Pots & Media


 

Most carnivorous plants will grow successfully in acidic media. Sphagnum peat or long-fiber sphagnum moss are the media of choice, with added material that makes the media suitable for drainage while undiminishing its acidic properties. Selections include perlite, vermiculite, horticultural quartz sand and the like. Unfortunately, many of the larger commercial retailers do sell these ingredients, but often they have been supplemented with various additives and fertilizers which may be beneficial to other species, but are nearly invariably deadly to carnivorous plants.

We offer the media type and pre-mixed media selections as listed below.





Sphagnum peat moss
Canadian
Sphagnum peat moss is the ideal all-purpose carnivorous plant medium. If you're not certain where to begin, this is a reasonably fail-proof opening medium ingredient for most carnivorous plant species.

One-gallon bag: $5.00





Perlite
Synthetic lava rock
Proper drainage is essential for almost all carnivorous plants grown in "captivity". Absence of proper drainage may lead to root rot and eventual death of the plant.

One gallon bag: $5.00





Carnivorous Plant Mix #1
Dionaea, Drosera and Sarracenia media
This generic 1:1 mix of peat moss to perlite is a basic mix that can be used on almost all carnivorous plants. I typically use it for Dionaea, Sarracenia and Drosera, but it can be used with Nepenthes and Pinguicula as needed, as long as the proper watering conditions are used.

One gallon bag: $5.00




Carnivorous Plant Mix #2
Nepenthes media
This is a mixture that consists of 20% peat moss, 40% perlite and 40% orchid bark. This is one of two formulations that I use for Nepenthes pots. The peat moss is sufficient to provide the necessary acidic soil, while the perlite and orchid bark allow for strong drainage.

One gallon bag: $6.50




Carnivorous Plant Mix #3
Nepenthes media
This is a mixture of 50% long-fiber sphagnum moss and 50% orchid bark. This alternative Nepenthes formulation retains more water than Mix #2. The use of LFS over peat moss means that watering may be less frequently done, but care should taken to ensure that the medium is not so wet that root rot develops.

One gallon bag: $6.50





Carnivorous Plant Mix #4
Pinguicula media
This is a 1:1 mixture of peat moss and horticultural sand. In my experience, this has been a good mixture for Pinguicula, which do not require conditions as wet as those of many other carnivorous plant species. Other growers have also used this formulation with Dionaea (which I haven't tried) and pygmy Drosera, which was less successful in my hands. Your own experience may differ.

One gallon bag: $6.50




 

Plastic Nursery Pots
While all of our plants are provided already potted, you may find that you're looking for additional pots, or possibly larger pots for repotting. We have a small selection of gently-used surplus pots for sale. Colors may vary depending on availability, between green, black and orange.

Two-inch pots (orange): coming soon
Three and a half inch (3.5") pots (black): coming soon
Three and a half inch (4.5") pots (black):
coming soon
Three and a half inch (5.5") pots (black):
coming soon