Potting Soil for a Venus Fly Trap
Venus flytraps are native to boggy wetlands in North and South Carolina that have acidic, nutrient-poor soil. One of the keys to growing these plants is to duplicate their natural soil conditions. Does this Spark an idea?
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Features
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The native soil of Venus flytraps, according to Barry Rice on the International Carnivorous Plant Society website, is made up of decaying plants and other organic matter. This mixture called peat has high acidity and few nutrients. Rice recommends planting Venus flytraps in sand mixed with sphagnum peat moss to duplicate their wetlands habitat.
Benefits
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Kate Klier from the University of Northern Iowa Biology Department notes that sphagnum has specialized cells that hold large amounts of water. This moss has natural antibiotic activity and resists decay, which provides extra health benefits for the plant.
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Considerations
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Dr. Samuel Vergio Miensinompe from the Venus Flytrap website recommends using silver sand rather than silica sand in the peat mixture. Silica sand is too alkaline for the flytrap and can lead to growth loss and plant death. Silver sand does not affect the pH level of the soil. Use only peat moss if silver sand is not an option.
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References
- International Carnivorous Plant Society FAQ: About Peat
- International Carnivorous Plant Society FAQ: What Is This Controversy I Hear About Sphagnum and Peat Bogs?
- Venus Flytrap: Growing Cycle of Dionaea Muscipula
- International Carnivorous Plant Society FAQ: Sure-Fire, Easy Instructions On Growing Venus Flytraps
