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Pinguicula alpina is found in the mountain regions of central
and northern Europe and northern Asia. It often grows in basic chalky
soils near springs, brook banks and moist to wet cliffs. Sometimes
it also grows in acidic marshy ground.
The alpine butterwort can be grown in a mixture of one part limestone
gravel (0.5 to 4mm) and one part peat or in a mixture of one part
peat, two parts perlite, and one part vermiculite.
Pinguicula alpina seeds need cold temperatures from -10°C
to 0°C (14°F to 32°F) for 8 to 12 weeks to germinate.
CP-growers in regions with cold winters with snow and ice can sow
the seed outside in pots on their prefered soil mixture at the beginning
of autumn. In spring when temperatures rise and the soil begins
to thaw, the seeds need to be protected against mold so place them
in a bright sunny location. Normally the seed starts to germinate
between March and May. The soil must be always very damp!
For seeds to be started indoors or in a greenhouse, the seed should
be stratified in the refrigerator. The method that uses the least
space in the refrigerator is to place the seeds in a small plastic
bag with a few large pinches of damp peat or crumbled vermiculite.
Keep the seed in coldest part of the refrigerator for 8 to 12 weeks.
After the first winter of growing, the plants should be seperated
when growing too near to each other. Pinguicula alpina forms
winter buds as other cold temperate butterworts. But the plants
have to be very carefully seperated because the buds do not loose
their roots. The roots are relativly thick yellow-brown in color
and very fragile. If too much of the roots break you will loose
the plant! Attention: the plant needs cold winter temperatures to
survive!
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