Peat Moss Vs Sphagnum Moss: Best Venus Flytrap Soil Mix Substrate - What Is The Difference?

[@gabbyofmilton]

If you put some of each in your food processor and mix them together makes a great medium.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That's a great idea!!

[@shannonherb2048]

I was going to ask that. I'm new but want the best medium.

[@bingkbing]

alternatively it also makes a great snack

[@charliegarrison9688]

Thanks for this! I switched to The Bones of my Enemies and my flytraps are doing better than ever!

[@covynxx718]

I used peat moss and perlite mix and my carnivorous plants hated it. I was shocked but when I swapped to sphagnum they thrived.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

There are a lot of unknown factors there. Was the Peat Moss rinsed? I've pulled Peat from the bag and had water come off it at 350 PPM. Which will kill flytraps pretty quick. Not all brands are like that, but I know some are. Even with no additives. Hard to say for sure why they didn't like it, but there was probably some reason. I'm glad that moss is working out for you though! It's a great substrate for flytraps.

[@freshdews]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Do you know if EB Stone peat moss has a high ppm?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Hello! I have not used this brand before. I'm sorry. If you can, rinse it with distilled water and measure what rinses out with a tds meter. That's the only way to be certain.

[@freshdews]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub All good! I checked the tds after rinsing it out and it's at 17 ppm. This might be because I put sphagnum on the bottom though. I am not sure

[@marthanewsome6375]

Try cocopeat 60 percent and pearlite 40 percent with live fine moss cultures on top, like cushion moss or starmoss. My plants hated sphagnum. I use rain water to water my plants that grow inside under grow lights. I pop some charcoal in the water area too, to help maintain water quality. I could use my tap water as it is less than 100ppm, but they wouldn't survive long and my rain water here is 6ppm. I have found Sphagnum moss rots very quickly. Normal peat can hold a lot of bacteria, but cocopeat is pretty pure stuff and maintains a constant ph of 5.

[@bellagraciano4745]

I’m new with carnivorous plants, THANK YOU! your videos are helping me so much!!! ❤❤❤

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I love to hear that, exactly why I started this channel!!

[@tobiasware]

Great video and interesting findings. I grow my VFTs and Drosera adelaea [lance leaf sundew] (I live in Queensland where that sundew is native) in a base mix of sphagnum peat moss and washed river sand, with a top layer of growing long-fibre sphagnum. I do not use perlite as it gets everywhere, is dusty and unattractive. I also get around the watering problems you mentioned by tray/bottom watering instead of top watering. To release the roots from a long-fibre mix, just soak the root ball in distilled water for an hour or so - don't drown the plant but soak the entire root ball. The sphagnum long fibres will release the roots fairly easily just not as easily as in peat mix.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I definitely agree that the longer soak will help untangle the roots, but its still a pain to have to soak for an hour before repotting. Not too bad, but still a pain. I've actually moved almost entirely to tray watering as well. I'm starting to see the benefits over top watering for sure.

[@marthanewsome6375]

Sounds really similar to what I do. I'm also in Queensland. But I use 60 percent cocopeat and 40 percent pearlite. I plant live small mosses at the surface like starmoss and water from the bottom and pop in some pieces of charcoal to soak up any impurities. I use rainwater and check it's ppm regularly and it sits around 6. I find the live mosses just carpet and hide the pearlite. Never been successful with sphagnum though. Do you buy it live or do you buy the stuff from Bunnings? I also grow mine inside under grow lights.

[@tobiasware]

@marthanewsome6375 *Warning* Never use cocopeat for carnivorous plants of any type, it contains all the wrong chemicals including salts. The only reasons your plants might survive, barely, is your use of perlite and charcoal as it nullifies some of the noxious chemicals. Use peatmoss mixed with perlite instead. Cocopeat is notorious for stunting carnivorous plants, eventually killing them. I buy the dry sphagnum moss from Bunnings and soak it for days. I have some in a bucket now, some eight months soaking. It turns green and thrives. Oh and don't use distilled water if you can get rain water, and never use demineralised water - it's a killer too. To help identify your climate zone in Queensland compared to mine, I live south of Brisbane, north of Gold Coast, in Logan. If you live anywhere north of Northern New south Wales but east of Toowoomba then your plants can take full Queensland sun and don’t need to be indoors. Provide some shade if you want, but allow at least four hours of direct sunlight.

