Question
QUESTION: my question is can you give me some feedback on this plan.  it will be my first bog, but not my first experince witn CP's. i live in leelanau county in northern michigan. any advice would be great and i cant wait till spring when i can put in my first plant order with you.

Above Ground Container Bog

Plants
1x D. filiformis ssp. filiformis (Northern Dewthread)
1x D. intermedia (Water Sundew)
1x P. caerulea (Blue Butterwort)
1x P. grandiflora (Irish Butterwort)
2x S. leucophylla (White Top Pitcher)
2x S. purpurea ssp. purpurea (Northern Purple Pitcher)
2x Venus Fly Trap
1x Dente Fly Trap
1x Red Dragon Flytrap

Bog Materials
100-Gallon Maderia Preformed Lawn Pond
79攛55攛18?br> Irrigation: under ground watering
Tube
Exterior: wooden box built
around pond

Growing Medium
Soil Mix    50/50 Sand and Sphagnum Peat
Top          Live Sphagnum Moss


ANSWER: Hi Sam,

Thank-you for providing such good detail.

This sounds fantastic.  The only additional advice I would give is in the arrangement of the plants.  When you plant, try to position the butterworts so that they are partially shaded by the Sarracenia.  Flytraps like being a little drier, so place them a bit higher up if you slope the soil.

Also, what is your water source?  I know many parts of the midwest tend to have very hard water, so if your tapwater is hard consider a back-up water source when your not getting much rain.

Other than this, just make sure you choose a sunny location.  Also have lots of pine straw or other mulch ready for winter time next winter.  I know you guys have had a very cold one this year.


Good Growing!

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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: this is about water source.  would it be a good idea to set up a rain gathering system. i would use 55 gallon plastic drum and 4-5 10' diameter funnels mounted to a board and run hoses into the barrel.

Answer
Hi Sam,

The rain barrel is a great back-up.  This way you know the water is soft.  In you area I imagine one thunderstorm would fill the barrel.  If you need to use tapwater in a pinch, it's usually fine.  Long term, however, you will get mineral build-up, and you'll see problems first in  the flytraps and the sundews.

Good Growing!

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