Floating bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Also known as Humped bladderwort, Shortspur bladderwort

FreshwaterFloatingFragmentationDivision

Floating bladderwort (Utricularia gibba) — Alex Popovkin · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Light: Medium light
CO2: No CO₂ needed
Temperature: 64–82°F; 18–28°C
Max height: 0.8 in; 2 cm

Growth rate: Fast
Placement: Floating
Type: Floating
pH: 5.5–7.5
Hardness: 1–12 dGH
Spread: 9.8 in (25 cm)
Nutrient uptake: Water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Easy
Family: Lentibulariaceae
Origin: A rootless carnivorous plant found in warm shallow fresh water on every continent except Antarctica, drifting in tangled mats near the surface.

Overview

Floating bladderwort is an easy, fast-growing plant that forms a loose green tangle near the surface or over the substrate in shallow tanks.

Did you know

Floating bladderwort's bladder traps are among the fastest movements in the plant world. They spring shut in well under a millisecond to vacuum in prey.

Caring for floating bladderwort

Let floating bladderwort drift at the surface or settle in shallow, calm water. It needs medium light and no added CO2. It takes its nutrients from the water, and it also feeds itself by trapping daphnia, mosquito larvae and protozoa. It does best where that microfauna is plentiful.

It grows fast at 64 to 82°F (18 to 28°C). It can turn weedy and tangle into carpets and filter intakes, so thin it regularly. Any piece that breaks off keeps growing, so a small clump soon spreads.

Good to know

Floating bladderwort, Utricularia gibba, is a fine, thread-like carnivorous plant in the family Lentibulariaceae, with no roots. It is also called humped or shortspur bladderwort. Hollow bladder traps sit along its stems and suck in tiny prey when trigger hairs are touched. In good light it sends small, bright yellow flowers up above the surface. Utricularia is one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants.

In the wild

Floating bladderwort grows in warm, shallow fresh water on every continent except Antarctica. It drifts there in tangled mats near the surface.

Common questions

Does floating bladderwort need to be planted in the substrate?

No. Floating bladderwort floats at the surface and takes its nutrients straight from the water.

Does floating bladderwort need CO2?

No. Floating bladderwort grows well without added CO2.

How much light does floating bladderwort need?

Floating bladderwort wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

How do you propagate floating bladderwort?

Floating bladderwort propagates by fragmentation and division. Pieces that break off keep growing, so pulling a clump apart spreads it. Each plant buds off new ones, so a few soon cover the surface.