[@peterphan227]

I had 5 VFTs in LFS and 15 VFTs in peat+perlite. The 5 VFTs in LFS started declining. I unpotted them and discover they were suffering from crown rot. I repotted them into peat+perlite. Now they are recovering nicely. Maybe it's just my environment, but peat+perlite works better for me. Everyone has to figure out what works best for them

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I 100% agree Peter. I don think environment has some impact on which of these will work the best. It may take a little trial and error, but personally, I also prefer the peat & perlite mix.

[@j.shorter4716]

I think mine have the same problem about half of the new traps turn black before they open I plan to repot them soon with peat

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

​@@CarnivorousPlantsHub we can add that to the kick backs with the electronic screwdriver

[@albertoburrito1874]

I listen to your videos while doing stuff lol ur voice and music is great.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you for your kind words! I so very much appreciate your support!

[@donschiller4227]

I think that peat is more prone to weeds that LFS. However, I do put both of them into boiling water for a few minutes to try to kill off any weed seeds. Also, for my plants, i don't worry if the roots has some old media on them unless there are actual problems with the old media. What comes off easily is removed, but I don't spend time on roots. It means less disturbance to the roots which results in plants quicker to recover after repotting.

[@American-Plague]

@donschiller4227 This was exactly my thought. Glad someone can verify this. Thanks!

[@kathymay8821]

I love your plants and your videos are so helpful.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Aww, thank you, Kathy! I appreciate you saying that!!

[@watchmanknowledge4345]

I use both. A small layer of moss at the base to wick up water and the rest of the pot is a peat moss mix. 3/1 PM/Per

[@marthanewsome6375]

I used cocofibre peat and pearlite. I use live fine noss, eg: starmoss over the surface. The moss will always have issues first and that way I know if I need to repot. For instance if a bad bacteria is present. I also put charcoal below the pot in the water area to help absorb any inpurities from the water, as I use rain water.

[@pootispootingburg258]

I find your videos super informative and helpful learning how these plants work. Thank you!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Of course! I'm glad I could help you out!

[@peteruk8925]

Best way I've found to help removal of sphagnum moss and peat ,is to put some RO water in a container and put plant into the water and slowly tease the moss / peat away from root's. Much better than trying to pull off the plant's like shown on video 830.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I just did this with a repotting, I spent a good 30 minutes teasing the roots away, after soaking it for 3 hours. It helps, but can still be a huge mess and job. It's not impossible or really even that difficult but it's time consuming to do it right. So much more work than the peat moss that just falls right off in water.

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

Thanks guys don't get angry

[@Ittybittythetwofacedkitty]

I cut up the lfs into short pieces and mix evenly with peat and perlite

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I've heard of others doing that as well. I can't think of a reason not to do this, probably makes a really high quality mix!

[@daveclements9892]

Was just wondering this after watching your last video! Love your vids. Subbed!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That's awesome! Thank you so much for your support Dave, it really means a lot my friend!

[@dvonjr]

I tried signing up to get the Free Venus Flytrap Care Sheet & Plant Tracker but never get the email link!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Shoot! Send me an email at [e-mail]. I'll get one sent over.

[@dvonjr]

when can I expect this?

[@dvonjr]

Still have not received this 'Free Venus Flytrap Care Sheet & Plant Tracker'

[@davidkanoff110]

i use lfs about an inch in the bottom, peat for the filler and just enough lfs to cover the top of the peat. if you use only lfs and let it dry out in the sun on accident on a hot summer day its game over for your plant. i always use a tray and keep it from drying out though.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I've heard of many people using a hybrid mix. I've seen sellers use lfsm on top and peat on the bottom. The peat also gives the pot weight so it doesn't tip over in wind. Mixing the two is a great idea!

[@fairuzraz2468]

Hello sir. Quick question,can we mix both sphagnum moss and peat moss in one pot for VFT?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You sure can! Lots of people do that!

[@carakerfoot2477]

Hope you achieve your goal man been subbed for a while the KZbin statistics will hit your Chanel soon!!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you Cara, I really appreciate it!

[@shermanium7834]

i had issues last summer with squirrels digging up and ruining my outdoor flytrap planter using LFS. I think I'm going to try using peat/perlite or using LFS and sprinkling cinnamon or cayenne pepper powder on the surface

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Ya, I have better lucky with squirrels using peat/perlite. They really seem to like pulling out the moss for their nests. I saw someone post the other day that they put crushed glass as a topper above their sphagnum moss and it's stopped squirrels all together. They were worried about the glass heating up the planter, but they tested the soil and it never elevated temps. Crushed glass might be an option, I'm hesitant to use cinn or cayenne, not sure if it would have a negative impact but I'd rather not if I can avoid it.

