Question
Hi, I live in Walnut Cove, NC zone 7 and I just had a couple questions. I plan to have a bog which will include both flytraps and cobras. I noticed on your care sheet for flytraps that they need to have cool soil temps when it gets over 100 degrees. Given that and that a lot of people advise to put them in a slightly higher portion of the bog to give them dryer conditions do you think that means that a soil mix simimlar to the cobra might be appropriate? Could they possibly grow well together in a similar mix or is it best to give them their own seperate areas in the bog? My other question is regarding darlingtonia. In obtaining good coloration of the plant is that dependent on the sunlight they get or are their different forms or variations that come into play with genetics? I know I asked a bunch so I'm very grateful to you.

Thanks,
Daniel

Answer
Hi Daniel,

Venus flytraps will grow in Darlingtonia mix.  I have a few that I put in amongst ours, and they've been there about 3 years.  It's different, however, for a plant in a bog garden when it comes to temperatures.  The recommendation comes from the fact that sun hits pots from the sides during really hot weather, heating up the soil.  This won't happen in a bog garden since it's only being heated from the surface.  You don't really need to mound the soil for the flytraps if you use the Darlingtonia mix.

I think I mentioned this before, but when you design your bog garden for the Darlingtonia, it will be very important that water doesn't pool in the bottom.  Venus flytraps seem fine with this as long at the media doesn't dry out.

Color in Darlingtonia is a combination of both sun and genetics.  We have some that get very red, and some that don't.  You distinctly see this in wild plants also.  Wild Darlingtonia predominately grow in full sun.  Some are found in part shade, but it's always on the margins of openings in the forest canopy.

Good Growing!

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