How to grow aquatic floating bladderworts from seed?

Question

Along with my previous question about Sarracenia, I'm also thinking of growing floating Utricularia (bladderworts) in the pond. Still not quite decided on the species (there are invasive issues to consider), but I am looking at suppliers. If I chose seed instead of plants, how would I germinate them?

Would getting a jar of pond water (should be full of microbes and daphnia) and dropping the seeds in, be sufficient? I don't want to drop them straight in the pond, because I think the fish will eat the seeds.

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 14 '16 at 19:06

3

I am currently trying to germinate bladderwort from seed. I prepared a very moist soil less mix in a plastic transparent egg carton and put them under indoor lights.

Six weeks later progress is slow. The seedlings are one to two millimeters high.

I believe the real difficulty will getting them large enough to out grow the algae that will start growing in a few months on the soil less mix.

answered Jun 14 '16 at 19:06

kevinskio

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By "soil-less mix" do you mean something like sphagnum or coir? – winwaed Jun 14 '16 at 21:18
@winwaed yes, I do. Either will do, something poor in nutrients but good in retaining water. – kevinskio Jun 14 '16 at 21:49

How to grow aquatic floating bladderworts from seed?

1 Answers1