Question

Pinguicula grandiflora   QUESTION: last year about this time I purchased the pictured plant...   it grew quite well and flowered for several months...    it went dormant in June or July and hasn't shown any hint of coming out of dormancy...

I was wondering how long this 'bud' should last...  

when it went dormant I let it go dryer than when it was growing...   and took care of it as your care guide suggested...

I have attached a picture -- you may have to enlarge it to see it better....

thanx for your help,   Claire

ANSWER: Hi Claire,

The resting bud looks pretty normal, but it should be well out of dormancy by now, especially in Alabama.  Did the plant spend the winter outside?  P. grandiflora needs cold winters.  If it was indoors it's seasonal cues may be off.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hello Jeff...    this plant looked so 'dainty' that I thot it shouldn't be left out in the Florida winter.....   is there anything I can do to help this plant out of dormancy??

thanx for your time in this,  Claire

Answer
Hi Claire,

Try spraying it with sulfur-based fungicide, put the pot in a plastic bag, an place it in the refrigerator for about a month.  After that bring it out again and see if it starts growing.  Otherwise you may just need to give it time and see if it comes out of dormancy on it's own.

This is one of those examples where it really pays to notice the tag color on our plants.  Pinguicula grandiflora is a temperate butterwort originating in Northern Europe.  They occur in Ireland, British Isles, and mountains in France and Italy.  It regularly is covered with snow in the winter.  They are very, very different than Mexican butterworts.  One of the reason you rarely see temperate butterworts for sale is that they are difficult to overwinter in warmer climates.  They need cold during dormancy.  P. grandiflora is the most forgiving species.  The most common temperate butterwort, P. vulgaris, needs to be frozen during the winter.  Depending on what part of Florida you live in, keeping it in a shady location outside during the winter would be best.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com