FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

The increased foliage growth rate some people notice in plants growing in this medium is interesting. I wonder if the chunkiness of LFS causes the plants to prioritize foliage over roots. Presumably, the root systems eventually catch up to what would be expected from a standard peat mix, explaining the pictures Matt posted of the LFS-grown plants with large roots. Are clones grown in LFS and peat mixes after a long period of time ultimately equivalent in foliage and roots?

I realize this is an older thread, but since it’s been years since I have growing flytraps any serious consideration, this topic piqued my interest. I have grown flytraps on and off for over 20 years, but usually I targeted exceptional cupped plants from local stores, occasionally scoring B52 or Low Giant, and even a King Henry from CPN; as I lived nearby.

I generally grew in a sand/peat mix, sometimes LFS, if sand was in short supply.
I also grew some in living LFS.

I have just started acquiring CPs again and have recently purchased 7 giant VFT varieties from FTS. I’ve also loved to FL.

Growing my lowland nepenthes and other Tropicals outdoors has made me really dislike LFS and really any organic that isn’t reinsurance bark. LFS, in this heat and humidity, as well as the way I feed my plants with foliar sprays, grows ferns, algae, moss, and slime mold/algae. It also becomes sodden and foul smelling in larger containers, because of the relentless Summer rains. I’ve switched my nepenthes to an inorganic and bark based mix with fantastic results.

VFTs really aren’t bog plants and grow in pine flatlands of sandy peat, with some growing in pockets of LFS.
I think most mixes using sand use far too little to get the best results. That elusive #12 grit silica sand making up 80% of your mixture will really give great results for most warm temperate CPs. That said, I’ve had compromise and cut my sand with fine perlite, since I can’t find gritty sand locally.

I think success with either media depends largely on growing conditions and specifically watering habits. Allowing the LFS to dry to the moisture level in a wrung out sponge and not allowing it to become sodden really extends its life and favorability as a medium. For me, a peat based mix, sufficiently and aggressively lightened with 70-80% sand/perlite gives me longevity and versatility. It sheds water in wet times and can sit in a tray of water to prevent drying out during dry seasons.
I get my traps potted in the FTS mix, and will grow them until they need potted up and then grow them in the same, with more sand/perlite added than FTS uses.

Thank you for resurrecting this post! Why isn't it stickied!?!

I know that Maggie Chen advocates using lfs to wrap the roots of flytraps and then inserting that into a pot of peat and perlite to get the best of both worlds. Maybe that's the best approach? Would definitely be interesting to see a side-by-side comparison with plants of the same age and cultivar under the same growing conditions using different growing media.

Btw, my key takeaway is that you can achieve long term success with both lfs or peat based mixes but that plants will grow larger and more vigorous in lfs if you can meet the cultural demands of long fiber sphagnum moss.

I choose to grow in long fiber sphagnum since I don't mind the extra work but may not be the right choice for everyone. I guess the message should be choose what works best for you and your plants will respond accordingly.

My $0.02.

Use what works best for you is absolutely the best approach. I am going to attempt to use some perlite to make the LFS more airy and pot up some bare root plants I have coming to see how I feel about growing VFT in LFS. For nepenthes, which I foliar feed often, LFS degrades and grows pests too often to make it sustainable.

I’d be interested in your recipe for your Nepenthes. Could you start a new thread on the topic so we can discuss what is working for you and others?

I discussed my nepenthes media here:
good-soil-media-for-nepenthes-t52313.html

I’m happy to elaborate, but I don’t usually go my exact ratios, just how I feel about the mix overall. I try to use as little bark and coconut husks as I can get away with. Usually it’s 1/4 of the total mixture.
I like to add charcoal if I have it, but it’s up to over $90 a #40 bag, so I go without.

Hope that helps!
BTW, small lava stones/lava sand may be useful for aerating VFT pots, if sand is hard to find. Haven’t tried that yet.

I attempted to include some photos of the plants growing on various versions of the media as well as the media itself for an idea of consistency. I just grab out the larger chunks of rock as I pot and put them in the bottom of the pots for weight and added air space/drainage at the bottom.

There are several shots of Nepenthes bellii, which is supposed to rather fickle and sensitive to transplant shock. I’ve never had any of my “sensitive to root disturbance” plants, including Drosophyllum, suffer from repotting, when using something aerated enough and diligence taken to not remove or tear roots, where possible.

For temperate CPs and Mexican pings, I omit bark, add peat and finer perlite or sand if I have it, and add vermiculite for the pings.

Some nepenthes and the cephalotus are in pure bonsai media. It’s too expensive to use bonsai media alone in larger than 4-6” pots.
I don’t use bonsai media for VFT or sarracenia, but will use lava rock.