The butterwort (bot. Pinguicula vulgaris) is a popular and easy-care plant from the bladderwort family (Lentibulariaceae). It is a carnivorous, i.e. H. carnivorous plant that can be cultivated both on the home windowsill and in the garden bed. In the living room, the robust butterwort keeps away annoying insects that it traps with its sticky leaves. To ensure that the plant feels comfortable with you, there are a few tips regarding location and care that you need to follow.
What characterizes butterwort as a houseplant and how do I care for it?
The butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) is a carnivorous plant that thrives in moist moorland areas and nutrient-poor soils. It can be used as a houseplant to control insects. Care includes a bright but not sunny location, wet, acidic substrate, light watering and annual repotting.
Origin and distribution
The common butterwort (bot. Pinguicula vulgaris), which is native to us, belongs to the genus of butterworts (Pinguicula), which are mainly native to Central America, but also to the USA, Canada and large parts of Europe. In Germany, the previously widespread species is now threatened with extinction due to the severe decline in its native habitat and is therefore on the red list. The common butterwort feels particularly comfortable in wet moorland areas with nutrient-poor soils and in the Alps up to an altitude of around 2.300 meters. The native species is hardy and can therefore also be cultivated in the garden. However, you are not allowed to take fatty herbs from the wild; they are under strict protection.
Usage
In the garden, it is best to plant the hardy butterwort in damp locations such as in a moor bed or by the garden pond or along an (artificial) stream. In summer, the plant decorates these often difficult locations with its pretty, purple flowers. In addition, common butterwort can also be cultivated in planters, for example on the balcony or as a houseplant on the windowsill. However, the necessary moisture in the substrate and in the air must be carefully observed so that the plant does not dry out.
As a potted plant, butterwort looks good wherever you want to get rid of annoying insects. This is the case, for example, if your house or balcony plants are plagued by fungus gnats. You can also often get the appearance of fruit flies, a common nuisance in summer, under control by using carnivorous plants.
In the past, common butterwort was used in natural medicine, for example to treat wounds, to relieve pain (e.g. sciatica pain) and for diseases of the liver, lungs and stomach. Today, however, such use is unusual. In addition, butterwort was said to have magical powers, particularly in today's Great Britain: it was supposed to protect grazing livestock from evil goblins and people from witches and fairies who meant them harm. In contrast to all other previously common uses, the Swedes still use butterwort today as a rennet substitute for the production of “Swedish milk”, a type of cheese.
Appearance and growth
Typical of the perennial butterwort is the fresh green leaf rosette that lies flat on the ground. The tall, slender flower stalk grows out of the center. In autumn, all parts of the plant, including the roots, which are only a few centimeters long, die and the plant overwinters as a hibernacle, as the botanist calls the winter bud. In the spring the butterwort sprouts again from this plant. By the way, root growth is only weak and only a few short roots form: the plant mainly feeds on insects and flower pollen, which stick to its sticky leaves.
leaves
The flat leaf rosettes are composed of narrow, elongated leaves that are slightly curled at the edge and converge bluntly at the tip. Butterwort gets its name because of its greasy, shiny leaves. The shine comes from the sticky attractant secretion that is secreted by fine glands and is intended to attract small insects. Butterwort primarily catches small flies in this way, and the plant itself can become active by additionally rolling up its leaves. This means that even in the rain, if the glue is washed off, the insect will no longer be able to escape. The butterwort then releases digestive enzymes so that the victims are decomposed. This process only takes a few days.
Bloom and flowering time
Between May and August, a flower stalk up to 15 centimeters high rises from the center of the leaf rosette and bears the pretty, violet-like flowers. These are pinkish-purple with a white throat patch, but can also be completely white. The florets are only up to 13 millimeters long and have a spur. They are pollinated by flies, which sometimes get stuck in the mouth of the flowers and cannot escape. Small, egg-shaped fruit capsules then form which contain many black, very fine seeds.
Toxicity
The butterwort is not poisonous to humans or pets.
Which location is suitable?
