Mini Bog Plant Selection

[SoLongFairWell]

For a while I've been wanting to create an indoor (or greenhouse-based) minibog. I read a great article by Peter D'Amato (or Mr Tomato as my wife calls him!) on mini bogs in an old issue of CPN. Anyway, I've managed to get my wife to grudgingly agree to have one in the living room window on the dining table that's there.

I got her interested by showing her the plants I'd chosen and getting her input with it and her making some suggestions from other ones in the greenhouse. I had a ruse saying I wanted to do it as it would free up some space in the greenhouse until I can get staging built for the sides.

Peter D'Amato said he managed to fit quite a lot into the first one he created so I'm hoping for the same, even though I'm only using about half the quantity that he did. I need to be careful the container isn't too wide as then they get ridiculously tall which we really don't want considering the limited space.

We've selected S. rubra ssp wheryi (Yellow River, Florida), a catesbaei from Ian and Dianne last year, D. capensis albino, some red formed VFT with cohabiting U. bisquamata, D. aliciae and bog standard D. capensis. I also may very well put in a small S. psittacina I have and the catesbaei may be swapped for an excellens (or if there's room I'll put both in).

We most likely will go to TK Max to see if we can get some nice ceramic bowl.

Here's a picture of the plants I selected earlier.

[welshguy84]

Any more progress on this ? I'm intrigued.

Nice looking Cps you have there.

[SoLongFairWell]

Turns out the wife is totally against having something full of dead bugs on the dining table but she has instead sanctioned a window container of stuff instead. She's being picky over what the container is so I ended up finding one on amazon that could be shipped over here (as most of those market sellers that Amazon have won't ship to Ireland). It's a pricy one so it will have to wait. To be honest I can see this having to wait until the spring now as I have to fork out quite a bit of money (for me) on a big bag of perlite, some silica sand or horticultural grit and some cat litter for my plants. I'm not working until Sept so funds are impossible at the minute. Fed up having no money.

[welshguy84]

Fair enough sounds like the reply I'd get !

"You what to put what, where ! Why !"

"NO CHANCE ! " lol usually that applies to fish tanks etc.......

I'm trying to butter her up so I can have a window planter with VFT's in (I've already bought a large plastic planter but plan on painting it with B&Qs rock looking paint so it might get her blessing lol)

Hope you get back to work soon.

Cheers Kyle

[SoLongFairWell]

Hadn't heard of that paint. Sounds interesting.

[welshguy84]

Heres the link http://m.diy.com/mt/www.diy.com/nav/decor/paint-woodcare/specialist-paints/spray_paint/Rust-Oleum-Stone-Pebble-400ml-11117664?skuId=11608370&tab=rev&un_jtt_redirect

They do different colours etc

[SoLongFairWell]

Things have developed somewhat on the mini bog and it is now complete.  In the greenhouse! I'll be putting it outside in the summer on nice days with no wind. Just as a focal on the table out the front. To give the neighbours something to gossip about.  

 

So, here's the process.  I bought a large undrained bowl from the discount store.  Put some drainage holes in half way up (at the back of the display) and filled it with 50/50 peat and horticultural sand (yes I finally managed to get some that wasn't dust in this god forsaken country).  J Arthur Bowers none the less.  

 

 

It contains the following:

Clockwise from top (12 O'Clock)

 

S. Juthatip Soper

D. capenisis Albino

S. purpurea venosa ssp burkii MK PV9

DM All Red (with U. bisquamata)

DM G14

S. minor var minor (Matt Soper)

D x California Sunset

Centre - S. rubra ssp. gulfensis Yellow River, N. Florida (Matt Soper)

 

I'm also ordering a couple of small Drosera from carnisana, a couple of Utrics and a P. primuliflora to also go in it.  

[chj93]

I've never been too much of a fan of mini bogs but that looks very nice. I once created one but only kept it for a year as I prefer plants in individual pots. But seeing the picture of yours may inspire me to create another one in the future at some point. How is the post dormancy re-growth coming along for your collection?

[SoLongFairWell]

My first Sarracenia flowers are about to open. And growth has restarted on everything. First P. grandiflora has been out for a week. I carefully chose the colour of everything in this bog. Lots of reds in the Sarracenias and offset by the albino capensis. Will look good with the red Dionaea too.

[billynomates666]

Nice balance of plants too, it will look very nice once in growth, you never know you might get orders for bowls from the neighbours.

 

Cheers

Steve

[North West Neps]

Looking good Richard !

I'm glad you've finally been able to get your mini bog started, even if she-who-must-be-obeyed has relegated it to the greenhouse !

I know what you mean about not having enough money to do projects. I've just erected my greenhouse a week or so ago, but it stands empty and unused while i try to save so i can start kitting out the inside bit by bit.

So frustrating !

[SoLongFairWell]

I know Welshy. I keep putting off spending money on the inside of my greenhouse even though it so desparately needs staging.  I just can't help but use any spare cash on plants.  Plus I need to get some paving slabs for in there to go on top of the gravel in the centre as it keeps flooding and I get wet feet.