Pinguicula cyclosecta

Pinguicula cyclosecta | Cyclosecta Butterwort

Blue-green leaves that can develop remarkable violet, lavender and deep purple coloring make Pinguicula cyclosecta one of the most distinctive Mexican butterworts. Its rounded leaves form a compact rosette, and during carnivorous growth their surface becomes covered in thousands of tiny glistening glands. Those droplets are part of the plant itself, allowing the leaves to capture fungus gnats and other very small insects. As the plant moves through its seasonal growth cycle, it can eventually look like an entirely different little succulent before returning to its broad, sticky carnivorous foliage again.

New leaves develop from the center of the rosette while older leaves gradually move toward the outside. The root system underneath is surprisingly small and extremely shallow, often remaining right near the surface of the substrate. That is completely normal for a Ping. It does not need a deep pot or a large root ball to support the rosette above it. Watch the center of the plant because the newest leaves are your best indication of what the plant is doing now.

For natural light indoors, place it directly in an east-facing window or approximately 1–2 feet from a south-facing window, aiming for approximately 1,000–2,000 foot-candles at the leaves. Foot-candles simply tell you how much light is actually reaching your plant. Strong usable light supports compact growth and can bring out the beautiful blue, violet and purple coloration this species is known for. Color can vary between plants and through different growth stages, so use the shape, size and quality of the newest leaves along with color when judging its light.

Under a grow light, use a full-spectrum 5000–6500K fixture approximately 6–10 inches above the rosette, aiming for 1,000–2,000 foot-candles at the leaves. Keep the light centered over the rosette so the plant receives even coverage. If you are moving it from considerably lower light, increase the intensity gradually and watch the newest growth as it adjusts.

Water when your plant needs watered. For Pings at Rooted, that starts with distilled water, reverse-osmosis water or rainwater rather than mineral-heavy tap water. During active carnivorous growth, wet the plant and upper root zone from above in the morning and again in the evening, allowing the open substrate to remain aerated between waterings rather than keeping the pot continuously standing in water. Because the roots sit so close to the surface, you are keeping moisture available where the plant actually has roots rather than maintaining a permanently saturated pot beneath them.

Give those shallow roots a loose, open substrate. A good starting mix is approximately half organic peat moss and half coarse mineral material, with the mineral portion made from materials such as coarse pumice and natural aquarium sand or fine gravel. The finished mix should look visibly gritty and open while still containing enough peat to hold some moisture. Keep the crown resting at the surface rather than burying the center of the rosette. When you eventually repot and discover a surprisingly tiny root system underneath a healthy plant, don’t be alarmed. That shallow root system is part of how these plants grow.

During carnivorous growth, the sparkling droplets across the leaves are called mucilage. They are supposed to be there. The plant uses them to capture tiny insects and absorb nutrients from its prey. You do not need to wipe the leaves clean or remove every dead fungus gnat you see stuck to them. For additional nutrition, Rooted grows Pings using Schultz Cactus Plus 2-7-7 diluted at one full dropper per ½ gallon of distilled, RO or rainwater. Mix it thoroughly into the water and use the diluted solution during active carnivorous growth. The extremely dilute feeding reaches the carnivorous foliage as the plant is wetted rather than treating the tiny root system like a conventionally fertilized houseplant.

One of the most fascinating parts of growing Pinguicula cyclosecta is watching it enter its succulent phase. The change begins in the center. Instead of continuing to make broad, sticky carnivorous leaves, the plant begins producing smaller, thicker leaves packed much more tightly together. As those leaves replace the older carnivorous foliage, the mucilage diminishes and the plant can eventually look like a completely different little succulent. This is a normal part of its seasonal growth cycle. As the rosette becomes smaller and more succulent, its water use changes too, so follow the plant and reduce moisture as its growth slows rather than continuing to wet a much smaller rosette simply because the calendar says it is watering time.

The plant will show you when that cycle begins changing again. Watch the center. When new leaves begin emerging broader and more glandular, the plant is moving back toward active carnivorous growth. Increase moisture gradually as the rosette becomes active again, and return to its regular carnivorous-growth feeding routine as those sticky leaves develop. You do not need a particular calendar date to make that decision. The type of leaf coming from the center tells you which phase the plant is in.

Flowers rise above the rosette on slender stalks and can be allowed to develop normally. Older outside leaves can also age and decline while healthy growth continues from the center. Look at the direction of the whole plant rather than expecting every old leaf to remain perfect through each seasonal transition.

Success looks different depending on which phase your Ping is growing through. During carnivorous growth, look for a compact rosette producing substantial new leaves with a healthy glistening surface. During succulent growth, look for a healthy, tightly packed center continuing to produce small fleshy leaves. Then watch for those broader sticky leaves to return as the plant becomes carnivorous again. Once you learn to read the center of the rosette, the plant becomes very good at showing you what it is doing and what it needs next.