Pinguicula vulgaris can be cultivated both in a bog bed in the garden and as a houseplant on the windowsill. The plant needs a bright, but not directly sunny location. A sunny or semi-shady place is ideal, where it is protected from the hot midday sun. A window sill facing west or east is ideal. When growing indoors, be sure to ensure high humidity of at least 60 percent: As a wet room plant, butterwort depends on this for its well-being. To increase the humidity, you can place bowls of water near the plant.
Substrate
Most plants need well-drained and rather dry soil. Not so with butterwort, which feels most at home as a moor dweller in wet, acidic soil. In the garden bed, it is best to plant the carnivore in the bog bed. Alternatively, the plant can also tolerate neutral to alkaline soils as long as they have the necessary moisture. For houseplants, use special carnivore soil (€12.00 on Amazon) or mix quartz sand and white peat together in a 1:1 ratio. You can also add some clay to the mixture.
Planting butterwort correctly
The fine roots of butterwort are very sensitive, which is why you should never plant the plant during the summer vegetation phase. Always do this during winter rest, when the carnivore has no roots anyway. The best time for this is early spring or autumn. Never completely cover the winter bud with soil; instead, about half of it should stick out of the substrate. In spring the butterwort develops new roots and thus anchors itself in the new location. At the same time, the new leaves sprout.
Repotting
Repotting butterworts kept in planters should be done annually. The plant doesn't necessarily need a larger pot, but it does need fresh substrate. The same rules apply to repotting as to planting: only move the sensitive plant during winter dormancy so that you do not accidentally damage the tender roots.
Watering butterwort
During the summer months, water occasionally during dry and warm periods to avoid drying out. However, do this carefully because, despite its preference for moist soil, butterwort does not tolerate waterlogging. Waterlogged soil leads to gray mold, which in turn means a death sentence for the plant. If possible, use low-lime water such as collected rainwater, well water or distilled water. Tap water should be descaled before use, for example by letting it stand well. In winter, limit watering to a minimum.
Fertilize butterwort properly
As a rule, you do not need to fertilize the butterwort even in the pot, as the plant takes care of itself through trapped insects.
Cut butterwort correctly
Pruning is also not necessary. Even dead shoots do not need to be removed.
Propagate butterwort
The common butterwort can be propagated by sowing in winter. To do this, sow the fine seeds in shallow bowls filled with potting soil. Since it is a light germinator, you do not need to cover the grains with substrate. However, keep it constantly moist. As cold germinators, the seeds also need a cold stimulus to break the germination inhibition. It is therefore best to place the cultivation containers outside, especially when there is frost. The young seedlings then appear in spring. Now you can either plant them individually in pots or plant them straight away in their location in the garden bed.
Propagation is even easier via the brood buds that form on the winter bud. Simply break them off in early spring and plant them in the desired location or in a pot.read more
Wintering
Sedaceous herbs planted in the garden do not need any special treatment in winter. Only specimens cultivated in pots should be kept as cool as possible during the cold season. Since the non-existent roots cannot be damaged, the pot can also be placed outdoors.
Diseases and pests
Diseases and pests occur very rarely on common butterwort. Pests in particular are not a problem, after all, they form the plant's nutritional basis. You should just be careful that water does not collect in the leaf rosettes: this can lead to gray mold, a disease caused by Botrytis fungi. This initially appears as brown spots on the leaves, later the foliage becomes soft and covered by a greyish-white fungal lawn.
Tip
Fedwort is the right plant for you if you want to get rid of pests - or are interested in carnivorous plants and are looking for a species suitable for beginners. Pinguicula vulgaris has often been the basis of interesting collections.
Species and varieties
In addition to the common butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) presented here, there are around 100 different butterwort species, which are divided into tropical and temperate according to their origin. They sometimes have different location and care requirements, and not all of our butterworts are hardy.
Tropical butterworts are green all year round and do not always need a rest period. For example, the following are suitable for pot culture at home:
- Pinguicula acuminata
- Pinguicula caudata
- Pinguicula cyclosetcta
- Pinguicula emarginata
- Pinguicula filifolia
- Pinguicula gypsicola
- Pinguicula moranensis
- Pinguicula pumila
The temperate growth forms, on the other hand - which also includes the common butterwort - take a break in winter. These include the following species:
- Pinguicula alpina
- Pinguicula grandiflora
- Pinguicula lusitanica
- Pinguicula lutea
