Utricularia livida

Utricularia livida is a carnivorous bladderwort from Africa and the Canary Islands that forms a fine, hair-like mat of thread-thin leaves embedded with microscopic suction bladders. The tissue culture form provides a clean, vigorous starting plant free of algae or pests. Submerged in shallow tanks it creates a delicate, grassy carpet; emersed in a paludarium or terrarium it produces prolific small lavender to pale-purple flowers on slender scapes. Like other small Utricularia species it thrives in low-nutrient, moist conditions and is particularly sensitive to competition from stronger-growing plants and algae. Growth is slow to moderate. Excellent for nano biotope aquariums, specialist carnivorous plant collections, and Wabi-Kusa compositions.

Light: Medium CO2: Not required Fertilisation: Very low nutrient requirements; low nutrient substrate Placement: Foreground carpet; paludarium Propagation: Mat naturally expands; divide sections