Question
Hello I've recently received in the mail a 5' by 10' Little Giant Pond Liner. It says to install the pond liner with the rought side up and the smooth side down because it says it encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria. Is this bacteria good for carnivorous plants? Particulary Sarracenia, Venus flytraps, Sundews and Darlingtonia. Should I install the pondliner with the smooth side up?

Thanks,

      Bob

Answer
Hello Bob,

The pond liner instructions are for using the liner for a pond, not a bog. As a bog, bacterial action will be slightly lessened due to the iodine in the sphagnum peat moss. You would want to periodically clean the liner out as algae and waste will build up on it. So long as the liner holds in water and serves its purpose, I do not see a reason why it could not be placed in whatever configuration you want. If you turned it so that the smoothe side is up, it would merely mean slightly less bacterial growth, so a little less clean-up later. I do not think the presence of such bacteria will matter much to carnivorous plants other than cleaning them out periodically to discourage nitrogen build-up.

Christopher