Ping ID, no flower... "/

[gregantula]

It's been too long since I had any carnivorous plants, and I just wanted one so so badly. After three garden centres, I finally noticed some Pings mixed in with the orchids!!! The staff had no clue, they're just plants that came with their orchids.

Anyhow, I have no idea what kind it is... There was one with a flower, but I didn't take it because I thought that it may drain the plant, especially given it's unfavourable conditions... The bud looked a darker purple colour (not black-dark, but defiantly not a pale flower...).

Here are pics of the rosette at least... Hopefully it stands out to someone who can name it for me... 

Thanks in advance!!! ^_^

(Oh, FFS, my files are too big... I'll try linking to Flickr...)

Does this work? www.flickr.com/photos/98031810@N07/

[John Brittnacher]

It is definitely a Mexican Pinguicula. It is not getting enough light to show characters that would allow a guess as to what species or set of species it could be.

[gregantula]

So, in that it's Mexican, the sphagnum I bought and replanted it into is a mistake. Crap.

It's in my window now with half a pop bottle over top of it for humidity (I left the lid off so there can be some circulation). I get sun there after 3 o'clock, sometime, until it goes down (I live on the fifth floor).

How badly do I need to repot this guy? Sphagnum is a far cry from an alkaline medium, I know... "/

[ICPS-bob]

Be careful about your half pop bottle in the sun. It can create an oven and quickly bake your plant. I find that my Pings do not need any extra humidity, but I live in a coastal environment. Why do you think planting in your Sphagnum was a mistake? It should work just fine. I use a sphagnum peat/vermiculite/perlite mix, but I have also grown them in live sphagnum. The only way to get a decent guess at what Mexican Ping or hybrid you have is to look at a flower.

[gregantula]

Thanks Bob (and John, before you...).

The half bottle is just temporary while the plant makes a bit of a recovery. I am aware of the warming that happens inside from the last time I was in this hobby (my God, it's more than ten years ago. I need to get my toes wet again!!!). Given the area of the pot compared to the area of the rosette, I think the water evaporating from the moss itself should provide enough humidity for the prostrate leaf arrangement. I just want to "baby" it for now, until it starts to show some signs of strength.

My concern for the medium was from something I read about Mexican Pings preferring alkaline soil, given the limey habitats they come from. If you say the moss will do just fine, GREAT. I'd hate to repot the poor plant again...

[hcarlton]

Not all species live in the alkaline soils, many are known to be semi-epiphytic and live in the mosses of trees, and others just don't care where they grow. As long as the watering regimen is watched closely, sphagnum may be worth the try.