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Carnivorous Plants/Best way to line metal container?
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Question
QUESTION: Location: Portland, Oregon, good lighting, outdoors.
Plant types: Venus flytraps - we bought at your nursery past weekend.
Soil - peat moss
I found an antique wheel barrow (metal) and would love to grow the plants we just bought in them but I understand from Jacob that metal is not good. If I lined this with thick plastic would this work? Is porcelein, as in your tub, okay? Plastic is obviously fine.
I know I need to put drainage in.
Just want to know if lining with plastic makes metal okay?
Thank you.
ANSWER: Hi Deena,
A good thick layer of plastic, such as 6 mil black would be great. Porcelein is fine also since it is inert, adds nothing, and doesn't react with the tannic acid in peat moss.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: So if I line the wheel barrow with the plastic, do I need to put any rocks in the bottom for drainage or just holes in the plastic and peat moss all the way through?
)
Here is a photo of the wheel barrow and maybe that will help you understand what I want to do.
Hi Deena,
Put holes in the plastic, and you should have some holes drilled in the bottom of the wheelbarrow too. (Provided it doesn't already have some like ours.:) You could use something like a straw to align the plastic/metal holes.
I don't think you need rocks on the bottom unless it's just to hold the plastic in place.
I'd recommend using a half and half mix of peat moss and pumice for a container like this. You'll have less issues with floating like you might have with perlite. That will also provide a very porous mix negating the need for a gravel layer.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
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Answers by Expert:
Sarracenia Northwest
Expertise
If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!
Experience
With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again.
Education/Credentials
Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.
No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.
Just the straight facts from guys who grow and propagate
thousands of carnivorous plants each year.
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PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR QUESTION: We no longer answer how-to questions (i.e. How do I propagate...?; How do I grow...?). Instead, we help growers by diagnosing a specific plant problem and offering solutions (i.e. Why is my sundew not producing dew?; Is now a good time to divide my Sarracenia?; Why are the traps turning black?; What's a good substitute for perlite?; Why didn't my seeds germinate?; Can you identify this carnivorous plant for me?) For general plant care, please read our care sheets on our main website: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets For business questions: http://www.cobraplant.com/contact |
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