Butterwort (Pinguicula mundi)
Care, watering, light and tips for Butterwort on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Lentibulariaceae
- Difficulty: Demanding
- Watering: every 2 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Butterwort
Pinguicula 'Mundi' is a hybrid butterwort known for its bright green, succulent leaves that form a basal rosette. These leaves are covered in sticky glands that trap small insects, serving as an effective natural pest control. It's a compact and attractive plant, ideal for open terrariums or as an indoor plant on a sunny windowsill.
Care tips
It requires bright, indirect light; avoid intense direct sun, which can scorch its leaves. Keep the substrate consistently moist with distilled or rainwater, using the tray method. The ideal substrate is a well-draining mix of peat and perlite or vermiculite. A common mistake is using tap water, which contains minerals that can be harmful to the plant.
How to save a dying Butterwort
- Warning signs
- Soft, sticky, or wilted leaves, dark edges. Dry or waterlogged substrate. Lack of mucilage dew.
- First aid
- Check substrate (peat moss with perlite/sand). Ensure distilled/rainwater. Provide bright indirect light and good ventilation. Avoid drafts.
- What kills it
- Tap water (minerals burn it), incorrect or dry substrate, strong direct sun, constant waterlogging.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't totally rotted. Remove dead leaves. Adjust watering and light. Patience is key.