnum peat moss and sand. If you need to repot me, please do not use regular soil, I will not survive.