FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I used the brand "Miracle Grow" for perlite to re pot my venus flytraps. I just read that I am not supposed to use Miracle Grow's products at all for their high minerals content. I used 1 part "Pure Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss" and 1 part of this miracle grow perlite. Should I re pot immediately and just use the peat moss? Will just the peat moss suffice? Thanks this is urgent.

Get your plant out of that stuff immediately and give the roots a thorough washing. For now, peat should be ok, but you're going to want drainage like sand or non-toxic perlite.

Yeah, take it out, soak the plant and wash it a bit. Then repot. 100 percent peat will be okay, I used to use that exclusively, though it is better to add something else to the mix.

Personally, I'm going all-Long fibered sphagnum. I don't want to support the rape of the peat bogs any more than I have to. LFS has its disadvantages, not least of which price, but for me it's not that big of a deal.

ya honestly i'm really debating whether to go all LFSM or peat/perlite when i repot this winter.

You should man. I use 100% LFS for everything, and it works great. You should probably wait for repotting until spring after dormancy though.

Peat dries out so much slower though. The pot also stays in place better, because it's heavier. But the growth in LFS for me is so incredible compared to peat/vermiculite.

I just weigh down the pot with silica sand, and I plan to install self-watering ports into my pots for next year, or keep them on a flood table.

Yes repot immediately like everyone suggests. The Miracle Gro perlite contains added fertilizers that will kill your plant very quickly. If you have any nurseries near where you live they will usually carry pure perlite that has nothing added to it.

It's going to be fine. Just repot it and let 'er soak in some suitable water for a while while it all washes off. Here's a reassuring story, I made a similar mistake to you with my first flytrap last year, and potted it in miracle grow peat potting mix, and watered with tap water. The whole
Thing burned down the the rhizome. I washed if thoroughly, wrapped the roots in a wet paper towel and stuck it in the fridge right before my two week vacation. (Had no other option) When I got home I repotted it in some suitable medium, and the thing took off like a weed. It's now one of the hardiest growers that I have! These things have serious resiliency to new owners.

Thanks for all the help! I happened to have some LFSM around (that wasn't Miracle Gro brand!) and I am using that now. I think using LFSM pure is better than using peat moss pure.

Great choice