[@shermanium7834]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub thanks I think I will try peat/perl/sand rather than adding anything.

[@LexTheFloof]

There is an "Um" every five seconds I find it kinda funny. Btw throughout the 2 years of me taking care of carnivorous plants, you've helped me out SO much, keep on going!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Oh man, my earlier videos were rough. I've really had to work on my umms... Getting better although a lot of it can be credited to just better editing. Lol.

[@qontoh2s872]

I just subbed. Great video's and very informative. My Father was always trying to grow Flytraps in five gallon water cooler jugs, the old glass kind. It never worked of course. He used to make some incredible terrariums from them with moss and ferns. Flytraps and such always died. From watching your video's I think I'm going to try a Wallymart five buck special to see if I can keep it alive. Then maybe, maybe try some private growers.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Ya, their care is a bit different. Putting them in a terrarium is a really common misconception. People think they are a tropical plant that need a lot of humidity, like in the jungle. Which just is not true. They want full sun! But also have different needs with soil and water than most plants. Good luck on your venus flytrap journey! Just be careful, it's addicting!

[@ralphralpherson9441]

I use the long fiber spagnum moss (Sold as "Orchid moss" at my local greenhouse) and I place a handful of small rocks and an inch of sand at the bottom of a very tall planter to simulate the beachy swamps these things grow naturally in. It seems to help drain excess water well but the sand keeps a small amount of moisture in the pot so they dont dry out. Seems to be working OK for me. Does anyone else do this? Or have a reason I shouldnt add small rock and sand at the bottom?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Do you tray water or top water? My only concern with rocks and sand at the bottom is that they are inert and do not absorb water. Tray watering would be ineffective with rocks and sand at the bottom. If you are top watering, I would think it would be okay as long as the planter is deep enough for the roots to stretch out!

[@Syn]

Hello so I repotted my carnivorous plant yesterday that I got from Home Depot 2 days ago. I woke up this morning and they look limp and dry (still green) but I feel like they're dead. Are they in a dormant phase right now or repotting it caused the plant to die?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

This is totally normal. After repotting them, they do go through a period of repotting shock. Make sure you acclimate them to full sun/lighting slowly. Start with 4 hours a day for a week, move to 5 week two then up to 6 and so on until they are getting full sun. Make sure they are getting enough water and they should start to take off. Sometimes, all the existing flytraps die on a repot, but the new growth comes up nice and healthy.

[@Syn]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub thank you! Your videos have been pretty helpful I hope you keep it up :)

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Me too! I really enjoy doing them, it's just finding the time with 3 kids and a full time job. It's a lot of work, but really feels worth it. I enjoy helping people grow these wonderful plants!

[@SwiftKing1]

Awesome video! thank you for your info. going to make a hybrid combo now!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That should work great!

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

What's good for the goose is good for the gander

[@sadieshepard8693]

I like using bones of my enemies as well it works good my vft are growing big fast

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Ha! There is still hope for our species! 😂🤣😂

[@sadieshepard8693]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Do you have an Instagram account if you do I would also like to support you there!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I do! I'm not as active as I should be on there. Something I need to work on. But, I'm @carnivorousplantshub

[@TheOriginalMarimoChan]

I have my VFTs potted in long-fiber sphag and sitting in a saucer of distilled water. I don't think they suffer root rot because in their natural habitat, they grow in wet, boggy conditions for much of the year (source: Venus Flytrap| US Fish and Wildlife, Tennessee Naturescapes), it's when they dry out that they die.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I see this comment a lot. Trust me when I say, if you leave them in stagnant water they can get crown rot. I've lost a few venus flytraps to crown rot. Especially if temps go below 70 degrees. The difference between a bog and a tray of water is that the bogs are constantly cycling fresh water. Also, venus flytraps tend to grow more in drier areas than I the actual bog. They rarely grow directly in the bog water area amd more commonly grow on the side of the bog where it's more dry. I promise you that keeping a VFT in a constant tray of water is opening it up to crown rot. The only exception is if the temps are regularly above 90 degrees.

[@jenXMAGA]

Here's a Prof discussing it 😉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/baOvmJdniM6qo9U

[@sean2val]

in the wild the dissolved oxygen levels are high home grown in pot and tray levels very low and in the wild they grow in wet savannah not bogs

[@KngAztec]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub so how often would you water your vft in long-fiber at this date in time? (I live in ohio) just so you know. And i used your discount code for California carnivores thank you lol. Have a good one.

