Pinguicula esseriana

Pinguicula esseriana is a diminutive butterwort species native to the mountainous regions of Mexico, where it grows in thin soils on limestone outcrops and rock crevices. These habitats experience seasonal shifts from warm, wet summers to cooler, drier winters, influencing the plant’s annual growth cycle.

It forms tight, flat rosettes of small, rounded leaves, each surface covered in glandular hairs that secrete sticky mucilage for trapping small insects. This carnivorous adaptation provides nutrients otherwise scarce in its mineral-poor substrate. In the dry season, it produces a compact rosette of succulent, non-carnivorous leaves to conserve moisture until rains return.

During the active growing period, Pinguicula esseriana may produce delicate, violet to pink flowers on slender stems held above the foliage. Each bloom typically lasts several days, and healthy plants can produce multiple flowers across the growing season. The species remains very compact, often less than 3 cm across, making it suitable for small collections and terrarium culture.

Care Tips:

• Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates some gentle morning sun.
• Water: Use only rainwater, distilled, or reverse-osmosis water. Keep the soil moist in summer; reduce watering during the dry-season rosette phase.
• Humidity: Moderate humidity; ensure good air circulation to prevent rot.
• Media: Nutrient-poor mix such as peat with sand or perlite; avoid adding fertiliser to the medium.
• Fertiliser: Not required in the soil; may be fed occasionally with small insects if not catching prey naturally.
• Temperature: Prefers mild temperatures between 15–25 °C; protect from frost.
• Repotting: Repot annually at the start of the growing season to refresh the medium.