Question
Hi guys,

As the winter comes to a close and my VFT will -hopefully- come out of its long 'siesta', I've started looking for substrate to repot it. Easy? Hardly so. I've read a lot of questions here regarding the matter, as well as your book, but the problem is, I kive in Germany and I don't know which of the options available here is the peat moss you always recomend.

The options I've found so far are:
1- live Sphagnum (example here: http://www.ent-terraria.eu/product_info.php/info/p2886_Sphagnum-moss--alive.html )  

2- Dried Sphagnum (as shown here: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120528986593&fromMakeTrack=tru... )

3- ditto, pressed (http://www.terrafun.de/product_info.php?products_id=62 )

4- Carnivorous plant 'earth' mix from the nursery, made of peat moss, perlite and... coconut fiber (sorry, I don't have the proportions right now).

What do you guys recommend I get?

Thanks in advance,

Nuri

Answer
Hi Nuria,

#4 and #1 would be my top choices.  Most carnivorous plants do well in live sphagnum moss.  The carnivorous plant "Earth Mix" is close to what we use.  The coconut fiber doesn't excite me too much, but in combination with peat moss it should be fine.  Dried long-fiber sphagnum moss works, but I would mix in some perlite or pumice.  It tends to encourage rot in flytraps if not given more drainage.

Good Growing!

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