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Outdoor
Apr 16, 2008 8:25:58 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 16, 2008 8:25:58 GMT -5
I'm going to set-up some outdoors stuff, soon: modest, just some containers as a start, maybe a minibog next year.
I was thinking of a gravel base with some vertical pipes for watering, circulation and ventilation with some sort of medium for the plants.
I'm guessing/remembering that most people use a peat/silica sand medium. Any recipes?
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Outdoor
Apr 16, 2008 9:46:19 GMT -5
Post by keehno on Apr 16, 2008 9:46:19 GMT -5
Hi Loyd. What has worked very well for us out on our deck is large undrained Urn type planters filled with a mix of equal amounts of perlite, peat moss and LFS on top of a few inches of landscape bark. After the CP's are planted and established I fill the planters to the brim with RO water and keep them topped up every couple of days. I also topped the planting mix with live LSF which grew out to make a really nice top layer. We had flytraps, hardy sundews and Sarracenia growing beautifully in there in direct sun, surviving temps from 0 - 42 C. Cheers Rick
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Outdoor
Apr 16, 2008 10:06:55 GMT -5
Post by Syble on Apr 16, 2008 10:06:55 GMT -5
Like rick said. I don't think you'll need a gravel base (besides, you'd never want to use actual gravel as its lime based). For planters I'm fond of a peat/perlite mix, I've found some silica with some kind of aditive (not mentioned) so i'm a bit shy on that now. Though if you want to go the sand route there is always quartz sand... Live sphagnum hides the green snow of perlite and is easier to achieve on planters. As for amounts, depending on what pot or which spot in my bog you are it can be anything from 50/50 peat/perlite(and some sand) to nearly pure peat, dosen't seam to make too big of a difference. Sib
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Outdoor
Apr 16, 2008 11:53:46 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 16, 2008 11:53:46 GMT -5
Thanks.
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Outdoor
Apr 16, 2008 12:13:11 GMT -5
Post by mabudon on Apr 16, 2008 12:13:11 GMT -5
you could use marbles as a base if you're really set on it, I've used them in a few things as an experiment and it seemed to work out pretty good, tho they are on the heavy side.
The basis of what you're proposing is sound tho past that.
Keehno pretty much gave the perfect blueprint in his post, and Sib is dead-on with the gravel
I'm making a container bog for some of my shorter plants as sindews are getting kinda crowded out in the bog proper, I will post my results once stuff wakes up
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Outdoor
Apr 16, 2008 17:59:07 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 16, 2008 17:59:07 GMT -5
The "gravel" I bought at Home Depot is some sort of orange baked clay, I think. It is definitely not limestone. I even tested it with some vinegar and then 1N HCL and there was no bubbling at all. I just want some space at the bottom to avoid a rotten anaerobic mess.
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Outdoor
Apr 16, 2008 18:00:55 GMT -5
Post by mabudon on Apr 16, 2008 18:00:55 GMT -5
OOOooh "gravel" in parentheses, that's more like it, makes sense
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Outdoor
Apr 16, 2008 19:36:36 GMT -5
Post by Syble on Apr 16, 2008 19:36:36 GMT -5
ah the good old tile chip! if you want the flush, why not go with a regular planter with a deep saucer? that way you'd be able to flush it every once and a while? Sib
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Outdoor
Apr 16, 2008 21:06:37 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 16, 2008 21:06:37 GMT -5
I bought some containers at Home Depot to try some outdoor plantings this year. I'll see how these do.
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Outdoor
Apr 17, 2008 9:24:25 GMT -5
Post by Syble on Apr 17, 2008 9:24:25 GMT -5
keep us posted! Lots of pics! Sib
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Outdoor
Apr 17, 2008 11:17:50 GMT -5
Post by Rick Hillier on Apr 17, 2008 11:17:50 GMT -5
Anaerobic mess, eh? In my outdoor bog, all you need do is break the surface of the peat a little bit and it's positively deadly... but the plants seem to be happy in it.
I've been in bogs up around Killarney (way back in the bush) that pretty much seem to be the same way. In fact, the biggest purp purps I ever saw were in a stagnant pool of water with a kind of peat slurry in it.
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Outdoor
Apr 17, 2008 12:25:51 GMT -5
Post by Flytrap on Apr 17, 2008 12:25:51 GMT -5
HI Lloyd,
I've had an outdoor bog for years... around 20 years.
Over the years I've learned that one of the most important things to have (if your bog is kind of large) is to have places where you can walk onto (eg near the middle of the bog) so that you can weed, clip pitchers, re-plant, re-arrange etc. You need stepping surfaces, so a flat rock can "float" like a snow shoe... or better yet, raise the ground at the stepping locales.
The other thing is the ability to replace the top level of substrate... as over time, the peat/sand media gets all mucky, and for whatever reason, inhibits the growth of CPs. It may be due to all the bug poop or whatever, but old CP media seems non-conducive to CP growth.
Also have an overflow. After a good rainfall here on the coast, my bog fills up. So I often just tip the liner (rubber black pond liner) over to facilitate drainage.
I used to have drainage rocks at the bottom of my bog, but over time, I've learned that the bog functions just as well without it. ie. why spend the extra money and time.
The worst thing about an outdoor bog is the weeds. You really have to be vigilant to root them out while they're young.
The birds, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, moles, deer, rats, mice and everything else will keep you entertained.
Good luck. And like Sib et al says ... show us pics!!!
D
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Outdoor
Apr 19, 2008 20:12:02 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 19, 2008 20:12:02 GMT -5
I've gained new respect for you bog people. Just planting a couple of big containers and two window boxes is taking a lot of work. Mixing perlite and peat has taken a few days of on again/off again work. Hopefully everything will be Ok out there. I have yet to move all my tissue culture VFT and Sarr's and my mixed Sarr hybrids. Once again, any outdoor sundews would be appreciated. Filiformis, intermedia, whatever size is fine, I won't need a lot. I'm going to post pictures when I get the little stuff in. Once again, nothing compared to the bogs you guys have but still a step for me in the outdoor temperate department.
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Outdoor
Apr 20, 2008 16:02:00 GMT -5
Post by Syble on Apr 20, 2008 16:02:00 GMT -5
When I did the big bog, it took something like 14 compressed bales of peat, just getting the bone dry stuff wet again was a chore. I almost think its easier in a way to do big space then smaller ones. I'll hook you up with some sundews aswell. Any interest in p. grandiflora? Sib
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Outdoor
Apr 20, 2008 20:48:33 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 20, 2008 20:48:33 GMT -5
Hi Sib; I didn't even think of temperate pings, great idea, I'll stick them in. Thanks.
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