FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I've been growing CPs (or trying to) since the early 80s when I killed whatever VFTs I could talk my dad into buying for me. I was on the old CP Listserv in the 90s when the internet was new (in Salt Lake City, Utah at the time) but ended up taking a long break when life and family got too busy (a few years after we'd moved to Los Angeles, California over 20 years ago). When the pandemic hit and with the kids all grown I got back into it thinking I'd just grow a few Sarracenia, but I'm sure you can guess how that turned out. Before long not only did I have too many Sarrs but was adding sundews, flytraps, utrics, and other bog plants.

Because the winter climate here is pretty mild (seldom gets below freezing in winter, but summers are hot and dry), I try to grow all my plants outdoors year round. Rather than grow them individually in small pots I like to plant them together in large patio pots - kind of mini-bogs I guess, complete with non-carnivorous bog plants. I'm not trying to recreate realistic locales, but just trying to make beautiful gardens – container gardening with CPs, I guess you could say.

I'm also on The Sarracenia Forum (same username, same avatar) but it's nice to be here as well.

A few of my 'mini-bogs' back in late August:

Welcome. Nice plants.

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome! Check out the Seed Bank - lots of free seeds, many of 'em Sarrs.

Welcome! Glad to have you here!

Thank you all for the warm welcome! I looked at the seedbank - some very nice Sarrs there. I guess I'd better get posting instead of just lurking (and not say anything about it to my wife - she mistakenly thinks I've already got too many).

I didn't see any non-CP bog companions listed - does the seedbank ever have or accept donations for companion plants? I didn't let any of my Sarrs produce seed this year but I'm about to have a lot of seed from a few other bog plants. What's the usual protocol for stuff like that?

jgreen1025 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2024 8:03 pm I didn't see any non-CP bog companions listed - does the seedbank ever have or accept donations for companion plants? I didn't let any of my Sarrs produce seed this year but I'm about to have a lot of seed from a few other bog plants. What's the usual protocol for stuff like that?

I'd PM ChefDean - he's the Seed Bank manager- and see what he says.

jgreen1025 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2024 8:03 pm I didn't see any non-CP bog companions listed - does the seedbank ever have or accept donations for companion plants? I didn't let any of my Sarrs produce seed this year but I'm about to have a lot of seed from a few other bog plants. What's the usual protocol for stuff like that?

Ooh. I would be interested in that!

Hi Panman. I contacted ChefDean and he said they don't usually have non-CPs in the seed bank (but maybe if there's much interest?). I've got a few that are producing seed right now or will be in the next month or so:
⦁ Xyris sp "yellow eyed grass" Bay Co., FL
⦁ Spiranthes cernua “nodding lady's tresses orchid”
⦁ Habenaria repens “water spider orchid” Lowndes Co, GA
⦁ Viola lanceolata “bog violet”

The Xyris is really easy and might be a bit too prolific of a seeder, but I love how small the clumps are as well as the funny crinkly leaves they frequently make. The yellow flowers are tiny, about a foot or so tall, and have an extended bloom time. The bog orchids are easy once they get established but it's not easy growing them from seed. Aged soil with all the necessary fungi and bacteria seem to be a requirement - I get a few seedlings popping up here and there. The violets are cute when they're blooming (usually only colder weather for me) but too invasive for my liking - I almost hesitate to even mention them. PM me if anything sounds interesting.

I read your post on the Sarr board about building mini bogs! It was great. Welcome

Thanks Jedi. My wife's been complaining that I've taken up all the pots (and then some) with CPs. She says she wants flowers (as if I don't let the Sarrs bloom), so I've bought seeds for cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and ragged robin (Lychnis or Silene flos-cuculi) that I'll be trying to mix in next spring.