Bladderwort Care Tips: Everything You Should Know
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We also know Bladderwort by its scientific name “carnivorous aquatic plant.” It belongs to genus Carnivorous and family Lentibulariaceae. It is a rootless plant and does not need much soil to grow.
Also, this plant does not possess root, attaching it to the floor of the water where it can grow ultimately. Also, it’s a floater that flows in the water.
Like other carnivorous plants, it has flytraps for trapping insects to supplement the nutrient it gets from the water where it grows.
To learn further about Carnivorous plants, read this: The 10 Most Fascinating Carnivorous Plants
Does Bladderwort Require Winter Dormancy?
Yes, Bladderwort like Venus flytrap undergoes winter dormancy during cold winter. There is a reduction in growth during winter and death of some of long branches and leaves. The growing tip of the Bladderwort known as Turions, will form resting buds. Bladderwort typically stays in their dormancy period for three to four months as long as the temperature is 10 degrees Celcius or below.
Do not fret if your Bladderwort sink to the floor of the water it is planted on during winter dormancy. It is perfectly normal, and your Bladderwort will stand again after the winter dormancy is over. Should you notice the water in which your Bladderwort is freezing, move towards the plant to a warmer place. You can also refrigerate your Turions till spring when you can replant it.
Here’s another guide about Carnivorous along with its other species: Is It Possible to Grow Carnivorous Plants in Temperate Climate?
Tips on Caring for Bladderwort
- You can plant Bladderwort in temperate, tropical regions and even in the mountainous areas. Thus, anywhere there is water, be it a river, large ponds or lake is a suitable habitat for your Bladderwort.
- If you plant it indoors, then you need to expose it to at least four hours of sunlight daily. If there is no sunlight, then get a bright fluorescent bulb to provide enough light intensity in place of the sun for the growth of your Bladderwort.
- Similarly, if you are growing it indoors, then you need to provide it with constant water. It is because water provides your plant with nutrient and gases for its survival. Also, use black containers in planting Bladderwort as this discourages algae growth, thereby reducing your plant’s competition.
- Your Bladderwort cannot store energy because of the absence of a real root. It tends to use up all energy produced entirely. So, it needs a high amount of oxygen. Acidic moderate to hard water will do the trick.
- Add peat moss to the bottom of the container you planted your Bladderwort to keep the water supply to your Bladderwort acidic.
- During winter dormancy, you can refrigerate your Turions to keep them viable and replant them after the dormancy is over. Place your Turions inside the water with freshly added peats. Add peats even if you are planting them in a pond.
You can find more care tips apart from Bladderwort with our collection of guides for Carnivorous plants in general here: Care Guides
How Bladderwort Traps Insects?
Bladderwort leaves in nitrogen and phosphorus-deficient environment. Thus, that led it to evolve over the years into carnivorous plants to supplement for this deficient micro molecules from insects that they consume. They feed on little insects such as ants and mosquitoes.
- Bladderwort’s trap is known as the bladder, and it is under the water surface. Moreover, it is a small hollow tube-like object at the submerged distal part of the Bladderwort. The valves are always shut.
- There is a low pressure inside the traps or bladders. That’s due to osmotic water movement from the outside part of the bladder to the inner region.
- The bladders have sensory bristles, which are sensory hairs projecting from the entrance of the bladder.
- The smart Bladderwprt plant has formed a symbiotic relationship of some sorts with microorganisms around the bladder to help attract and digest its preys.
- When insects trigger the bristles at the entrance of the bladders, it opens up, and the insect goes into the interior part of the bladder by water influx into the bladder.
- It is a very rapid process, and the doors of the bladder slams shut in milliseconds to prevent the escape of the prey.
- The digestion of the caught prey starts immediately after the bladders slam shut.
- The bladder opens in about 15 minutes after trapping an insect to let out the excess water trapped in it and to prepare itself for catching another insect.
Things You Should Know About Bladderworts
- There are over 220 species of Bladderwort available all over the world.
- They do not have roots; they float on the water, which they grow.
- Also, they can be as tall as 8 inches.
- Bladderwort contains some medicinal properties too.