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

​@@KngAztec nice airplane wings

[@cathyny83]

I was told that sand and perlite is salty for the flytrap which will slow the growth and you should simmer the bottom in the water because the traps is really fragile

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Silica sand is Inert and does not absorb any salts. I would avoid any sand that is not silica. I've not ever heard of perlite containing salts, but I do always soak my new perlite just to be sure.

[@cathyny83]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub I haven't try it myself, perhaps you could make this in video as to compare which medium is better growth. Have a nice day!

[@Tatusiek_1]

long fiber sphagnum provides less cold insulation to the roots

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Interesting, not something I had considered, good callout!

[@Tatusiek_1]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub I found out the hard way

[@TitanChromeE]

@@Tatusiek_1rip

[@Mightymilesdiscover]

I actually use both, peat moss mix for the first one and sphagnum moss for the second I've had the plant grow much faster it has been 2 weeks and the first trap is almost grew. but peat moss mix is much heathier

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I'm definitely a big fan of peat moss mix, but I know man people have good success with sphagnum moss.

[@mrbarrett9452]

Love this video been watching a few of yours now I just have a question I recently repotted 2 of my traps I bought from vandermeer they look small and young but when taking them out the dirt the main rot seem to be wrapped in idk if it was moss or not I kinda just planted it the way it was in one pot with the new moss and peat moss mix in the other pot

[@mrbarrett9452]

And yeah they were flat so I take it they are in shock still. Cause they not looking lively atm

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That's pretty common, give them some time and as long as the care is good they will start shooting up new traps. Usually after the shock period they grow back bigger and stronger!

[@mrbarrett9452]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub okay thank you !

[@arthurledezma9003]

I noticed you clean the peat moss plug away from the roots before replanting. Is that necessary??? Please rsvp

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I do if I don't trust the substrate it was in. If I buy from big box, I almost always clean it all off. If it's from a trusted nursery, It's okay to leave some, but I still like to clear out the old substrate in case of any bacteria or mildew has formed.

[@davidbabcock1231]

If I just have peat moss and perlite would that work or do I really need the silica sand?? Also what ratio of each do you use

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Peat moss and Perlite will work. I like using the sand, but a mix without the sand should be okay.

[@davidbabcock1231]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub okay thank you so much

[@asnfatpanda]

Have you heard warping the roots with moss then placing into 1 part perlite, 1 part peat moss? Would this work?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That would probably be okay, the only problem with that is sphagnum moss holds moisture a bit different than peat. It would make it a little harder to know when you should water. Sphagnum moss dries out faster than peat.

[@pranman123]

Please do a soil mix video like this for nepenthes as well. I have a ventrata that I planted in peat moss + perlite, but I don't know if that's good for it in the long term.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Honestly, I'm not sure the substrate for nepenthes is as debated as it is for venus flytraps. I have planted some of my nepenthes in peat moss before but it's not the best substrate for nepenthes. You are almost always going to be better off putting them in long fiber sphagnum moss. I don't think there is much debate there. I've had to use peat mostly because I just didn't have any LFSM, but I'd always go sphagnum moss first if I had some available.

[@vivimannequin]

I don't think peat moss allows the roots to breathe (which is a must for nepenthes) and might cause root rot

[@TheOriginalMarimoChan]

I've use long-fiber sphagnum moss for my neps for many years, way better result in long-fiber vs peat and perlite. In fact, when I get a plant from the nursery, I rinse off all the peat moss and pack the roots with wet long-fiber and they do great!

[@matthewloomis2942]

I like to mix peat pearlite silica sand and lfsm at the bottom

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I've seen it the other way around. The Sphagnum moss on top then peat, perlite and silica sand at the bottom! So many ways to skin a cat!

[@DJJumpdancer]

would it make sense to use the moss just in the bottom as a layer that can soak up the water quickly and the rest is soil ?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You can do that but you don't need the moss to wick up, I've learned a trick where you can put a paper towel in the bottom of your pot to help with wicking. Usually people put peat in the bottom for weight then lfsm on top. If they do a split substrate.

[@leonardosartshow4682]

is coco peat mixed with perlite suitable for these plants as well?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

No, stay away from coco peat, it's often filled with salt because the coconut husk is collected from coastal areas. Ive heard of husks being collected more inland and avoiding the high salt content, but I've never personally seen it. Like with any substrate, make sure you are measuring the run off water with a TDS meter before you use it to plant a carnivorous plant.

