MGarland Posted May 30, 2017 Report Share Posted May 30, 2017 (edited) Hi all, Just thought I would introduce myself. I've always been interested in carnivorous plants, but am a very newbie grower. A few years ago I had a couple of cape sundews which were fun for a couple of years, and a venus fly trap which I kept for about 3 years until it failed to come back in the Spring. Now that I have a greenhouse (unheated), I plucked up courage to give it another go. I bought a couple of cape sundews, and a couple of 'spathulata' sundews which I hope to put outside permanently. My biggest question right now is compost for a hopefully expanding collection! Buying it from a specialist seems really expensive so I am keen to make my own, but I don't know where to start. Sundews like a peat and sand mix apparently, but I'm not sure where to buy either (The local garden centres don't seem to stock peat, and I have builders sand but apparently this is too limey). Where do I start? Or am I forced to buy the expensive stuff from the specialists? All help appreciated, MG Edited May 30, 2017 by MGarland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted May 30, 2017 Report Share Posted May 30, 2017 Welcome MG. It sounds as if you're off to a good start and know the basics. You may have to ring around a few garden centres and/or nurseries to try and find a good supply. The bigger, more independent garden centres usually stock at least some form of peat, but you'll struggle to find it at 'retail park' stores such as B&Q, Homebase etc. Shamrock peat is a known brand people usually find. Just try and check the bag description to make sure it's peat from sphagnum, not sedge peat, and has no additives/fertilisers added. Sand is also best bought from a garden centre/nursery as 'horticultural sand'. There is much less chance of it being contaminated with salts/additives, even if it does cost a little bit more. Builders sand is too soft anyway; you want a coarse grain to open up the peat mix a little. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linuxman Posted May 30, 2017 Report Share Posted May 30, 2017 Hi and welcome to the forum. You'll also want to get some perlite which can be bought from garden centres and nurseries but will be quite expensive. Buying in bulk from the internet is much more cost effective. My preferred compost mix for sarracenia is 4:2:1 of peat/perlite/sand. Others will recommend different ratios. Happy growing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tatter Posted May 30, 2017 Report Share Posted May 30, 2017 Hello and welcome as others have said Shamrock peat Perlite and Horticultural sand. Although some growers only use peat and perlite for Sarracenia .Martins mix ratio is good starting point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B52 Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 Hi mate, I uese this moss peat. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sycamore-Trading-IRISH-MOSS-litres/dp/B00GJSZP2U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1496270389&sr=8-2&keywords=Sphagnum+moss+peat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linuxman Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 Just make sure the peat is not from Westland. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannahraptor Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 Welcome. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennisB Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 Hi MG often the best places for buying plants are here on CPUK or at the many Carnivorous Plant Society open days which are held each year across the country. A list of events can be seen at www.thecps.org.uk. Dennis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGarland Posted June 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Hi all, Just wanted to thank you all for such a warm welcome. I'm still very nervous that I'll do something wrong and kill the plants, so it is reassuring to know that there are such knowledgeable people on here who are prepared to answer questions so quickly! Thanks again, MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoLongFairWell Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Welcome. Feel free to ask loads of questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Hi and welcome to the forum. You'll also want to get some perlite which can be bought from garden centres and nurseries but will be quite expensive. Buying in bulk from the internet is much more cost effective. My preferred compost mix for sarracenia is 4:2:1 of peat/perlite/sand. Others will recommend different ratios. Happy growing.Slacks classic ratio, this is my mix too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropicat Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Welcome! I started growing everything in pure peat, since I couldnt get anything else. It worked for a while but I noticed in time with some plants it became 1 big block of peat. I have managed to find perlite now and mixed that in and my plants seem happy again. I buy sphagnum when I'm in England, because I can't find it in Holland. I only use that with my nepenthesesss (neps). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linuxman Posted June 8, 2017 Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 On 06/06/2017 at 8:59 PM, Richard said: Slacks classic ratio, this is my mix too! I'd forgotten it was until I re-read it in his book today. Doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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