Kitchen Garden Forum

I have a fancy to create a bog container, in a large container outside, and grow some flesh eaters. I've done a bit of research and found a grower not too far away so I'm ok with that - but would appreciate any information and tips from folk who grow these already. I think I shall be getting a hardy Sarracenia collection (in the spring). Anyone out there know about these?

I saw a lovely collection a few years back, growing in an outside boggy garden, in Amsterdam Botanical Garden - and it was mighty cold - so I'm guessing they'll be ok in Dorset.

Well, my little flesh eaters will be arriving on Tuesday - I'll keep you updated. I've gone for the hardy beginners selection for starters.

Please do diane I'm interested we did try to grow a fly eater years ago it did grow big enough but did not eat any flies

I've seen Sundews at 2000 feet up in the Cairngorms, so some are clearly quite tough.

If we don't hear from you again Diane, we will know they were very hungry when they arrived...

tigerburnie wrote:I've seen Sundews at 2000 feet up in the Cairngorms, so some are clearly quite tough.

Glad you made it back out Tiger, the roots for the ones you saw were 1750ft below, you officially escaped The Day of the Triffids

I've grown Sarracenias, sundew and butterwort in a large bowl in the unheated greenhouse and they survived several very cold winters. I put them there to catch the sciarid flies and the butterwort was very effective with its sticky leaves.

I wonna tell you about hardiness of Carnivorous Plants.
The idea here is to try to insulate the roots only. I've used a polyurethane expanding foam. the VFTs are planted, yes, in a 6 inch section of clay pipe (they are in pure RHS Kelkay "lime-free" grit sand, with a 2cm layer of moss peat on top, and charcoal at the bottom. I tried this because I read a very interesting account by someone who visited the VFTs in habitat and he said that's how they grew - a layer of organic matter on top of sand.) This is inside a cylindrical glass vase, the only purpose of this is to shelter from wind - they hate wind! Then you've got the foam, and then a translucent plastic bucket. And it all sits on a slab of expanded polystyrene. The metal is a thick piece of Al foil which covers a weather station sensor - protection from blinding sun!

My new babies........just arrived, beautifully packed, from Hampshire Carniverous Plants. Just need a deeper tray and some moss to make them look pretty.

Diane, you have just rekindled a passion in me I've now ordered a pack of five from Hewitt - Cooper ill let you know how I get on

Wow Robo - how exciting. We might have started a trend. Looking forward to your updates.

Diane. Reminds me of many moons ago I also went through growing these plant's One Saturday I thought I would give them a treat. So armed with one of those small jam jars used by Hotels, I went to the local fishing shop, and asked him would he fill the pot with maggots, and how much would it cost. I think half of the fishermen in Essex was in the shop getting there supply of maggots.[ by the pint ] I brought the house down. They all thought it very strange I was trying to buy maggots as a treat for plants.

Diane, at least we will have a way of getting rid of the dead slugs

They look very healthy Diane. I think I got a handful of sphagnum moss off the moors to put round them and only watered with rain water to maintain the acidity.