[@banhatlessducks]

I've done both in the past, have just got some more plants and some sphagnum moss i want to have different live mosses and liverwort growing on the surface

[@firefightersmom21]

I'm totally new to this so if this question sounds silly you'll understand why. When you have bought a new vft, how do you know if it's been through dormancy?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It's hard to know for sure if it was in dormancy. The signs of dormancy can also be the same signs that a light deprived venus flytrap has. So, it's almost impossible to say for sure if a plant has been in dormancy. I would recommend with new flytraps, to just give them good care until the next dormancy period. Then, since they are going in healthy, give them a good proper dormancy.

[@KatherineXM]

Can I use Coco coir in place of peat moss? Also, am I striving for a neutral pH (7)?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Usually not. Coir is typically harvested close to the ocean and has high salt contents. You can soak it for a few days and try to get the salt out but it can be a big pain.

[@fefernoli]

Hey, guy, what's up? This is a very informative video, I appreciate the time you took to make it, very detailed. I have a "problem" here, I'm about to make a bog for my VFT and its divided potentials. I would do it using peat moss and perlite, but I don't have enough peat moss to fill the bowl, in the other hand I have enough sphagnum moss to do it. Now I don't know if I would make a layer of peat+perlite and the top with pure sphagnum, or invert this set with peat+perlite on the top, or even if I mix the three of them all together. Wich way do you think it would be best?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I would recommend that you lay down a bed of peat moss and perlite the top it with the long fiber sphagnum moss. Actually, there are a lot of reputable sellers out that that use that method in their pots to save on using so much long fibers sphagum moss, since it's more expensive. If you are going to use a combo of both, I think the best method is a bed of the peat/perlite then LFSM on the top.

[@fefernoli]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub for the top do I need to mix the sphagnum with perlite too? I could make 2:1 peat perlite for the bed and mix some more perlite into the sphagnum.

[@RaffaelloLorenzusSayde]

Could I boil and filter the preserved moss from Dollarama several times to remove the chemicals, then use it for potting my venus fly trap?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You could certainly try! Just keep a TDS meter handy to measure the water run off. When it goes under 50 PPM, it should be safe.

[@alldave]

I use a mix of long fiber, Pete and perlite

[@Jack1994hoo]

I live in south florida andhad an issue this year where our rains can get very violent (hurricanes and all) and my plant got battered down and would get its traps full of perlite and peat moss. Wonder if I make the entire pot with peat and perlite mix, but make a thin top layer with sphagnum moss I can prevent that happening in the events of a heavy rain. Also, when that happens, the underside pf the planta gets covered in peat and it kinda just sticks to the leaf. Another thing that sphagnum moss could solve

[@noahkahlil]

Should I switch my VFT from sphagnum moss to peat moss? It’s currently In small container with sphagnum but it’s multiple VFT in that container. (They’re not growing as properly because they’re bunched up) I want to buy a small glass greenhouse and add more carnivorous plants too it so should I fill it up with peat moss or keep the sphagnum?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It's really up to you Noah, I prefer peat moss mixes but sphagnum moss works really well too. It really comes down to what is better suited for you. Be careful with small glass green houses, they can get very hot in direct sun.

[@chestbuster1987]

What about mixing both in the same pot? Sphagnum is currently surprisingly cheap near me and I'm thinking about repotting a sarracenia and a VFT.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Yes, you can definitely do that!

[@incognitoalias2808]

Thanks for the Enlightment......

[@alexanderbettalover7944]

Hi i have a question, i will be going to a vacation and it will last 3 weeks, can i mix the 2 substrates for more moisture while im not there for watering?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Peat moss actually retains moisture longer. Lfsm dries out quicker.

[@alexanderbettalover7944]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub thank you, how do i make it moist while im gone?

[@user-mx8nr3sp6n]

This was a wonderful comparison video and thank you for providing the information. I have a question. I have a Home Depot bought VFT, growing in a small 4" pot, and in long sphagnum moss. Can I just transfer the plant with its current medium into a larger pot with long sphagnum moss? My logic is that I would avoid the root untangling process. Thank you and keep the videos coming.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

There are a few factors there. Have you been growing it with success for a while? If so, it's probably okay. The problem with older substrate is that over time it can create bacteria and mold and be bad for the plant. If it's still fairly fresh, it's probably okay. I like to try and remove as much of the old substrate as possible.

[@user-mx8nr3sp6n]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Thank you for the reply. I ended up completely repotting the VFT into a 12" deep pot with all new long sphagnum moss. Unfortunately, four traps didn't survive the transfer. However, it has since bounced back and is doing phenomenal now. Grow, my pretties! Mua ha ha ha ha!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Sorry about the loss but happy the others are doing great. It's not uncommon to lose a couple during repotting. Good luck!!

