It is hard to buy peat because we have realised it is ecologically unsound to be digging out the landscape to use in gardens.
It can take hundreds or thousands of years to make just an inch or 2 of peat (wikipedia says 1mm / year, but only 30-40% of peat bog is capable of regenerating in the first place), so it is effectively a finite resource.
Just a quick update on the soil that I purchased. The vft's that I divided have all survived and are growing lots of new traps. All have turned a much healthier looking brighter green than they were in their cramped pot. They certainly seem happy, and so I'd definitely buy the mix again.
Aaahhh yes Boater, now you mention it, I remember reading about it a few years ago. For some reason it didn't even cross my mind when I was looking for the appropriate soil mix. Duh!
Hi Lori73 did you buy it from The Little Shop of Horrors? Was just wondering as I have my seeds on the go now and will need more compost when they get big enough. Funnily enough I watched the movie of the same name last night, this thread reminded me of it, 'FEED ME'
I decided to try some of my seeds in some cactus compost i had.The compost is made of just peat and sand and i mixed some perlite in too. I've already got 2 seedlings growing,
Thanks for the link, I'll order some of that. Went and checked this morning and though I was expecting a long time for them to germinate, there are 3 tiny seedlings showing already.
I have been getting my potting mix from ebay for ??2.50 a litre, mixed by a pro, it's great.
Could any of you guys give me some tips on re potting my new Venus fly traps? I've done alot of online research but would be great if you could advise me.
I bought them from Blackbrooks garden centre and as is Unfortunately quite typical of plants from there it was not in the best condition.
My problem is I have 2 plants in one teeny pot and the stronger plant is doing really well but as it gets stronger the weaker plant, as you would expect, just gets weaker. I really need to seperate them.
Can I do this at this time of year ?
I'm scared I might kill them, do I have to be super gentle etc or just as gentle as any other plant ?
standard peat (make sure it has NO fertilizers added) mixed with some perlite or washed sharp sand works great (I usually do 75% peat 15% perlite and 10% sharp sand), for my fly traps I have a pile of pine needles rotting down which I top dress with in the spring (stops the weeds and also is acidic)
potting up us usually done when the plants are dormant (during winter) I usually pot up in around April time, but if you are delicate you could do it now, just try and leave as much soil around the root balls as possible, make sure you give them a good soak before and after you transplant.
once potted up make sure they are somewhere sunny with lots of air flow, mine are outside from February till late October in full sun and currently under an old hamster cage as the local blackbirds try and take the soil for nests at this time of year!
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It is hard to buy peat because we have realised it is ecologically unsound to be digging out the landscape to use in gardens.
It can take hundreds or thousands of years to make just an inch or 2 of peat (wikipedia says 1mm / year, but only 30-40% of peat bog is capable of regenerating in the first place), so it is effectively a finite resource.
Just a quick update on the soil that I purchased. The vft's that I divided have all survived and are growing lots of new traps. All have turned a much healthier looking brighter green than they were in their cramped pot. They certainly seem happy, and so I'd definitely buy the mix again.
Aaahhh yes Boater, now you mention it, I remember reading about it a few years ago. For some reason it didn't even cross my mind when I was looking for the appropriate soil mix. Duh!
Hi Lori73 did you buy it from The Little Shop of Horrors? Was just wondering as I have my seeds on the go now and will need more compost when they get big enough. Funnily enough I watched the movie of the same name last night, this thread reminded me of it, 'FEED ME'
I decided to try some of my seeds in some cactus compost i had.The compost is made of just peat and sand and i mixed some perlite in too. I've already got 2 seedlings growing,
Excellent, good to hear they are doing well. You probably know but they don't like tap water and appreciate the pot sitting in a saucer of water.
Yep ive been collecting rain water in bottles and there has been plenty of rain over the weekend.
Haha Gemma, top film
This is the mix I bought from amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A1OFQ86?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
Thanks for the link, I'll order some of that. Went and checked this morning and though I was expecting a long time for them to germinate, there are 3 tiny seedlings showing already.
Could any of you guys give me some tips on re potting my new Venus fly traps? I've done alot of online research but would be great if you could advise me.
I bought them from Blackbrooks garden centre and as is Unfortunately quite typical of plants from there it was not in the best condition.
My problem is I have 2 plants in one teeny pot and the stronger plant is doing really well but as it gets stronger the weaker plant, as you would expect, just gets weaker. I really need to seperate them.
Can I do this at this time of year ?
I'm scared I might kill them, do I have to be super gentle etc or just as gentle as any other plant ?
Any advice world be greatly appreciated x x x
standard peat (make sure it has NO fertilizers added) mixed with some perlite or washed sharp sand works great (I usually do 75% peat 15% perlite and 10% sharp sand), for my fly traps I have a pile of pine needles rotting down which I top dress with in the spring (stops the weeds and also is acidic)
potting up us usually done when the plants are dormant (during winter) I usually pot up in around April time, but if you are delicate you could do it now, just try and leave as much soil around the root balls as possible, make sure you give them a good soak before and after you transplant.
once potted up make sure they are somewhere sunny with lots of air flow, mine are outside from February till late October in full sun and currently under an old hamster cage as the local blackbirds try and take the soil for nests at this time of year!