Question
Hi, I just got a Cephalotus and two Venus flytraps in the mail barerooted. The problem is that I currently don't have any peat moss to make the soil medium (but I have perlite,orchid bark, and dried sphagnum moss but I'm a bit nervous about using it) and the soil mix that I ordered online at the same time as the plants have not arrived yet. Should I leave the plant barerooted or plant them in a mix of perlite,orchid bark, and dried sphagnum moss? Right now the plants are in my bedroom away from direct sunlight. I live in Oahu, zone 11

Answer
Hi Edmund,

Do you have any idea from a tracking number or the nursery on how long it should be?  If they shipped the soil parcel post, it could be another week or more to Hawaii.  If that is the case, use the long-fiber sphagnum, and mix plenty of perlite in with it.  If you think the peat will be there in a day or two, then that won't be any big deal.  Just keep the plants cool until you can plant them.  You also might try calling around to any independent garden centers to see if they might have peat moss, just not Miracle-Gro or Scotts.  I know the big stores don't carry it on Oahu.

Good Growing!

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