[@user-mx8nr3sp6n]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Thank you and keep that wonderful VFT content coming!

[@DidensyBanana]

I tried growing vft from seeds by putting them in distilled water. Some germinated and I put some in sphagnum and one in peat. The ones in sphagnum stayed green and the one in peat turned brown. Is that normal?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

There are a lot of unknown factors. It's not too unusual for a seedling to die. But there are many factors outside of just the substrate.

[@monke1919]

Would it be okay if I used peat moss and river rocks on top?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It depends on the rocks. As long as they are a hard mineral and don't leach, they should be fine. I did a video with some river type rocks on top of my venus flytraps. I really like the way it looks. You can check it out here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIKVoGqQm7OAkKc

[@TheMoistLord]

I was told that you have to coil the LFSM around in the pot like a snake so question 1 is that true and question 2 if that is true if u cut it into small pieces can you just stick it in the pot like you do peat

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Not around the pot, just around the plants roots. You just want to make sure that all the roots are touching the sphagnum moss. I wrap the roots in moss, then dig a hole in the pot.

[@stephenclarke5423]

Hi love the content, what’s the ratio for moss peat, pearlite & silica/ horticultural sand is it a straight 1/3 each. Thanks 💙🇮🇪

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I try to do 50/50 on the peat and perlite but just kind of eye the sand. I know it's usually a little less sand than the others.

[@moviemonster2083]

My Venus Fly Traps have only germinated in the sphagnum peat moss, so that's the one I will go with for now.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

If it's working, stick with it! Mine personally germinate in peat moss every time!

[@kakosamotovlog4567]

What will happen if you combine peat moss under then long fiber spag moss on top

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

A lot of people do this! If you want to use long fiber sphagnum and add some peat in the bottom, that's a great idea. It saves you some money and helps add weight to your pot. The folks over at Flytrapstore.com do this and they are some of the best in the business. I think it's a great way to do it!

[@kakosamotovlog4567]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub just planning to have onecarnivorous plant someday

[@stephaniewatts2146]

I used long fiber sphagnum and rain water.. my larger plant just put out 3 flowers.. hoping to collect seeds😊

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Good luck!

[@American-Plague]

I keep hearing from lots of people to leave an inch or so of water (for a maybe 4 inch tall pot) in the tray. I feel like this is WAY too much water to constantly have, as long fiber sphagnum stays pretty wet even without leaving water in the tray [after top watering]. And I've heard OVER watering is far more common than under watering. Is it really necessary to ALWAYS have water in the tray when using sphagnum, or as long as it stays wet is good enough so the roots can breathe easier and don't get root rot? Edit: I'm just beginning and started noticing a couple of traps getting small black spots, which I understand is due to over watering, so I cut back on so much water IMMEDIATELY. (I started with distilled water but now I'm using a zero water filter. No tap or rain water)

[@kimwilliford6303]

Thanks loads for the information. I will stick with the peat moss. My question is, can I grow this plant in Nevada?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You sure can! You just have to be careful during the months of extreme heat. You may need to give them morning son, then make sure they are under a shade cloth during the really hot afternoons. Stay VERY up on water, in Nevada during the summer I'd make sure they tray ALWAYS has water in it. As long as you keep them watered and make sure they aren't exposed to prolonged 100 plus days, they should be good to go!

[@thebestusernameevr]

Great video! Really informative, thanks for making this. I do have a question - when you up-pot a VFT that's in Sphagnum Moss, could you just leave the moss that's already attached to the roots? Or is that not good for the plant?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It kind of depends. What condition is the current moss in and how old is it. MOST of the time, I'm removing it. The older stuff can contain bacteria, mold and even unwanted critters. Usually, for the best health of the plant, I try to remove most of the old stuff. With that being said, sometimes in order to remove it all, you can damage roots. Especially with old sphagnum moss. If you find yourself breaking a lot of roots to get it off, I think it' better to leave it and don't bother the roots. Kinda of a balancing act. Hope that helps!

[@thebestusernameevr]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub thanks for the reply! Good to know! I suppose it's recommended to always get rid of the original soil that it came in from Walmart?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Yes, I almost always get rid of Wal Mart soil.

[@TBUB123]

I accidentally bought a bag of what I thought was Peat and when I got home I discovered the bag said in small print. “alternative” to peat. It looks like peat but I’m a bit weary to use it.

[@j.shorter4716]

LFS prices seem to have gone up. Last time I bought it about a year ago it was about 11 bucks for 8L now it’s 20 something.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I haven't bought any in a while since I mostly use Peat./Perlite. I'll have to jump on and check current prices.

