Question

Venus Fly Trap   Hi guys, as you know I', preparing my plants and planning the outdoor (Canadian) bog garden with much detail.

I have a handle on the TDS levels (my tap water is 145ppm so distilled it will be) but now I'm concerned about PH levels.
1. Should I be checking the sphagnum moss mix of perlite and peat/sphagnum?
I'm worried specifically that the soil will not be perfect for all plants.
Purple Pitcher
Daina's Delight
Scarlet Belle
Venus Fly Trap ( can you identify it please, I think it might be red mouth variety  )
Sundew D. Rotundifolia
I have watched the 3 DVDs and I don't recall anything about checking PH, but maybe I just missed it.
2.Kind of flip flopping about permanently planting the VFT in the bog or just sitting it in the bog in it's own pot so when winter comes around next year, I can easily remove it and give it a bit better shelter from the freezing Canadian winters.
Your thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
Jim

Answer
Hi Jim,

You didn't miss anything in the videos.  As long as you are using the correct soil ingredients, and water that is low in dissolved minerals, the pH is going to be low.  Peat moss releases tannic acid, so potting soil manufacturers have to add lime to get it to neutral.  This is nothing to worry about.  Peat moss and long-fiber sphagnum moss are acidic by nature.  All the plants you've listed are fine in peat/sphagnum mixes.

I think your flytraps are either typical varieties, or possibly King Henry's that are being mass produced right now.  It looks like your plants have been in a greenhouse, so definitely wait until later in the spring to put them out.  I hear you folks are having some wicked cold right now.

Your flytraps can make it through your winter in a bog garden if they are thoroughly mulched for the winter.  If you want to take them out overwinter them in a window, that's fine too.  I may have sent you this link before, but if you haven't seen it, it's very helpful.  http://www.carnivorousplants.org/howto/GrowingEnvirons/BogOntarioCanada.php

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com