Pinguicula (aka butterworts)

[Paul]

Since a couple folks have asked me about the ones I have, figured it would be just as well to create a thread about them.

Many pings do undergo a dormancy period. During that stage, they produce a very different sort of leaf ... one that is smaller and more succulent in nature and lacks the mucilage for trapping prey. How much smaller those leaves are depends greatly upon the type of ping involved. In some species and hybrids, it is very drastic with the entire plant reducing itself to half the size or less than when in carnivorous mode. In some pings, dormancy is triggered by cooler temps and shortened daylength. In others it is triggered by drier conditions. It all depends upon where they are from. Some are very hardline about the dormancy conditions. Some really don't require anything special during dormancy. And, of course, there are those species which don't have a dormancy stage at all.

Both types I have do undergo a winter dormancy. Leading up to that stage, leaves are produced which are thicker, a bit smaller, and not the least bit sticky. The older carnivorous leaves wither away. Dormancy conditions for me are a breeze -- I just put them on a windowsill in my bedroom between the window and the curtain (its cooler there). Water is greatly reduced. Now I do know of folks who, with the same pings I have, don't bother reducing the water and just keep them at room temp and the plants survive their dormancy just fine. So as with so many times one receives advice ... your mileage may vary. In the spring, the pings produce larger, sticky leaves. I up the water at this point.

One of the nice things with Pings, IMO, is the flowers. While there isn't a large color palette to choose from (white through pink/purple is about it), the flowers are quite long lasting.

Pinguicula moranensis

the carnivorous stage



This one, at least for me has a very definite blooming season ... namely now (late summer).

*Note: Flower color is pretty much spot on in this photo







P. Aphrodite (agnata x moctezumae)

The carnivorous stage and the dormant stage on this one look just about the same.




Not sure if it is the result of being hybrid, but this one blooms frequently throughout the year. It took a hiatus a early to mid summer, but is blooming again now and bloomed off and on through the winter.


*the periwinkle "blue" here is accurate, as the flowers age, they often fade to a lighter color






Currently, most of my moran. are just starting to bud up but Aphrodite is showing off, so my community ping pot looks like this