Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 9/19/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I am in Walnut Cove, NC and my growing zone is 7. My question to you is can sarracenia be good compaion plants for darlingtonia? If so what would you reccomend? I would need a plant that is tall to provide some partial shade (since my bog gets full sun) and that wouldn't mind semi wet feet from the drip irrigation system/pond set up. My ultimate goal is to mimic the conditions darlingtonia experiences in nature.

ANSWER: Hi Daniel,

Any of the tall Sarracenia species and hybrids will do the job for you. You may need to modify the soil mix slightly, but it's possible to grow both Sarracenia and Darlingtonia together.  With the proper winter care, all Sarracenia will make it through your winter just fine, too.  For more information about selecting plants.  For more information about selecting plants for your bog garden, use the plant selection feature on our website:
http://www.cobraplant.com/bestplants

If you're looking for non-carnivorous plants, you will need to consult another expert.  My expertise is only with carnivorous plants.  

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I read in a previous answer about darlingtonia that you no longer find lava rock effective in it's soil mix. Omitting that from it's soil, do you think a standard darlingtonia soil mix with a little more peat/pumice would work for both plants?

Sincerely,

Daniel Bunton

Answer
I haven't read Jeff's full response, but in our discussions, we don't think it's as effective in the quantities that we recently used in some of our plants.  We're still sorting through various factors that may be related to poorer Darlingtonia health when we increased the lava rock.  My guess is that the lava rock may be a red herring, but we won't know for sure until we analyze the soil.

If you want to omit lava rock completely, you can increase the pumice and perlite.


Jacob