Bladderworts make up the largest genus of Carnivorous Plants with over 200 species. They are found on every continent in a wide range of environments. When you purchase a bladderwort make sure dormancy requirements, if any, are indicated.

The #1 problem with aquatic bladderworts is fungus growing in the water. Make sure you change the water frequently, once a month anyway. Should one become over ran with algae remove it and rinse it in clean Ro or bottled water. You are not after perfect, just try and get the bulk of it. Place in a clean container with clean water.

In extreme cases clean what you can and switch water. Watch for new growth and when you have a few inches of clean new growth cut it off and start new plants in clean containers.

Water fleas not only feed the bladders but eat algae, plus its fun to watch. Available in the Live Food section. Trumpet snails also safely clean up algae but they create mass amounts of ammonia, so change water often if used.

Some Aquatic Bladderworts require large volumes of water to survive while others require very little. Utricularia Gibba can survive in as little as a cup of water. Before you purchase an aquatic bladderwort make sure you know how big of an area it requires to survive. For Aquatics I use RO water made into a peat tea. To make peat tea I boil roughly 1/4 cup of peat moss to a gallon of water for 5 minutes. Let cool and pour mixture into your planting container. You can strain the dirt out if you like, I like.

I have found that placing some long fiber sphagnum moss on top and letting the water level rise and fall helps induce flowering in aquatic Bladderworts.

Light - Most bladderworts can survive in lower lighting but almost all will benefit from bright indirect light for several hours a day. If growing in sunlight be careful the container doesn't get to hot, especially if its a glass one. I grow mine under lights for 14 hrs a day.

Soil - The type of soil, if any, is determined by the type of Utricularia (Bladderwort) you have.

Terrestrial - 50/50 peat/perlite. Generally keep the water level mid way up the pot, flooding on occasion.

Tropical - Equal parts long fiber sphagnum moss/peat/perlite. Water the same as the rest of the carnivores.

Aquatic - Use peat tea as described above or simply add 1 cup of peat per gallon of water they are in.