You are here:

Carnivorous Plants/soil for nepenthes

Advertisement

Expert: - 2/3/2011


Question
QUESTION: Hi! Would it be fine if I gave my nepnthes ventrata a soil mixture of 1 part sphagnum peat moss and 2 parts perlite?

ANSWER: Hello Victor,

Nepenthes are not picky about soil, so long as it is acidic, yet airy, and holds in some water, it is fine. The only problem with using so much perlite is the soil might become too loose and try to float away when you water it and it is not variable in texture. In other words, try varying the object textures in the soil with one part orchid bark, one part perlite, and one part sphagnum peat moss to develop areas for the roots to grip, areas of water retention, and areas of airy spaces.

Christopher

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

QUESTION: Thanks for the help! But I only have sphagnum peat moss and perlite.
Would it be okay if I use a 50/50 mix of that for it's soil?

Answer
Hello Victor,

Too much moss in the soil would hold too much water in and possibly drown the roots. Nepenthes like water, but do not like to sit in water, so that is the reason to create variable textures and airspaces around the roots. If you absolutely have to you can get away with two parts of perlite and one part of the moss for now, but seek other good alternatives, like orhid bark and pumice in various sizes to mix in and repot the plant in a year or less.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.