[@Mar13579]

Dollar store :) !!! It’s $3 for a small/medium sized bag that’s packed. It’s so cheap

[@DanielUnger-gn9ct]

My yard is sandy not sure if I transfer my fly trap outside and with my yard sand about 1 foot n then some kinda of other dark red sand in some places n then white pure sand about 2 ta 3 feet down for about a foot or three then it's a mixture of clay and sand not sure if the fly trap will thrive in my yard

[@American-Plague]

Maybe put some of your yard dirt/sand in a bucket, pour some rain water in and mix it around, then test that water for impurities and acidity? Also keep in mind, it'll probably be more difficult to keep wet enough. Otherwise your yard would probably already be a bog (where they naturally grow). I'm just guessing though.

[@American-Plague]

If you can grow them well enough to get serval rhizomes off of a plant and repot those injury new plants, once the new plants get going, try it. What do you stand to lose? A free plant that you can get more of.

[@Mr.Anthropocene]

Can I use pumice instead of perlite?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Just rinse well, it should be okay.

[@cassandracapobianco6867]

So this is a stupid question but why when your spagnum moss breaks down why do you need to repot it?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

When it breaks down it loses its mass. It will start to expose the rhizome and will sink lower into the plater/pot you have it in. The lower it goes, the harder it is to get sun. Not a stupid question at all!

[@jimromero5625]

Thanks for the video and I appreciate it, but the first two/three minutes are just saying you're going to explain what the difference is, which is why we're watching the video! And then the next 3 minutes were talking about the results of a simple survey. Then you get the pros & cons .... eventually! I would suggest making this video a bit quicker :) But when you get to the good stuff, the video is very helpfu!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you for the feedback Jim! I'm always trying to improve and comments like this help me stay focused and look for opportunities. Appreciate the constructive and positive feedback!

[@sierrachristian2636]

Ive had my flytrap for a year. It's now flowering and i want to try growing more through propagation. All i can find where im located is long fiber sphagnum moss. Can you tell me how i should mix this for my soil? I also need to repot my original flytrap. Right now its in a peat moss perlite mix. Will changing the soil mix shock it??

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You can use a long fiber sphagnum moss, it's a great alternative and some people even prefer it. The plant might need to adjust a bit to new conditions but it should be just fine.

[@sierrachristian2636]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Thank you for replying to me. Can I use just the Sphagnum Moss? Nothing else? I thought of adding some perlite but im hesitant since im a newb.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You can add some perlite, but it's not necessary. Just wrap the roots and rhizome in the sphagnum moss and put it up. If you do use perlite, make sure to rinse it first!

[@cosmicerror2924]

Is it necessary to remove all of the old substrate when repotting?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It kind of depends. If I purchased from a reputable seller and I trust what they used and how they cared for the plant, probably not. You can just leave some or most of it on there. However, if you buy from big box store I strongly recommend to remove all of it. They likely watered with tap water which means the substrate will be soaked with nutrients and minerals, best to just get it completely off. Also, I've seen many pests living in the substrate from the big box stores. I'd hate to get new pests because I didn't remove the substrate. If you trust the seller, you are probably good, if not, I'd get rid of as much as possible!

[@r.c.1804]

I've been a novice VFT grower for years, not having much success. Thankfully there is so much information, but much of it is full of contradictions and unclear for a beginner. I have plenty of questions to ask, and I hope that you will be able to answer and explain, please. I will try transplanting again, this time, using the peat moss rather than the sphagnum moss. I keep my terrarium in my kitchen on the north side of my home. Is that adequate light during the growing season? Do I need to use perlite, silica sand and the peat moss when I transplant? If so, what ratios? If not, which should I use? What is peat and what is peat moss? My terrarium will need to be cleaned currently having had the dead VFT in it. How do I clean the terrarium? The shape is a vertical rectangular prism. I live in Phoenix, AZ where it's dangerously or uncomfortable hot for about 9 months of the year, including drought. When should I put my VFT into dormancy? The winter months are December through February with temperatures in the low 70 degrees in a, and the mid to high 40 degrees in the pm. Would that environment make a sufficient dormancy even though it would be exposed to sunlight, or should I use the refrigerator instead? I have had so many questions and hope to receive your knowledgeable answers. I would really appreciate your thorough reply.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

