Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Indoor plants

Go out and get this plant if you’re having problems with fungus gnats

Stacey Nguyen
By

If you’ve ever had a fungus gnat problem, you may know how much of a pain they are to manage, even if they’re not particularly harmful to plants. Enter the butterwort, aka the pinguicula plant. Similar to the Venus flytrap and monkey cup plant, this carnivorous plant actually feeds on pesky fungus gnats, whether the plant is situated outside or inside. As a bonus, this plant is stunning as well, pushing out delicate blooms in the spring. Ahead, we go over all that you need to know about the unique butterwort plant and how to care for it.

Butterwort plant in bloom

What does the butterwort plant look like?

Butterwort plants feature thick, bright green leaves that have a bit of a greasy feel to them—that’s the resinous substance that traps the fungus gnats. During the spring, typically around May to July, they also push out delicate yellow, pink, purple, and white flowers. The more light you can give your plant, the more vibrant its flowers will become. Just keep in mind that butterworts dry out in the winter and go through a succulent dormant phase where they form rosettes with non-carnivorous leaves. Come springtime, they usually put out leaves and blooms—cutting back dead foliage during the winter will help expedite this process. Don’t worry if your butterwort doesn’t flower immediately. It may take them a year or two to grow big enough to grow flowers.

Recommended Videos

How does the butterwort plant feed on fungus gnats?

Butterwort plants trap fungus gnats (as well as fruit flies and other prey) with the resin on their leaves. They have microscopic glands on their leaves that produce a sweet mucous full of digestive enzymes. The bugs get stuck on the dewy substance, and the enzymes in it slowly digest them.

Related
Butterwort plant

How do you care for the butterwort plant?

The butterwort plant isn’t necessarily the easiest plant to maintain, but its beautiful blooms and gnat-trapping abilities make it worth your time and effort. Because the butterwort is carnivorous, pests aren’t problematic, but other factors may require careful consideration.

  • Light: In terms of lighting, it can tolerate full sun to partial shade, which means that it can adapt on your window sill or under grow lights if you can’t leave it outside.
  • Soil: For soil, the pinguicula prefers a rocky mix that doesn’t retain too much water—a combination of perlite, sphagnum moss, and sand tends to work for it. The butterwort, like many carnivorous plants, has evolved to survive nutrient-poor soil, so fertilizer isn’t a must for its health. (In fact, these plants, if you recall, get their nourishment through bugs!) If you choose to fertilize your plant, create a solution with water and mist your leaves during the growing season—some butterwort growers find that a solution of liquid succulent and cactus fertilizer works best. While not always necessary, a monthly or bimonthly fertilizer misting may encourage leaf and bloom output.
  • Temperature: This plant prefers warm temperatures. It’s perennial in zones 10 and 11 but should be a houseplant in colder regions.
  • Water: Hands down, the trickiest part about caring for the butterwort plant is its watering needs. It does poorly with hard water and needs pure, distilled water (or rainwater) without minerals or chemicals to thrive. You also never want the soil to dry out completely—if you keep your plant outside, you’ll want to make sure its soil is evenly moist but not soggy. To avoid overwatering, you can opt to bottom water your plant.
  • Pollination: You also want to remember to pollinate your pinguicula plant if you don’t leave your plant outside where it attracts pollinators. Taking a toothpick to spread the pollen should work fine.
  • Propagation: Propagating a butterwort plant is easy. All you have to do is pluck off a leaf and place it in soil, then wait for it to grow bigger as you give it the same care as the mother plant. You can also propagate butterworts by way of seeds; place your seeds in soil and moisten them to help them germinate.

In addition to helping you capture pesky fungus gnats, the butterwort plant, or pinguicula, is a delicate plant with gorgeous blooms. To get the most out of your plant, you need to give it proper care, which can require more deliberation than an easygoing cactus. While this plant may initially be finicky, understanding its needs—especially for filtered water and moist soil—will encourage productive, bug-trapping leaves and lovely flowers.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Stacey Nguyen
Stacey Nguyen
Contributor
Stacey's work has appeared on sites such as POPSUGAR, HelloGiggles, Buzzfeed, The Balance, TripSavvy, and more. When she's…
Caring for the unique zebra plant – What you should know to keep it thriving
Person caring for plants

When you get a new plant, it may be hard to know how to care for it, but doing your research can calm your nerves. So give yourself the power to understand how to care for the stunning zebra plant, and read this guide to ensure you can give it the proper care and attention it needs to thrive. 
What is a zebra plant?
The zebra plant, or Aphelandra squarrosa, is native to Brazil and would make a lovely addition to any indoor plant collection. They are temperamental plants and not recommended for beginners. But the zebra plants large dark green leaves with bright, whitish-yellow veins are hard to resist.

In ideal conditions, they might even produce a bright-colored yellow flower that can last up to six weeks. This flower typically appears in late summer or early fall and is the highlight of owning this plant. When cared for properly, the zebra plant can grow up to 2 feet tall and 5 feet wide when it's fully mature. However, you might find it hard to get it that large with its sensitivities.

Read more
Wondering how to care for an inch plant? Top tips for the tropical plant
Green and dark purple zebrina leaves

Tropical plants can be alluring for any gardener, but they aren’t always easy to care for. With their unique patterns and interesting shapes and colors, it’s no wonder gardeners love bringing these plants into their homes. However, growing a plant in a different climate than it's used to can be tricky, especially if you aren’t sure what they need.

If you’re interested in bringing a taste of the tropics home with you, then why not try growing Tradescantia zebrina, also known as a wandering Jew or inch plant? (Note: While wandering Jew has long been the common name for this houseplant, the name has its roots in antisemitism, so we won't be using it). This mildly toxic plant is easy to grow and impressive to see. Here’s everything you need to know about Tradescantia zebrina plant care!
Soil and seasons
Zebrina grows well in many soil types, as long as it's a well-draining soil. Adding perlite or a small amount of peat moss can help the soil retain water without exposing the plant’s roots to too much water. If you’re growing your zebrina in a pot, make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom. Adding a small amount of compost to the soil can help ensure your potted zebrina will have enough nutrients, since potted plants don’t have access to natural means of replenishing the nutrients in their soil.

Read more
Plant of the Week: The easy-to-care-for, flowering Rhaphidophora decursiva
houseplant care

When you're bringing that brand new plant home, the excitement might subside for a moment when you realize you'll have to now try and keep your new plant baby alive. But, fear not; we have the complete guide to caring for your new rhaphidophora decursiva.

What is a rhaphidophora decursiva?
Native to the tropical forests of India and Southeast Asia, in the Himalayan foothills lives a gorgeous plant called rhaphidophora decursiva. The leaves can grow up to 40 inches long and 20 inches wide in the wild. The plant can be 40 feet in length when in its natural habitat; however, it doesn't typically get more than 5 feet tall when grown indoors. The leaves have a unique feature that causes them to "split" or create lobes, which gives the plant an elegant look. A unique and fascinating fact about this plant is how it germinates. These plants germinate midair in the branches of trees, then land on a tree, grow their roots along the trunk, and reach up toward the sunlight above. It attaches to the host tree using strong aerial roots, which also makes them great vining plants in our homes.

Read more