Utricularia nelumbifolia is found in harsh conditions in Brazil. It grows at great altitudes on the slopes of volcanos. This carnivore has found a solution to this dry environment in the node of bromeliads. It reproduces using long shoots which explore its surroundings in search of new bromeliads. The leaves are almost a perfect circle and remind us of a lily. In the middle of the purple flowers there are two elongated golden spots resembling eyes.

It is extremely interesting to keep Utricularia nelumbifolia in a bromeliad, the way it is found in the wild. This isn't necessary though! You can also keep it in a terrarium or a pot. It needs a temperature around 25⁰C and a light spot. Make the substrate nice and moist every now and then with rainwater of distilled water. This plant likes to keep its feet wet, so make sure it doesn't dry out. The substrate is ideally a mixture of peat moss and perlite or pumice. You can find this and other components in our ‘Plant Accessories’ section.