Repotting guide

When & how to repot Pinguicula 'Tina' (Pinguicula × 'Tina')

Also called Tina butterwort.

More about pinguicula 'tina'

About Pinguicula 'Tina'

Pinguicula × 'Tina' · also called Tina butterwort · flowering

Pinguicula 'Tina' is a vigorous Mexican butterwort hybrid forming a flat rosette of greasy-looking, sticky leaves that trap fungus gnats. Easy and forgiving, it produces violet-blue flowers and switches between lush summer carnivorous leaves and a compact succulent winter rosette. It tolerates ordinary tap water better than most carnivores, making it a great beginner butterwort.

Mature size: Rosette 6-12 cm across; flower stalks 10-15 cm tall.

Watch for — Stretched, pale rosette: Insufficient light. Move to a brighter spot or under a grow-light.

How to tell pinguicula 'tina' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For pinguicula 'tina', watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot pinguicula 'tina'

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Pinguicula 'Tina''s growth habit — flat, ground-hugging rosette of broad, greasy, sticky leaves that traps small flies; shrinks to a non-carnivorous succulent rosette in winter. sends up tall single violet-pink flowers. — sets the pace. Pinguicula 'Tina' is a vigorous Mexican butterwort hybrid forming a flat rosette of greasy-looking, sticky leaves that trap fungus gnats. Easy and forgiving, it produces violet-blue flowers and switches between lush summer carnivorous leaves and a compact succulent winter rosette. It tolerates ordinary tap water better than most carnivores, making it a great beginner butterwort.

What size pot to step pinguicula 'tina' up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Pinguicula 'Tina' stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot pinguicula 'tina'

Spring or summer, while pinguicula 'tina' is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting pinguicula 'tina'

Repot dry. Do not water pinguicula 'tina' for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty fast-draining mineral mix ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set pinguicula 'tina' at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep pinguicula 'tina' completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for pinguicula 'tina'

Pinguicula 'Tina' wants fast-draining mineral mix. A gritty, well-drained blend such as 1:1:1 peat, perlite, and sand, or a peat/pumice/vermiculite mix. Unlike bog carnivores it dislikes soggy peat. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting pinguicula 'tina' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot pinguicula 'tina'?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for pinguicula 'tina'. Repot pinguicula 'tina' every 2–3 years into a snug pot of fast-draining mineral mix, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does pinguicula 'tina' need?

When is the best time of year to repot pinguicula 'tina'?

Should you water pinguicula 'tina' after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot pinguicula 'tina' into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise pinguicula 'tina' after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting pinguicula 'tina'. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.