2.5 x 3cm Emersed species grown in a 5 cm pot as a groundcover for carnivorous plants, assiting in keeping soil clean.
 
🌱 Utricularia subulata Care Sheet
(Zygocactus Bladderwort / Aquatic Bladderwort)
Overview
Utricularia subulata is a small terrestrial/aquatic carnivorous plant with a global distribution. It thrives in nutrient-poor, wet soils where it uses underground bladders (utricles) to trap microscopic prey. While often grown for its dense green mats, the real showstopper is its brilliant yellow flowers, which rise above the foliage and add a splash of unexpected brightness to the collection.
🌍 Natural Habitat
Found worldwide in tropical to warm-temperate climates.
Grows in bogs, wet meadows, ditches, and shallow pools.
Often colonizes open, sunny areas with constant moisture.
💡 Growing Conditions
Light
Bright, indirect light to full sun.
Indoors: place under strong LED grow lights (12–14 hrs/day).
Outdoors: thrives in morning sun with afternoon shade.
Temperature
Prefers 18–30°C (your ideal terrarium range 👍).
Tolerates short dips to 10°C but not frost.
Humidity
High humidity (60–90%) keeps growth lush.
Tolerant of lower humidity if soil is always wet.
💧 Water & Soil
Use pure water only: rainwater, RO, or distilled.
Keep substrate permanently wet to waterlogged.
Soil mix:
1 part sphagnum peat moss
1 part silica sand/perlite
(no fertilizer, no minerals)
Can also be grown in shallow trays with just water and some peat fragments.
🌸 Flowering
Flowers are bright yellow, delicate, and appear on tall scapes above the greenery.
Plants flower most freely when:
Well-established in a wet, sunny spot.
Given seasonal shifts (slightly drier, then wetter).
Blooms can be prolific in summer, often carpeting the pot with tiny yellow flags.
🍽 Feeding
Catches microscopic organisms in waterlogged soils.
No need to feed manually; prey is taken care of naturally.
✂️ Maintenance
Can spread rapidly, sometimes becoming weedy in collections.
Thin mats occasionally to prevent overcrowding.
Safe to grow alongside other small carnivorous plants in bog setups.
✅ Key Points for Success
Keep soil saturated and never let it dry out.
Provide bright light to encourage flowering.
Use nutrient-poor soil and pure water.
Enjoy the miniature yellow flowers, which are the crown jewel of this tiny carnivore.
👉 Perfect for bog gardens, wet terrariums, or windowsill trays. While often underrated for its green mats, Utricularia subulata transforms into a stunning display when in bloom—a cheerful spray of yellow against the emerald green.