Peat Free composts for Sarracenia

[Mike King]

Has anyone out there had success with a peat free compost for their Sarracenia?

[nepenthes gracilis]

Of course! I use Pure Living Sphagnum. It works wonders for my Purpurea spp. Purpurea's! I also on occasion when I run out of living will use Dead Sphagnum. I also have success with acidic sand. That's right! Just plain pure acidic sand. But I have only my S.Leucophylla planted in it.

[RICHARD UK]

I think he means a complete alternative compost NepG such as cocofibre etc. using sphagnum moss is ultimatley like using peat and peat supplies are dwindling.

[nepenthes gracilis]

But Acidic sand isn't! :cheesy:

[Cindy]

I have 2-inch tall sarracenias (very young) in a container with only perlite. There's a layer of live sphagnum on top of the perlite for humidity. The container does not have any hole at the bottom.

[RamPuppy]

Richard? Peat supplies are dwindling? I don't want to turn this into an eco debate, but from discussions with Martin (hey Martin remember this? it was really heated on GW), I remember that Germany and other European countries have a real problem with peat harvesting, however, in the America's, it is a little different.

Canada is the chief supplier of peat moss over here, and they don't even harvest peat, they make it from long fiber sphagnum I believe.

Any how, I don't remember the figures, but something like less than 5 % of Canada's bogs are used for peat farming, and they are rotated and renewed every so often to lessen their impact on the environment.

As far as success with non-organic, or odd substrates on sars, sorry, I have never seen the point, so I have never experimented. Good luck to you thou! [img]http://www.**********.com/iBhtml/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif[/img]

[Dionaea Enthusiast]

Do we have an agreement for no eco-debate? OK. Just a point--as demand for peat increases as a result of higher global human population (more people = more gardeners) CP and other bog dwellers will become more threatened. It would be a fine idea to wean ourselves off peat before this happens. That's one reason I want to try the inorganic Nepenthes substrate.

And peat is organic. It is therefore susceptible to inhabitation by fungus that could damage a plant.

Also, peat breaks down over time. An inorganic substrate would need replacement rarely, if ever. That translates to more time for the grower to do what he/she enjoys doing.
Chris

[RamPuppy]

Very good points Chris...

<note to self>

<Moderators Journal Entry>

"Keep an eye on that Chris fellow... he's got ideas.... Ideas are dangerous... must maintain status qou..."

<Warning... packet theft detection... journal entry posted...>

EXPLETIVE....

jk! [img]http://www.**********.com/iBhtml/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif[/img]

[imported_cephalotus88]

just a guess but what is someone used only pine needles? There acidic when they decompsoe

[nepenthes gracilis]

Hmm.....good point Ceph. .......................Hmm.......I have seen Purpurea's up by my well known bogs growing in densely packed areas under tall pines. I may look into that. AND IF we COULD get them to root and grow well in it then we could get more pressure off of peat supplies and pines aren't endangered! :cheesy: