Question
Are there any advantages (or disadvantages) of using long fibered sphagnum moss vs "regular" baled peat moss in growing carnivorous plants?  We've been using baled Canadian peat moss, and much of it seems to be fine particles, almost "dust", and even mixed with perlite, it seems to "settle" to a fairly tight heavy mass that water takes a while to filter through.  Our Drosera and Venus' seem to be doing "OK" as far as we can tell, but some websites advocate LFS.  Is this another one of those mis-informational recommendations by supposed experts you talk about?

Answer
Hi Christine,

The primary advantage of peat moss is cost.  Long-fiber sphagnum moss is about 4 times more expensive, and often more difficult to find.  Certain plants benefit more from the course nature of LFS, such as Nepenthes, since it is more open and drains well.  When sitting in water constantly, however, such as for Sarracenia, sundews, and Flytraps, it breaks down rather quickly and looses that porosity.  Some sundews seem to grow a little better in LFS.  

I don't recommend Long-fiber Sphagnum for Sarracenia or Flytraps.  I personally think they grow better in peat moss.  Same for North American sundews.  They benefit from the tannins in peat.  To get better porosity in the mixes just add more perlite, or combine perlite with clean sand.

Having said all this, it's important to keep in mind that what works well in one situation may be a little different in another.  I would guess that those recommending LFS for Sarracenia and Flytraps may be growing in greenhouse conditions as opposed to outdoors like we do.

Also, I want to be clear that I'm not including live/living Sphagnum in this discussion.  That is an entirely different creature, and many cp do very well in living Sphagnum.  Live Sphagnum creates a dynamic environment, and acidifies the media.  Unless you live near bogs, live Sphagnum is difficult to find, and very expensive.

Good Growing!

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