Question
Hi
I live in Scotland (the home of peat bogs!) and I'm struggling to find peat moss as it is considered environmentally unsafe here, harvesting it kills off peat bogs and turns them into wastelands, as a result no garden centre, mainstream or independent, stock it.  Is there anything else I can repot my flytraps in?

Answer
Hi Alex,

I don't have a real solid answer on this one for you.  If you can find long-fiber sphagnum moss, that mixed with some perlite will work.  I understand you have a peat alternative in the UK called "Moorland Gold" that has been reported to work well with Sarracenia and Drosera.  You probably have Coir available also, and I've used that some with varying results.  If you try Coir (coconut fiber) be sure to soak it overnight, and rinse it several times to remove any salt that might be present.

The only other possibility is if you could order some pre-mixed soil from a U.S. or Canadian cp dealer.

The unfortunate thing here is that peat is what carnivorous plants actually grow in in their natural environments.  That isn't the case with all the peat used for other purposes.  Canada does have tighter laws for more ecological harvesting.

Good Growing!

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