Expert: Christopher Littrell - 5/27/2010

Question
Hi
I just ordered some Sarracenia seeds, and I have never grown carnivorous plant seeds before. I have read that the seeds must be placed in the fridge for about 2-4 weeks before planting. Also, i have a some dried long fibered sphagnum moss, would it be ok to grow the sarracenia seeds and plant in pure dried sphagnum moss, or even pure live sphangum? i have also been trying to grow the dried sphagnum, i soaked the moss and put it in a plastic cup in direct sunlight for most of the day, with the moss fully submerged in water. would this make the moss begin to grow, and how long would it take?
Thank you,
george

Answer
Hello George,

Sarracenia stratification should be done for about 8 or more weeks and in moist sphagnum peat and perlite in a 1:1 ratio. You can just place the seeds in a pot and then place the pot in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator for that time period, but you will need to constantly spray with fungicide and keep the moss moist periodically.

Dead long fiber moss can occasionally contain a live segment that is just dormant or may contain spores from the moss that will germinate. This can take a few weeks to see new growth in moss and may not occur at all.

Long fiber and live moss would swallow the seeds and they would die before growing back to the surface. Use granulated sphagnum peat moss for seeds and seedlings and just drop the seeds on the soil surface. You can barely cover the seeds with granulated moss just to keep mold off and moisture in, but never plant the seeds more than a tiny fraction of an inch deep.

Christopher