Bladderworth Gallery

Utricularia are carnivorous aquatic, epiphytic or terrestrial plants. Please be aware that the trapping organisms of these plants are so tiny, that they are best observed with a microscope. They have small bladders ranging from a few millimeters to around a fraction of a millimeters. The bladders are vacumized by the plants and closed through a door. Outside of this door there is a hair with some nectar glands, that once triggered open the door. The vacuum inflates rapidly and sucks water including the triggering insect in. Digestion is quite fast at about 90 minutes. After that the vaccum is build up again. The plants capture the smallest water insects up to the size of a mosquito larvae (which it sometimes eats in two sessions, first the tail and then the head!).
Utricularia love lots of light and hate nutrients, as they promote algae grow which competes with these plants and can easily overgrow them. Same applies for other competing organisms like Cyanobacter or mosses. Once this is provide they do actually increase in size quickly and flower often. For this Genus the flowers are what is most attractive. Generally this genus is only for die-hard collectors of carnivorous plants, who are willing to deal with these small plants.
For the soil we recommend something low nutrient and not too airy like coco peat or real peat. Never fertilize. For the aquatic plants we have a small pond with gravel in the bottom, plus frequent addition of some fallen leaves. The tannines of the leaves prevent algae growth. For water only rainwater, aircon runoff, distilled or RO should be used.

U. bifida

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

This plant occurs in several tropical countries and as we discovered also in the southern Philippines. The leaves are tiny, maybe 2-3mm and look like grass. If you order this plant, search your box well, otherwise you might throw it as "some soil" away!

Price: Php 100 for a small clump of leaves

U. calycifida

AVAILABLE MID 2012

This Utricularia has for a change larger leaves that reach up to a few centimeters, which make it look like a giant compared to the others on this page. It's from the northern part of South America and expects warm tropical temperatures and a soggy soil. Many people use dried Sphagnum (LFS), but it's also fine in other low nutrient soil. It does not like bright sunlight and will get stunted then.

U. gibba

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

This Utricularia floats freely in water without any roots. It's very prolific and might take over your whole pond, it might suffocate other aquatic plants and it might return even after removing, so think twice if you want to grow it :) The bladders are slightly bigger than our terrestrial forms, plus it's easier (not easy!) to observe them. Once it has a certain size, It will put numerous yellow flowers on your pond surface. If you order this plant, search your box well, otherwise you might throw it as "some wet towel" away!

Price: Php 100 for a small clump of leaves

U. moniliformis

OUT OF STOCK

Another terrestrial Utricularia that is common all over South East Asia. It can be found as a lithophyte around waterfalls that allow enough sun to enter. It is a very close relative (or maybe it is :) ) to U. striatula. The flower on the picture is slightly over-exposed as it does have some more purple in it. If you order this plant, search your box well, otherwise you might throw it as "some soil" away!

Price: Php 100 for a small clump of leaves

U. vulgaris

OUT OF STOCK

A larger aquatic species of Utricularia common in Asia and Europe. Here you can observe insect catching quite well, if you have the patience. Also notable are the large yellow flowers that emerge above the water surface. As a temperate plant it knows how to do a dormancy, but seems to be ok in the tropics without further measures.

U. warburgii

OUT OF STOCK

A terrestrial Utricularia from China, that is very close to U. caerulea. We are still in the early stages of propagating it, but since it's Utricularia, you won't be waiting for long.