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Carnivorous Plants/peat moss
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Hi, I bought a big bale of Majestic Earth 100% sphagnum peat moss and the bag doesn't say there are any additives in it but when i opened the bag it smelt kind of like coffee. I'm not sure if it is coffee or not but I'm not sure if i should use it for my carnivorous plants? Does peat moss have a certain smell to it?
Hello David,
There are a few things to look out for in buying sphagnum moss in bags and bales. If the moss looks like it has anything in it other then moss, don't use it until you can identify the substance as something neutral. Usually bags and bales of moss do inform the user if they have fertilizers or mineral additives, so if it says anything about limestone or nitrogen or other oddities of that sort, don't use it.
Sphagnum peat moss does smell distinctive. It has a musky, sour odor kind of like coffee, just not as strong. I did look at a 2.2 size bale of the product you inquired about online and it states that it has no EPA rating (I would think that products with fertilizer added would have an EPA advisory) and is only for top dressing and moisture retention. That sounds like it has no fertilizer added.
If you want to try the product, you might use it on a couple of your plants just to see what happens, then if everything is fine after a few weeks, use it for potting the rest. I have never used that specific brand before.
Christopher
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Chris, Thank you for your answer. It is very helpful and i will take your advice and just try a couple of plants at first. Thank you once again and keep up the good work :) David. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
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.
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