For the basics of care for Utricularia im lumping them into three groups by the environments they are found growing in.
Aquatic and semi aquatic Utricularia grow submerged or floating in ponds or shallow slow moving water.
Terrestrial Utricularia grow mostly in consistently damp peat bogs or meadow clearings. Most of these will grow happily in the typical peat and sand or perlite carnivorous plant soil mix.
Epiphytic Utricularia grow in trees or on cliffs usually amongst moss that grows in forks of branches or nooks. Use a light media of moss and perlite and top water lightly rather than a tray method much like you would care for an orchid. Most of these Utricularia prefer cooler conditions and a temperature drop at night like you would have for Heliamphora
Utricularia likes to grow out horizontally colonizing new media and if confined to a small pots with little surface area it can slowly peter out. If new growth slows change out or divide the media by taking clumps of Utricularia growth and transplanting into the fresh new media.
Flowering for manny types of Utricularia is brought on by end of the rainy season. In cultivation with steady conditions some Utricularia stubbornly won’t flower. To help induce flowering reducing water levels or frequency can trigger an artificial coming of the dry season.
Feeding I lightly mist my Utricularia with a very diluted fertilizer (maxsea) once a month. But possibly just as important is keeping a consistent moisture level so the microbial colonies that coexist with Utricularia stay strong and healthy.
Aquatic and semi aquatic Utricularia grow submerged or floating in ponds or shallow slow moving water.
Terrestrial Utricularia grow mostly in consistently damp peat bogs or meadow clearings. Most of these will grow happily in the typical peat and sand or perlite carnivorous plant soil mix.
Epiphytic Utricularia grow in trees or on cliffs usually amongst moss that grows in forks of branches or nooks. Use a light media of moss and perlite and top water lightly rather than a tray method much like you would care for an orchid. Most of these Utricularia prefer cooler conditions and a temperature drop at night like you would have for Heliamphora
Utricularia likes to grow out horizontally colonizing new media and if confined to a small pots with little surface area it can slowly peter out. If new growth slows change out or divide the media by taking clumps of Utricularia growth and transplanting into the fresh new media.
Flowering for manny types of Utricularia is brought on by end of the rainy season. In cultivation with steady conditions some Utricularia stubbornly won’t flower. To help induce flowering reducing water levels or frequency can trigger an artificial coming of the dry season.
Feeding I lightly mist my Utricularia with a very diluted fertilizer (maxsea) once a month. But possibly just as important is keeping a consistent moisture level so the microbial colonies that coexist with Utricularia stay strong and healthy.
