Utricularia gibba
Utricularia gibba · Lentibulariaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant utricularia gibba: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Utricularia gibba
- Family
- Lentibulariaceae
- Plant type
- Aquatic carnivorous plant
- Flowering
- Spring to summer (yellow flowers)
- Adult size
- 5 to 15 cm in length
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Not very hardy, prefers temperate waters
- Origin
- Pantropical (all continents except Antarctica)
Care
Watering and immersion
Bladderwort is a fully aquatic plant and must remain permanently submerged or semi-aquatic. Maintain a water level of 5 to 10 cm above the substrate. Change the water regularly to prevent the buildup of pollutants and maintain water quality. Nutrient-rich stagnant water promotes its rapid growth.
Light and exposure
Place the plant in a well-lit area, ideally with 6 to 8 hours of natural or artificial light per day. Bright exposure stimulates flowering and strengthens vitality. Avoid prolonged shade, which would slow its growth.
Substrate and environment
Use a light substrate rich in organic matter (peat, fine sand) or plant it in slightly acidic to neutral fresh water. Utricularia gibba can also float freely without specific anchoring. A nutrient-rich substrate will promote trap formation and reproduction of small aquatic animals that feed it.
Fertilization
No fertilizer is necessary if the water contains natural nutrients from microorganisms and debris. The plant derives most of its energy from capturing small prey (zooplankton, larvae). In very pure aquarium water, a highly diluted mineral supplement can support growth, but remains optional.
Pruning and propagation
No pruning is required. Simply remove dead or invasive portions to maintain ecological balance. Multiplication occurs naturally through fragmentation: small fragments regenerate quickly and form new independent plants.
Health and pests
Bladderwort is generally robust in well-managed aquatic environments. The main risks are excessive eutrophication (too many nutrients) and the proliferation of competing algae. Maintain good water hygiene and avoid prolonged stagnation to prevent any imbalance.
Did you know?
Bladderwort is one of the most sophisticated carnivorous plants in the aquatic world: its tiny traps (utricles) function like vacuum pumps that suck in small animals in less than a millisecond. Distributed across all continents except Antarctica, it has fascinated botanists for centuries and has served as a model for understanding the mechanisms of predation in plants.
Where to buy it
Best planted in spring or autumn, away from frost and heatwaves. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September, October.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Common butterwortPinguicula vulgaris
- BladderwortUtricularia vulgaris
- Utricularia intermediaUtricularia intermedia
- Utricularia australisUtricularia australis
- Pale butterwortPinguicula lusitanica
- Horned bladderwortUtricularia cornuta
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.