If your CP's are not doing well, despite following all the expert's care directions, try live moss as a last ditch effort.
I was growing VFT (typical), sarracenia, and Austrailian drosera since last Spring. They were doing well in the summer but, through only a few days of neglect during a hot summer, they weakened and started to die (sarracenia got burned in the sun, VFT's became overfed with garden insects outdoors and weakened, mold, etc.).
They have had a rough Autumn. I tried doing everything recommended by the experts. The only thing that has brought them back from the brink of death is live moss.
I don't even use moss native to the plant; although that would be ideal. I live in the Pacific Northwest (not the most ideal conditions for CP) and just used moss growing in a shaded area on my lawn. As scandalous as that may seem to experienced CP growers, it has worked and worked very well. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that is the only thing that has worked to strengthen the plant. The sundews are growing offshoots like weeds, and I just noticed a teeny new stalk starting to grow from the lone surviving VFT bulb that I wrote off for dead. Not bad for winter time when they are supposed to be in dormancy!
I'm still uncertain about my sarracenia which started to wilt and molt when I tried to induce dormancy by storing it in a ziploc bag in the fridge as recommended by one CP site. What a crock! It got moldy instead. I sprinkled it with garden sulphur and replanted it in live moss (rather than dried spaghnum/perlite). I also had to cut off all the leaves that were molding, or getting slimy. Currently, they have stopped wilting. The mold is gone, and it's maintaining a brick color; don't know whether that's good or bad. Well, at least it's better than going black and wilting.
I believe live moss has properties that help the plant where dried moss cannot. Dried moss/perlite is too inert of a growing medium in my opinion.
In addition, I believe the CP's gain valuable nutrients through the live moss which dried moss/perlite/sand is unable to provide. Experts seem to suggest that the plant gets enough nutrients from photosynthesis, and bugs, and that the growing medium should stay nutrient poor for best growth. However, I think this is a misconception.
I am even giving my plants straight tap water (gasp!) and they are still flourishing while they are in the live moss. Perhaps, the live moss helps neutralize, or filter the harsh tap water? I don't know.
Live moss is much better than dried and will do wonders for a weakened CP. It even helps deter the growth of mold compared to dried moss/perlite. Give it a try.
The only downside is that the moss will grow tall over time and you'll have to trim it.
I was growing VFT (typical), sarracenia, and Austrailian drosera since last Spring. They were doing well in the summer but, through only a few days of neglect during a hot summer, they weakened and started to die (sarracenia got burned in the sun, VFT's became overfed with garden insects outdoors and weakened, mold, etc.).
They have had a rough Autumn. I tried doing everything recommended by the experts. The only thing that has brought them back from the brink of death is live moss.
I don't even use moss native to the plant; although that would be ideal. I live in the Pacific Northwest (not the most ideal conditions for CP) and just used moss growing in a shaded area on my lawn. As scandalous as that may seem to experienced CP growers, it has worked and worked very well. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that is the only thing that has worked to strengthen the plant. The sundews are growing offshoots like weeds, and I just noticed a teeny new stalk starting to grow from the lone surviving VFT bulb that I wrote off for dead. Not bad for winter time when they are supposed to be in dormancy!
I'm still uncertain about my sarracenia which started to wilt and molt when I tried to induce dormancy by storing it in a ziploc bag in the fridge as recommended by one CP site. What a crock! It got moldy instead. I sprinkled it with garden sulphur and replanted it in live moss (rather than dried spaghnum/perlite). I also had to cut off all the leaves that were molding, or getting slimy. Currently, they have stopped wilting. The mold is gone, and it's maintaining a brick color; don't know whether that's good or bad. Well, at least it's better than going black and wilting.
I believe live moss has properties that help the plant where dried moss cannot. Dried moss/perlite is too inert of a growing medium in my opinion.
In addition, I believe the CP's gain valuable nutrients through the live moss which dried moss/perlite/sand is unable to provide. Experts seem to suggest that the plant gets enough nutrients from photosynthesis, and bugs, and that the growing medium should stay nutrient poor for best growth. However, I think this is a misconception.
I am even giving my plants straight tap water (gasp!) and they are still flourishing while they are in the live moss. Perhaps, the live moss helps neutralize, or filter the harsh tap water? I don't know.
Live moss is much better than dried and will do wonders for a weakened CP. It even helps deter the growth of mold compared to dried moss/perlite. Give it a try.
The only downside is that the moss will grow tall over time and you'll have to trim it.