So after getting the spider plant, and 3 different kinds of tradescantia to grow, I decided my life's goal is to successfully grow Pinguicula, a carnivorous plant. However, these are not the best beginner plants. They require specific soil, specific water, specific light requirements etc etc. The ones I received were also so small, and the plants are physically much more delicate than anything else I've ever received. I immediately realized I had no idea what I was doing.
My first order was placed November 12th 2023 and I got a Pinguicula laueana “CalCarn Red" which had a bright red body. California Carnivores must not sell it anymore because it doesn't even have a page anymore. When I got it in its little cup, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I think I just filled the deli cup it came in with regular soil and SOAKED IT in distilled water. Needless to say, it died pretty quickly.
The next ones I ordered was November 23rd, 2023. I got soil this time, but I also got another Pinguicula laueana “CalCarn Red" as well as a Pinguicula laueana "Red". You can see the second order here in the bulbasaur pot, which was a terrible idea looking back but its what I had on hand. Both the CalCarn Reds are already dead by the time I took this (December 20th, 2023) but everthing else is doing ok. You can also see an order I placed on December 10th which was one Pinguicula “Lilac Lollipop" and one Pinguicula cyclosecta. I was playing around with what would work the best to water them. I had some dollar store containers and I tried poking holes in one and then resting it in the other as a tray. I later learned what a self watering pot is, and that's the vibe I was trying to do but I didn't have a wick. I have a tiny tupper wear with a ping in it and it sits in a tray to water. Same with bulbasuar.
Here's the two Cyclosecta together. This picture is from January 16th, 2024. They would end up being the longest lived pings I would have. I received one and something happened to it in transit. One side was missing like all of its leaves. So I emailed back the company that sent it and asked if they think it would be ok. They sent me a new one just in case. They didn't have to do that, but it was really sweet of them to give me one more to kill. By this time I was trying not to over water everyone. So I switched everyone to color coordinated small nursery pots that I water with a tray. I had the Reds still, a lilac lolipop, and these two cyclosecta.
These are the same two pings. This was May 7th, 2024. My beloved lilac lolipops did not survive the winter. The Cyclosecta were still in what I thought was dormancy.
This is everything I had left on May 8th 2024. The right 3 died. My the left 2 are the cyclosecta. They just...never came out of dormancy ever again. I dont know if I over watered them. I dont know if I didn't have enough light. I dont know what I did to these things. But after a year...I got sick of them. Then one day I woke up and they were finally gone. Sometime in spring of 2025 I was able to toss out the remains and turn it into a succulent garden.
They've only been gone a few months and I'm already thinking of setting up a new ping garden. I still would love to give them a shot now that I have a new lighting set up, more knowledge, and more help online. I just REALLY want these plants to work. Especially since we always get a gnat problem in the summer and this year was no exception. I also just personally love them. Everyone who can get them to live says they're pretty simple and easy so I'm really not sure what I'm doing wrong.
