Utricularia radiata
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Utricularia radiata

Little Floating Bladderwort · Floating Bladderwort · Small Swollen Bladderwort · Swollen bladderwort · Few-flowered floating bladderwort

Tier 2 Difficulty: hard Water: high Light: full_sun
Temperature
15–37 °C
Soil pH
5–6
Hardiness
Zone 7–11
Click count
13
Observations
12

Description

Source: leafsnap

Utricularia radiata, the little floating bladderwort, is a medium-sized suspended aquatic carnivorous plant that belongs to the genus Utricularia. U. radiata is endemic to North America.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun

The little floating bladderwort is native to habitats with plentiful sunlight, such as open bogs and sunny wetlands. It prefers full sun but can also tolerate partial sun.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 15–37.8°C

Little floating bladderwort prefers moderate temperatures, about the same as what people typically find comfortable. It does best in conditions that are not excessively warm or cold. High temperatures mainly pose a risk of sunburn, so in summer it’s wise to give it some shade to avoid too much heat. When temperatures fall, the plant goes dormant. To keep it growing continuously, you need to keep temperatures higher through the winter. Frost can harm the plant and should be avoided.

Ideal temperature: 15–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 5-6
Soil pH: 5-6
🌱 Fertilizer
🪴 Pot & Repot 2-3 years

When repotting Little floating bladderwort, select a pot 1-2 inches (2.5–5 cm) larger that provides ample drainage. Use a well-draining potting mix. Repot in spring or fall, ensuring the root ball sits slightly below the rim of the flower pot. Water thoroughly after repotting and place the plant in a warm spot with indirect sunlight.

Suggested frequency: 2-3 years
✂️ Pruning

The little floating bladderwort thrives in aquatic environments and is characterized by its small, floating traps. To manage its overgrowth, encourage new growth, and improve water quality, prune it from early to late spring. Carefully removing dead foliage helps maintain the plant's health and controls its spread, ensuring a vibrant appearance.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Annual, Perennial
Genus
Utricularia
Family
Lentibulariaceae
Hardiness Zone
7-11
Mature Height
0 cm to 30 cm
Mature Spread
10 cm to 30 cm
Leaf Color
Light Green
Leaf Type
Semi-evergreen
Flower Color
Yellow
Flower Size
1.02 cm to 2.03 cm
Bloom Time
Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
Planting Time
Spring, Summer
Harvest Time
Late summer, Fall, Early winter
Native Area
Mexico

Tags (7)

Common Names (5)

en Little Floating Bladderwort
en Floating Bladderwort
en Small Swollen Bladderwort
en Swollen bladderwort
en Few-flowered floating bladderwort