Pings

Information

About Pings & Growing Conditions

Pings, short for Pinguicula (or Butterworts), are one of the most popular and easiest carnivorous plants to grow.   They are perfect for catching tiny insects like midges, flies, and fungus gnats using their glossy, sticky leaves.

They are fantastic bog plants, which is why we’ve placed them in this category.   They absolutely love perpetually wet, nutrient-poor conditions.

Care Instructions:

• Watering: The most important rule is to keep their feet wet!   We grow ours in trays that are continuously topped up with water.  They should never be allowed to dry out.

• Soil: We've potted these up for you in a perfect mix of sphagnum moss and sharp sand—this provides the acidic, nutrient-poor environment they need to thrive.

• Placement:  We grow ours both in the tunnel house and outside, as long as they get good light and stay damp.   Bright, indirect light is generally best.

They trap insects to get the essential nutrients they can't find in their preferred soil. Watch them go to work!

Growing Guide: Bog & Aquatic Plants

General Care

Plants in this category are moisture lovers, requiring consistently damp soil or standing water to thrive.

• Watering: For bog plants (like many marginals and carnivorous types), the soil should never be allowed to dry out completely.   Keep them in sealed pots or containers without drainage holes, or place them where the water table is naturally high.

• Aquatic Plants: Water lilies and submerged plants generally require still, non-turbulent water and a suitable planting basket to keep them anchored.

• Containers: For many marginals, placing the pots on a saucer of water is a good way to maintain hydration.

• Fertilising: Be cautious with fertilisers, especially with carnivorous plants which get nutrients differently.   Always check individual product descriptions for specific feeding needs.

If you have any specific questions about plant placement or water conditions, just give us a shout!