P. pilosa x emarginata:
Butterworts (pinguicula) is one of my favorite genus of carnivorous plants. Not only do they have beautiful leaves that range in color from green to red and even purple, they have fantastic flowers, are easy to grow, and easy to propagate.
Leaf pullings:
First and foremost, you can propagate butterworts through leaf pullings, very much like succulents. I've had success with leaf pullings for all of my species of butterworts, however the success rate can vary from 100% to around 25%.
To make a leaf pulling, simply grab one of the leaves at the tip and gently pull it, it helps to pull it to the sides to loosen it. You want to get the entire leaf including the white portion where the leaf connects to the plant. For some of the smaller species such as essariana or kondoi it can help to twist it slightly. Be careful though because you want to pull the whole leaf off and twisting it to much can cause it to break higher up.
Lay the leaf, top side up, on your soil mix (I use 1 part each of peat, sand, lava rock and perlite). I often lay the leaf pullings in the same pot as the mother plant which also helps you keep track of each species. After a week or so you should start to see small bumps on the leaf where you are starting to get growth.
Not all leaf pullings are successful, if you notice and leaf pullings starting to rot, remove them from the pot.
P. gracilis x moctezume successful leaf pulling:
Divisions:
After flowering, some species of butterworts will divide into two, or more, plants. I had one plant (P. pilosa x emarginata) divide into 5 plants after flowering. When this happens, let the second plant grow until it is around the same size as the mother plant. At this point you can divide them. You can divide them before this, just be certain that each plant has its own root system.
Lift both plants out of the soil, butterworts have notoriously short roots so this is easily done, and shake off most of the soil so you can see the roots and the base of each plant. Grab the base of each plant and slowly start to pull them apart. You should be able to feel the roots slide apart.
Place the separated plants back into your pot and you have two plants now!
P. gracilis x moctezume dividing after flowering:
Seeds:
Lastly, you can propagate butterworts from seeds. I'm still working on successfully propagating them this way. Butterworts do not self pollinate so you will need to use a paintbrush or toothpick to transfer pollen from one flower to another. Pollinate a single flower multiple times to increase your chance of success. Once the flower falls off, you should see the seedbud start to swell with seeds. Wait until it turns brown before collecting seeds, sow them by sprinkling the seeds on their preferred soil mix, I use 1 part each of peat, sand, lava rock, and perlite for all of mine.
Flower forming on P. moctezume:
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