Question

Brown butterwort leave  

Brown butterwort leave   I am growing a pinguicula primuliflora.
My pinguicula primuliflora's leaves are turning brown from the tips moving to the center, and I don't know what to do or doing wrong. Please help!...
My pinguicula primiflora is usually under fluorescent light for about 4-7 hours a day, it is watered by keeping a tray under it's pot filled with reverse osmosis water up to about an inch. It is potted in what I believe is sphagnum peat moss, and I haven't repotted it yet since I got it. I've had it for about 2-3 months only.
I live in Lathrop,California if that helps...

Answer
Hi Joshua,

I'll start by saying this plant is a fussy customer no matter what you do.  The appearance of your plant looks a bit like it was in low light/high humidity, then was exposed to brighter light or sun and heat.

I find that his plant does best when it's in larger pots with other plants such as Sarracenia.  It likes to be moist, but often rots out if kept too wet.  It likes it bright, but dappling of the light from other plants is beneficial.  In nature they are often growing in live sphagnum moss.

What you can do is transplant your plant to a larger pot.  You can use typical peat/perlite mix for these.  Keep the water level low.  Outside, especially in your area, is best for this plant, but if you have it under lights, keep it about 3 inches from your lights, and no less than a 12 hour day.  4-7 hours is way too short of a daylight period.  If you put it outside, make sure it is partially shaded from other vegetation; dapple light is best.  Full shade such as under a house eave won't work.  Outdoors this plant can stay out all year.  They can handle more cold that you would get in California.

Good Growing!

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