|
Post by Dennis Z on May 10, 2015 11:34:24 GMT -5
I've decided to finally start a bog garden after seeing all the spectacular gardens from members on the forum. I was thinking of adding some bog-flowers, so does anybody know any cold-hardy bog flowers and where I can obtain them? I'm also wondering if I would be able to grow sphagnum outdoors.... Anybody have success growing sphagnum in their bog gardens? I tried growing sphagnum in the pots of my sarracenia, but I wasn't successful at all.
|
|
|
Post by H2O on May 10, 2015 13:04:44 GMT -5
It's always great to see people thinking about making a bog.
There are loads and loads of bog perennials that will to just fine with Sarracenia. The problem with most is that they outgrow the Sarracenia. One of my favourites is lobelia cardinalis, you can get it at any gardens centre. There are several species of Sabatia that grow naturally with Sarracenia but you would have to start from seeds. Some goes for some of the lily species like Lilium catesbaei. There are numerous species of orchids that grow well with Sarracenia as well. Calopogon tuberosus is the easiest but there are also Arethusa, Pogonia, and many species of Platanthera. Many of these orchids can be found through Fraser Thimble Farms but other then them these orchids can be very difficult to find.
What zone are you in?
If you have flytraps, Pings, Drosera and Sarracenia you'll only need a couple species of flowers to mix in.
For Sphagnum you should have no problem at all. I only grow Sphagnum outside, make sure it's a native one and not from New Zealand.
I have pretty much everything you would want to start a bog, minus the orchids, they just don't multiply that fast. PM me and I can send you a pricelist.
|
|
|
Post by Dennis Z on May 10, 2015 14:01:07 GMT -5
I'm in Zone 5b I believe. Unfortunately I think most of my live sphagnum might be new zealand sphagnum.
I'm already getting a pretty decent amount of sarracenia from roraima, but I'll PM you for a price list. Thanks for the offer, I'll post pictures once I get the bog started. What mix would you suggest? I was thinking of doing my normal mix of perlite and peat, topped off with LFS.
|
|
|
Post by H2O on May 10, 2015 14:18:57 GMT -5
Don't do perlite in an in ground bog. It floats and looks terrible! I always do peat and sand 2:1 or 1:1 works just fine. If you make a large bog you can fill the bottom with peat and perlite but the top 10-12 inches should be sand so when you plant new plants you don't disturb the perlite. You can always do patches of sphagnum in any part of the bog.
Southern species of Sarracenia don't typically like sphagnum around their growth points. They aren't adapted for it like our Northern ones. However many Drosera love it.
|
|
|
Post by Dennis Z on May 10, 2015 15:24:01 GMT -5
Can the sand be regular horticultural sand? I can't find silica sand anywhere. Or, would pure peat work? I had a hunt for course grit silica sand last summer and it ended up in me just buying a huge bag of perlite.
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on May 10, 2015 17:44:10 GMT -5
Horticultural sand likely has lime and various salts contaminating it. It's worth taking time to get the right mix. If you ask around you should be able to find silica sand.
|
|
|
Post by bonfield on May 10, 2015 19:22:09 GMT -5
Would thoroughly rinsed LECA be an acceptable drainage material for the bottom layer?
|
|
|
Post by H2O on May 10, 2015 21:08:21 GMT -5
I agree with Lloyd, keep searching to find the right stuff. It's out there but most of the time the retailer doesn't even know they sell it. You can settle for 20-30 grit and just rinse it.
Cole, LECA would probably work just fine for base layer. It would a little expensive though for anything but small sized bogs.
If you go really deep (more then 2 feet deep) you can just use pure peat. Deep bogs are nice because they can go weeks during the summer without water.
|
|
|
Post by Dennis Z on May 20, 2015 20:20:38 GMT -5
First bog plant for the garden acquired! Picked up a lobelia cardenalis "queen Victoria" from Canadian tire. It's in rough shape but I shall nurse it back to health.
|
|
|
Post by WillyCKH on May 21, 2015 17:18:19 GMT -5
I'm planning to start a micro bog in my backyard this weekend! I'm thinking of using a 5 gallon bucket, pure peat, and perhaps live sphagnum for top dressing. I will probably move a handful of D. Capensis Alba (~ 4 months old grown from seeds) there and see if they will be okay. Does this sound okay? or do I need anything else?
|
|
|
Post by H2O on May 21, 2015 17:31:13 GMT -5
You'll want perlite or sand in there as well. Pure peat isn't usually the best thing to use, especially for a 5 gallon pot. When choose a planter, look for ones that have more surface area rather then depth. The only thing that is going to want more then a foot of depth is larger sarracenia like flava, even then they don't really care all that much about depth.
|
|
|
Post by WillyCKH on May 21, 2015 18:03:18 GMT -5
You'll want perlite or sand in there as well. Pure peat isn't usually the best thing to use, especially for a 5 gallon pot. When choose a planter, look for ones that have more surface area rather then depth. The only thing that is going to want more then a foot of depth is larger sarracenia like flava, even then they don't really care all that much about depth. I see I see. Thanks! I guess I will look for a better container and get more perlite before starting a mini bog then
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on May 21, 2015 19:29:01 GMT -5
I think I have a thread with instructions. Try searching, it was a few years back.
|
|
|
Post by muscipula on Jun 2, 2015 7:00:47 GMT -5
I've decided to finally start a bog garden after seeing all the spectacular gardens from members on the forum. I was thinking of adding some bog-flowers, so does anybody know any cold-hardy bog flowers and where I can obtain them? I'm also wondering if I would be able to grow sphagnum outdoors.... Anybody have success growing sphagnum in their bog gardens? I tried growing sphagnum in the pots of my sarracenia, but I wasn't successful at all. Two good cold hardy water flowering plants would have to be native iris's or some asters , I remember these from going fishing when I was a kid and seeing the pitcher plants growing wild along with them, cattails would also be a nice addition. Sedges and such would also add a realistic look . The sphagnum moss should survive easily . Some hardy drosera scattered around and some hardy pitchers would add flowers easily as well. Sounds like a great idea in my books. I always thought of using kiddy pools and filling them with peat moss and putting them in the ground . Happy growing
|
|