Carnivorous Plants/VFT soil mix

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Expert: - 8/12/2007


Question
I brought my brother a VFT and he repotted it in Mosser Lee Desert Sand w/ Peat Moss.  Is the Desert Sand a bad move or will the VFT be ok?

Answer
Hello Thomas,

So long as the sand does not contain any mineral elements like lime, calcium, or magnesium, it will probably be alright. The problem is that I cannot find what particular elements make up that brand of sand, so it is an unknown. All of the online sources merely say that it is sand and that it retards water evaporation. The main reason to use sand, the normal sand to use being silica sand or horticultural sand, is that it provides drainage to reduce waterlogging. So long as the sand can provide drainage and is a neutral substance, it will be OK.

Make sure that the plant was repotted in a brand of peat moss from a plastic wrapped dry bale (Canadian premium types) rather than a bag of moss as the bags often are fertilized. Fertilizers and mineral buildup in the soil from hard water and/or the wrong type of sand will eventually kill the plant in a few weeks to months as it alters the Ph balance of the peat moss, that being a fairly acidic substance.

Sorry I cannot be more specific as I really cannot find the information I need to make a concrete decision about that sand.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

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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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