LarsKurth Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Hi, I was wondering what the best soil mix for a bog garden to mainly grow sarracenias in is. I have been growing a small number of Sarracenias (about a dozen) in larger pots that were submerged in the border, but the plants have slowly declined over the last two years. Probably salts from the surrounding leaking into the soil. So I decided to go for the real thing and create a proper bog patch: the area is 1.2 x 1.2m and I was going to make the bog about 60 cm's deep, with the bottom 20 cm's serving as water reservoir (using pond liner). Now comes the hard part: what is the best substrate - obviously it should last for years! 1) The basis would be Moorland Gold 2) However I need to add additives to avoid that the substrate compacts over the years. What is the best option? Sand, Perlite, hydroleca (2-3mms)? I was thinking of top-dressing the area with fine orchid bark to help control weed Regards Lars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Given the choice of Sand, Perlite or hydroleca (2-3mms), personally I would choose hydroleca. Here's my reasoning: Sand: If you can absolutely, definitely, without a doubt, guarantee that it is pure quartz sand then it is good. But if there's are chance that it may not be then there is a risk of slowly contaminating your peat and ultimately you will end up having to replace it. Perlite: Looks totally unnatural and floats to the top of the soil when watered. Some people don't mind this but I personally think that a bright white surface looks unpleasant. I have recently started to experiment with using a certain type of clay cat litter - more details HERE, as a replacement for perlite. I have a 40 litre tub containing one part cat litter to 3 parts peat, in which I have some hardy sundews planted, but it's far too early to say whether it is good long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 I have some cps's planted outside in barrels and have used a mix of peat, sand and perlite - personally I dont mind the white perlite rocks on top of the soil although like Carl says some people dont like it. Definitely good advice about the sand too - if you go for this then make sure you get the right type......... Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarsKurth Posted March 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Hi, I'll use the hydroleca then. Have plenty left over (Use it in the greenhouse to keep it humid in summer) Lars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 I just use peat/sand sort of mix. But if you are concerned about perlite looking a bit ugly then top dress the pot with gravel. I did this to mine and it seems to help keep the birds and cats off. Also I think it was beneficial for overwintering as if you plant the Dionaea into the gravel with the bulb in gravel and the roots poking down into peat it seems to reduce the chance of rot. I have one of those giant plastic pots and it got very wet but the only Dionaea rot was of a very young specimin. The pot was totally covered in snow and the lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimscott Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Personally, I'd mix peat with pool filter sand and add LFS on top. What is hydroleca? It may be called something on this side of the Pnd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 What is hydroleca? It may be called something on this side of the Pnd. Jim, It's a spherically shaped expanded clay aggregate, commonly used in hydroponics. I believe that one of the common brands your side of the pond is PrimeAgra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loakesy Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Personally, I've just used peat and rough sand. Does the trick for me. I find that perlite tends to settle on the top of the soil after heavy rain, which really spoils the effect for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimscott Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Perlite drives me nuts! It is too "airy". I believe that too much Perlite led to the drying out of my baby Drosphyllum and possibly a D. graminifolia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 (edited) I find perlite aesthetically unpleasing. I’m trying out a fired molar clay product at the moment as an alternative. My mexican pings seem to like it when mixed with vermiculite. Edited March 17, 2009 by mobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloroplast Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 1:1 peat:coarse silica sand mix, occasionally topdressed with LFS. Works like a charm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asmustard Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 ive used a mix of 2 parts peat to one part perlite, with a top dressing of sphagnum moss. the moss can consume smaller plants like pings and VFTs if you dont control it, but for sarras a trim once a year is normally enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 mine is Moorland Gold and perlite, with the top few cm Moorland Gold and grit sand, to prevent perlite washing around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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