Each plant is unique. Size, shape, fullness, and variegation will vary.
Pinguicula agnata × gypsicola | Mexican Butterwort Hybrid
Long, fleshy carnivorous leaves give this hybrid a completely different shape from the rounder Mexican butterworts. The cross combines Pinguicula agnata with Pinguicula gypsicola, producing leaves that are broader and more substantial than the very narrow foliage of gypsicola while retaining a noticeably elongated shape. The active rosette can range from fresh yellow-green and lime to peach and soft pink, with stronger coloration developing when the plant receives plenty of usable light. The entire leaf surface is covered with fine carnivorous glands, giving the foliage its characteristic sparkling appearance.
During active carnivorous growth, the plant forms an open rosette of long, rounded-ended leaves radiating from a central growing point. The leaves are thick and fleshy, reflecting the influence of agnata, while their length gives the plant a more stretched, star-like silhouette. Its roots remain extremely small and shallow even as the rosette becomes substantially larger above the substrate. Seasonal growth can change its appearance dramatically. As it moves toward succulent growth, watch the center of the plant. New leaves become shorter, thicker and more tightly arranged while the older carnivorous leaves remain around the outside until they naturally age away.
For natural light, place it directly in an east-facing window or approximately 1–2 feet from a south-facing window. Aim for approximately 1,000–2,000 foot-candles at the leaves during active carnivorous growth. Foot-candles simply tell you how much light is actually reaching your plant. Strong usable light supports compact growth and can bring out the peach and pink coloration this hybrid is capable of producing. Watch the newest growth along with the plant’s overall shape and coloration as you adjust placement.
Under a grow light, use a full-spectrum 5000–6500K fixture approximately 6–10 inches above the rosette, aiming for roughly 1,000–2,000 foot-candles at leaf level. Kelvin describes the color of the light, while foot-candles tell you how much light is actually reaching the plant. Keep the fixture centered over the rosette and adjust its height as the plant grows so the entire crown continues receiving useful light.
Water when your plant needs watered. Use distilled water, reverse-osmosis water or rainwater. During active carnivorous growth, thoroughly wet the plant and its shallow upper root zone from above in the morning and evening rather than keeping the pot continuously standing in water. These butterworts carry almost all of their root system immediately beneath the plant, so moisture needs to reach that shallow zone while the substrate remains open and well aerated. When the center begins producing its tighter succulent growth, water use decreases along with the plant. Follow what the new growth is doing rather than changing care according to a date on the calendar.
Use a small, shallow pot with the crown resting at the substrate surface. A good mix is approximately 50% organic peat moss and 50% coarse mineral material, with the mineral portion made from horticultural pumice and natural aquarium sand or fine gravel. The finished substrate should be visibly gritty and open. When these plants are repotted, the tiny amount of root underneath a surprisingly substantial rosette can look almost impossible. That extremely shallow root system is normal.
The sparkling droplets covering the carnivorous leaves are mucilage produced by the plant’s feeding glands. Small insects, including fungus gnats, can become trapped on the foliage and provide nutrients to the plant. Leave the mucilage in place and allow captured insects to remain. They do not need to be picked from the leaves.
For the Rooted growing method, Schultz Cactus Plus Liquid Plant Food 2-7-7 is added to the regular distilled-water batch during active carnivorous growth at one full dropper per ½ gallon of water. This dilute solution is used when wetting the plants from above, allowing nutrients to reach the carnivorous foliage as part of the regular watering routine.
The seasonal transformation is especially interesting with this cross because the difference between its two forms can be substantial. During carnivorous growth, expect longer, spreading, visibly glandular leaves. As the plant begins transitioning, the first evidence appears in the center while those older sticky leaves may still look completely active around the outside. New foliage gradually becomes shorter, thicker and more closely packed, and mucilage decreases as the succulent rosette develops. When the plant begins returning to active carnivorous growth, broader, longer glandular leaves start emerging from the center again.
A successful plant may therefore look very different from one season to another. During active growth, look for fresh sticky foliage, steady production from the center, strong leaf substance and an expanding rosette. During its transition, look for an orderly change in the newest leaves while older carnivorous foliage naturally ages. During succulent growth, a smaller and tighter plant can be healthy forward growth. Keep your attention on the center. The newest leaves will show you what the plant is doing next.
