Pest identification
What's eating my kidney-leaved bladderwort?
Fungus gnats
Signs: Larvae feed on fine roots and stolons in the wet sphagnum, causing yellowing leaves and patchy die-back
Control: Tray water with distilled or rain water only; yellow sticky traps; elevate the pot on a mesh rack to improve aeration
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on tall flower scapes distort and abort blooms
Control: Rinse with distilled water; insecticidal soap spray on scapes; hand-remove with a damp cloth
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy deposits on rhizomes and leaf bases, particularly on stressed or repotted plants
Control: Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; inspect rhizomes at repotting time and remove all traces
Keep kidney-leaved bladderwort pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
kidney-leaved bladderwort pests — FAQ
What is eating my kidney-leaved bladderwort?
Kidney-leaved Bladderwort (Utricularia reniformis) is a large-leaved terrestrial/semi-epiphytic Brazilian carnivorous houseplant that grows in wet sphagnum. More susceptible to pests than aquatic bladderworts. Fungus gnats are the main threat, breeding in the permanently wet media. Aphids occasionally colonize flower scapes, and mealybugs can infest the rhizomes of stressed plants.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on kidney-leaved bladderwort?
Larvae feed on fine roots and stolons in the wet sphagnum, causing yellowing leaves and patchy die-back Tray water with distilled or rain water only; yellow sticky traps; elevate the pot on a mesh rack to improve aeration
How do I get rid of aphids on kidney-leaved bladderwort?
Colonies on tall flower scapes distort and abort blooms Rinse with distilled water; insecticidal soap spray on scapes; hand-remove with a damp cloth
How do I get rid of mealybugs on kidney-leaved bladderwort?
White waxy deposits on rhizomes and leaf bases, particularly on stressed or repotted plants Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; inspect rhizomes at repotting time and remove all traces