Caring For Pings

Butterworts are a carnivorous plant that’s commonly referred to as “pings” from their scientific name Pinguicula, which means “little greasy one” in Latin. It is derived from their broad green leaves that are covered with tiny glandular hairs that secrete a sticky mucous. These drops of mucous cause the leaves to shimmer in sunlight which attracts insects. 

Most are relatively easy to grow, and may make great windowsill candidates. They grow best in high humidity and moderate to bright light. Despite what you might read, pings can thrive in lower humidity provided you keep their roots consistently moist and avoid letting them dry out. Live moss can be placed around your pings and if conditions are right, it should grow along with them. Pings can either be placed directly on a rock, on live moss or a ping potting mixture. If you are using Rocks make sure the pot is sitting in a tray of water at all times in order to keep the rocks moist, you may need to be more diligent in offering high humidity. Rocks will dry quickly and if too dry could set the plant back.

Avoid top watering and allowing water to collect on the leaves. It can be done to clean the leaves of dead bugs, but avoid doing this too often. Instead try bottom watering or water around the pings using a small watering can or bottle that has a single hole, this will allow you to water around the plant without actually getting water all over the leaves.

Don’t use chemical fertilizers, pings don’t need fertiliser to thrive they get all the nutrients they need from insects. Pings will feed off tiny soil insects like mites, springtails, gnats and things that are naturally already in your pots. If you have a large plant collection then a ping is perfect to help keep your gnats under control.