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Carnivorous plants Drainage or not?

AnguisFragilisAnguisFragilis Posts: 95
in Plants
My saracennia and Venus fly traps are getting big so I’m looking at repotting but have received conflicting advice about the need for gravel in the bottom for drainage. My post don’t have drainage holes so won’t be sitting in a tray of water. Is is needed? I’ve never included it before

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Even in the boggy areas where these plants grow naturally, there is drainage, so I imagine they do need some.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,190
    Carnivorous plants are bog plants, they grow in waterlogged soil, so good drainage is the exact opposite of what they need.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Even bogs have drainage.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Perhaps this will be helpful
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/sarracenia-flava-var-atropurpurea/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    @AnguisFragilis We grow many carnivorous plants and all are grown in ordinary pots with drainage holes. They are then put into a trough (with no drainage holes) and rain water is added to the trough. The plants are watered this time of the year every day from the top and the water drains down into the troughs. We do not use any gravel. They are usually split and repotted in early Spring. We also have Darlingtonia growing outdoors in a bog area and have been there since 2010 (-17!!!). They continue to spread and only today we were talking about how great they look with their flowers and splendid trumpets.
  • AnguisFragilisAnguisFragilis Posts: 95
    Thanks all. On the basis that my pitche rplants have always done well none I’ve reported with none. My Venus looks like it’s on its last legs anyway so will probably end up replacing that with a pitcher
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    @AnguisFragilis it often happens that Venus if they flower will die back...totally. Maybe this has happened with yours. Don't give up on the pitchers they are great in catching the flies indoors (but the flowers do smell...not nice but that is why the flies are attracted).Try a Darlingtonia californica. Great plant and as I said before they can be grown outdoors as well as indoors.
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