You are here:
Carnivorous Plants/bog garden
Advertisement
Question
Im making a bog garden, but I live in zone 5. I know I should mulch it, but will the spahgnum moss on top protect it? Should I do both? (the spahgnum moss is the long fiber top dreesing kind) Thank you.
Hi Sarah,
Placing the plants in a mini-bog is a good way to help protect them as they would get the similar insulation that they receive in their native bogs. In any case, most North American species would need to be protected from freezing winters that would dry them out. Purple Pitcher Plants are one very hardy species that can grow naturally in zone 5. Other species tend to grow in higher level weather zones like zone 8, like the Venus Flytrap.
The long fiber sphagnum moss might help keep moisture in, but over winter, will likely freeze quite solid in your region. I would mulch the entire mini-bog until the risk of total freeze is over.
In any event, you have all of the growing season to enjoy your bog until winter hits. Just try to keep those pesky birds, squirrels, and curious neighbors out of it.
Good luck with your mini-bog.
Related Articles
- World Hardiness Zones - Hardiness Zones For Countries Around the World
- What Do You Wish You'd Never Planted?
- Sambucus Black Beauty & Black Lace - Black Foliage Shrubs to Add Color to the Border
- Fall Flowers - 10 Top Fall Blooming Plants for the Perennial Garden
- Pennsylvania Monthly Gardening Calendar - Tips & Chores for Your Zone 5 or 6 Garden
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.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.