Butterwort is a carnivorous plant that is quite easy to propagate yourself. Propagation is by leaf cuttings or by sowing seeds. What you have to consider if you want to multiply the easy-care Pinguicula yourself.
Butterwort is best propagated by cuttings
Propagating butterwort from cuttings
The easiest way to propagate butterwort is through cuttings. The best time for propagation is late summer.
- Cut leaves with stem
- Fill pots with white peat or carnivore soil
- Put leaves in moist substrate
- Keep substrate well moist
- cover with a plastic hood if necessary
Use a sharp, clean knife to cut the cuttings to ensure a clean cut. A piece of the stalk must be left on the leaf.
The stalk of the leaf cutting is inserted so deep into the potting soil that only the leaf is sticking out. Keep the soil well moist, but avoid waterlogging. Keep the cutting warm and bright.
Propagating butterwort from seed
Butterwort seeds are available from well-stocked specialist shops. But you can also try to get seeds yourself. If you grow Pinguicula indoors, you must do the fertilization yourself using a brush.
The typical seed bags form from the withered flowers. The black seed falls out once ripe. To catch it, you can wrap the flower in a bag.
Let the seed dry well so that you can sow it the following year.
How to sow butterwort
Spring is the best time to sow butterwort seeds. First prepare seed pots with carnivore soil or a mixture of white peat, quartz, sand and some clay.
Do not scatter the seed too densely on the surface and press lightly. Pinguicula belongs to the light germs and must not be covered with substrate.
Place the pots in a partially shaded but bright place. Keep the surface moist, avoiding waterlogging. After emergence, prick out the young plants.
tips
There are some native butterwort species in Germany. They are all threatened with extinction due to changing environmental conditions and are under nature protection. Therefore, never take Pinguicula seeds or plants from the wild.