Re: Utricularia

Michael (IFMJC@asuvm.inre.asu.edu)
Sun, 27 Jun 1993 21:02:12 -0700 (MST)

I preferrd to grow my Utrics in pure black "peat muck". This way I
could unpot them and see the bladders at their best. If you mix in sand
that ruins all visibility. Some of the epiphytes did well for me in
pure live sphagnum (they were large enough they didn't get smothered).
Only U. alpina was a big problem as I recall. For smaller Utrics I
always liked having a nice "lawn" of pure utric without moss. To do
this, I would (perhaps yearly) peel away the top 1/2 inch or so of
matted utric and moss off the top layer of the pot. This left all the
little white Utric stolons exposed reamining in the pot. These would
quickly grow out and green up, much faster than new moss could take
hold. The Utric then had the monopoly of space. Needless to say, this
procedure is really best left for the more common/expendable species!
-Michael