Rachel Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 Hi I am about to build my first bog garden in a large watertight planter but need some advice. I am planning on planting Sarracenia, a Darlingtonia and maybe my small Venus Fly Trap and Sundew in the planter and am working on guidelines from the Savage Garden. First question - my planter is made out of fibreglass. I assume this is an okay material for Sarracenia as I can't find any counter indications anywhere against fibreglass. I would appreciate any advice. The planter is about 2.5 ft tall and I have drilled 'over-spill' holes about an inch from the top. I plan on filling the planter with a mix of wet peat and washed kids' play sand. Second question - how do you wash kids' play sand? Can you wash it with tap water? Is there any cheaper option? Horticultural sand seems more expensive although I believe it would be just as good. Third question - as the planter is so deep, I would like to reduce the volume of space that I will need to fill with an expensive peat/sand mix. Can I put polystyrene at the bottom or does anyone have other suggestions? The Bog Garden will be placed in a sheltered part of my garden and I plan on bringing the plants in to the greenhouse in the winter as the raised planter may increase exposure to cold. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 fibreglass probably ok don't use play sand, may be alkaline, silver (quartz) sand or gravel is best, most horticultural sands OK but test first with vinegar. don't use polystyrene, it can be toxic to many CPs, use clean bricks or empty inverted pots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 I'd use horticultural sharp sand, rather than play sand. There is no guarantee that play sand is lime or salt free. See here with regards to polystyrene: http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=34687 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted May 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 Thank you both. Stephen, how do I test for alkaline with vinegar? By the way, thanks for the Amorphophallus (i). I am looking forward to nurturing them to maturity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 (edited) Put some white vinegar into a cup and add some sand. If it bubbles or fizzes then the sand is alkaline, so don't use it. EDIT: Sorry, I just re-read and seen that you asked Stephen this question. Edited May 18, 2010 by mobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted May 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 Thanks, Ralph. I seem to only have balsamic in at the moment so I will get some white vinegar and try later : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 Thanks, Ralph.I seem to only have balsamic in at the moment so I will get some white vinegar and try later : ) Who's Ralph? Regards, Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tha_Reaper Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 Who's Ralph?Regards, Carl i think he takes the quote in your signature as your own ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted May 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 Sorry about that, Carl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 Sorry about that, Carl! It's ok After Tha_Reaper explained, I can see where you got Ralph from... but I'm far too common to have a name of Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantrid Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 (edited) Having your over spill just one inch from the top in a deep container will essentially mean that if it rains for any length of time, which WILL happen where you live, you will end up wit a tub of water with the peat as a soft slushy mess. I would either put the overspill much further down, possibly as far as half way down, or drill a few tiny holes in the bottom. It will mean that the planter will not become too saturated and the water loss will not be great enough between downpours to cause it to dry out. Remember peat is like a sponge and will hold the water in its structure and it will easily move by capillary action from the wet parts to the drier upper parts. Edited May 19, 2010 by mantrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted May 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2010 Thank you, Mantrid. That is a very useful suggestion and I will use it. As a matter of interest, what moisture consistency in the sand/peat mix should I be aiming for? Damp, like the soil surface at the top of the pot when the tray method is used? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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