Wich substrate

[absintheRTP]

Hi, I would like to know what is the best substrate for VFT.

Thanks

[prmills]

For my limited experiance, it seems like they will grow in almost anything. I've done 2:1 peat:sand, 2:2:1 peat:perilte:sand, and 1:1 peat:perilte. They did well in all of those. I think as long as the crown doesn't come in contact for too long with the water level, they should be fine

[absintheRTP]

I was asking because I read on an other forum that normal gardening earth wouldnt be good for VFT, and all europeens forums tell to use "tourbe blonde"... I have a lot a shpagnum, but not enough for all my vft, so I was wondering of using a mix of shagnum and X X X, maybe perlite, non calcarous sand or whatever...

[prmills]

oh, sorry, I was assuming again... Yeah you can use sphagnum moss, but you'll probably have better uses for it, or you can use it as a top dressing. For the media itself, use sphagnum peat moss (refered to as peat), sand (silica 16gt I believe - sandblasting sand), and washed perilte. A bale of peat (3.4 cubic feet) costs about $10 and will do you for a long time. Mix some peat in with sand or perilite at a ratio of 2:1 peat:?? and you should be good to go.

You want to make sure with the sand and perilite you rinse them first. Don't use playsand you can get at the stores unless you have alot of time to spend rinsing it. As for the peat, as long as it says sphagnum peat moss it should be good. Go to some local nurseries or stores w/a decent garden section you should be able to get it. Most uses for it is to airate soils

Cheers!

[absintheRTP]

thanks prmills

[markym4rk]

prmills is da man!