BUTTERWORTS
Pinguicula
Butterworts are a fairly easy-to-grow carnivorous plant. They remind me of succulents (and some species have leaves that actually turn into non-carnivorous succulent leaves during the winter). Like succulents, they can be propagated with leaf pullings.
Butterwort leaves are covered in tiny sticky hairs. They trap small insects, and then secrete digestive enzymes. They tend to catch smaller flies such as gnats and fruit flies. I often use them to protect our fruit from flies.
They grow in shadier areas, so if they are exposed to really hot direct sun the leaves might scorch. Signs of heat stress are crisping of leaves.
SOIL
I like to use a mix of one part perlite to one part sand to one part peat. A lot of perlite will keep the soil airy and allow the roots to grow more abundantly.
DORMANCY
Only temperate butterworts need a dormancy. They will form a resting bud and stop growth completely.
WATERING
I use the tray method, but let the water go down a bit before refilling.
PROPAGATION
There are three easy methods of propagation. Seed, leaf pullings, and division. Seed is the trickiest. If you look in the flower, you'll see a flap hanging down from the top. This is the stigma. Behind this are the pollen-holding anthers. You'll have to use a paintbrush or a toothpick to swipe up behind the stigma, grabbing the pollen. The pollen can be put onto the stigma. The easiest method is by leaf pulling. A lot of species will only work during the winter succulent phase. Strip the leaves off the side, making sure to get some of the white part. Then lay them out on some soil and wait. It's that easy. New plants will grow really fast. The third method is by division. Over time, or during dormancy, new plantlets will form next to the mother plant. These can be divided.
trigger hairs