Help Me with my VFT

[rogery24]

Hey everyone

I just got a new Venus Fly trap and I need help with the soil for it.

Right now I just have regular soil but i know thats not right and i have heard people talking about 50/50 Sand and something else.

What should i be using ?

[curlingguy]

Get it out of the "regular soil" immediately and rinse it off. Use distilled water or rainwater for the VFT's water..not tap water due to chlorine, too much dissolved solids etc.

I suggest 50/50 peat moss/perlite as it's easy to find and works well. Sit in water of about 1/2 to 1 inch depth (assuming pot it's in about 4-6 inches tall) so soil stays moist but not saturated.

The regular soil will contain too many nutrients and will kill it.

[rogery24]

ok thanks man, and what do you mean sit in water? physically have the pot in the water, because i heard from someone that i should have around that much water with rocks in it then sit the pot on the rocks

[curlingguy]

This picture from 2005 but shows some VFT's of mine sitting in water...

Root hairs can get down to water...bulb not in water (or it will rot)
All containers VFT's are in have holes in bottom to allow water in/out. You can periodically top water them and let it drain out bottom but normally just keep the water in tray high enough to keep soil damp (1/2- 1 inch deep).

[rogery24]

ooo ok i see

[vraev]

I guess the guys here summed it up.

But in a nutshell:

1) Don't worry too much about humidity for the VFT
2) Get it nice clean distilled or rain water
3) Give it plenty of light
4) A nice peat + perlite mix

Thats it.

[rogery24]

ok thanks

[Sawchuk]

i also am a VFT grower and my plants have been growing well since iv got them, my soil mix was 50% peat sphagnum moss, 25% sand, 25% perlite, im pretty sure any mixture of soil works as long as it has good proper drainage( which really doesent make sense in havin if there sittin in water)

my pot was constantly submerged 1/4 of the way up so the soil was constantly wet, posiible saturated?? but what i have done is takin them out if the water and have had them sitting 1 inch above the water for 2 weeks now the soil is still moist to wet and there growth is very vigourous compared to when they were in the water. Also the appearance of the traps have drastically changed the teeth are much longer and fuller and colors of the traps have also changed




CHEERZ bud
also there kinda small cause i really hacked em up, hopin to start some new plants

[vraev]

that looks really beautiful dude! good job at growing them. See....they aren't that difficult. ;D

[lloyd]

Nice looking plants. What do people prefer for VFT's: sand or perlite with their peat or just plain LFS?

[Sawchuk]

im not sure prob a bit of both??? i do all four together 1/4 each
i think your better off havin it dryer then to soaked or saturated(also i find it hard to find a good medium yaknow) , next year when i transplant im goin to try and make a better mix that will allow for even better drainage, or so what it dosent get so saturated when sitting in water
i bought super fine green craft sand from micheals that made for aweosme layers in clear containers
but all in all the plants like not being drowned with water i believe although they can be submerged, its prob not the best for them yaknow but what do i know Eh
thanx 4 the comp men
CHEERZ

[mabudon]

Looks good sawchuck, some fine traps there!!

Lloyd- I use 50-50 peat/sand for vfts, just to toss me hat in here

[vraev]

I actually once had an opportunity to see silica sand in an aquarium store. It was really really fine. Personally I think its not enough aeration, unless u use a mix with a lot more silica sand than peat. Personally, peat and perlite works perfect. But the only caviat is that, perlite is kinda ugly looking.

[vraev]

On second thought...I feel that using a media with silica sand and peat will look beautiful. If moss grows on that...then perfect looking plant and media u will have.

I will definately give that a shot sometime.

[lloyd]

Caviar, that's a good one. I guess caviar is surgeon's eggs.