The first thing is you should probably not put your venus flytrap in a terrarium. They really don't need the high humidity and thrive in more open sunny conditions. I'm not sure what lighting you are giving it, but if you insist on growing it inside, I'd go with a Sansi 36 watt bulb or Yescom 225 panels. Both can be found on Amazon for under $40. They need a lot of light, probably 12-15 hours a day. I recommend Peat Moss, Perlite and Silica sand, but I know a lot of people have good success without the sand. So even a Perlite and Peat moss mix would suffice. The sand just helps the water flow even better and is great for aeriation. 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite, I go 50/50 for the best results. Probably half as much sand as everything else, if you go the sand route. Staying above 70 degrees during the day will not allow the flytrap to trigger dormancy. It needs to stay under 50 degrees so the refrigerator method might be your best bet for dormancy. It does need a dormancy period or it will not last long term. I hope that helps! I'm going to try and do some dormancy videos coming up including how to put a flytrap through dormancy in a refrigerator.

[@r.c.1804]

Thank you very much, especially for taking your time to respond to my inquiries. It's good to receive personal advice about the VFT from an experienced botanist!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Of course! Glad I could help!

[@crazy_tulip1552]

I noticed in one comment you said keeping a VFT in a dish of distilled water may be bad for it. I’ve had mine in a dish for about 3 months and it’s been okay so far, but I do live in the hot Florida climate so maybe that’s why. What are other ways I can keep the soil watered?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Yes, that's 100% it. It's not black and white with tray water. As long as it's hot, it's okay to leave the tray full because the plant is really going through the water. Once it gets down into the 60s, 50s F, if you leave it in a tray of water all the time, it can get crown rot due to stagnant water. Check out my watering video for more details! kzbin.info/www/bejne/npe0fIGcm6ujadU

[@TheMoistLord]

​@@CarnivorousPlantsHubI usually put less water in the tray and leave the plant without water for a few days till it feels more dry is that fine?

[@mariah_filzah271]

but whenever I repot with peat moss (ive done this twice) , all of the traps die off within a couple of days (im a beginner). and this new flytrap i got, the seller highly recommends sphagnum so I'm not sure anymore. PLEASE HELP MEHHH

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

There is a good chance you didn't rinse your peat. Honestly though, it's hard for me to say why they died without knowing all growing conditions. The substrate may have nothing to do with it. I've seen great success in both substrates. With proper care neither should kill your plant after a repotting.

[@mariah_filzah271]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub I actually did rince it though but I recently bought a tds meter and I’m confused cuz when I put in the distilled water it wasn’t pure water so-👁👄👁

[@tamilselvanv2896]

hi I'm from India. I have Venus fly trap . shall I use washed coco peat and perlite for pot mix . its good for plants

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I would not use coco peat. It usually has way too high of salt content.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Get your next venus flytrap, bag of soil or other carnivorous plant from the most experienced and knowledgeable carnivorous plant nursery around, California Carnivores. You can get 10% off when you use CPHUB at checkout. They have an amazing selection of incredible venus flytrap cultivars and other amazing carnivorous plants. Go check out their collections now, Peat Moss & Sphagnum Moss Mix - www.californiacarnivores.com/collections/growing-supplies?aff=7 Carnivorous Plant Collections - www.californiacarnivores.com/collections?aff=7

[@WuBloodKin09]

I only use LFSM!

[@MissRage95Gaming]

What size pots do u use and do u get them

[@arthurledezma9003]

Can you mix long fiber moss with sand??

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You can, but I would think the sand would just sink in that mix. I'd probably avoid sand. You can mix Perlite with LFSM though.

[@lacheredenton5736]

I brought organic sphagnum peat moss but it's not long. Is that ok?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

The peat moss mixes are not long. It's basically sphagnum moss that has turned into a soil type substrate. The only long fiber will be buying it as sphagnum moss not as peat. Once its peat it looks more like soil rather than the actual moss.

[@akiradragon2935]

It should be fine

[@Dbdghosty]

I bought some peat moss that's already mixed with all the perlite and sand in it and its not to far from me so I got it easy ig

[@JesseHumphress]

What about a mixture of both?? The best of both worlds?? I just got a flytrap and she is still in her little planter from trader Joe's

[@FavOnIcon]

I think LFS is better for seedlings and baby traps

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I've never tried propagating with it, maybe next time I do it, I'll give it a shot. I just started a small propagation project from my B52 and UK Sawtooth II but It's already in the planter. Video for that coming soon!

[@DanteTimberwolf]

I like to use sphagnum as a topper

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I've seen people do that for sure. Actually, I've seen a few sellers do this. They sell it as planted in sphagnum moss, when you go to repot you realize it was just topped and the entire bottom is peat moss. This is a bit misleading, but it has it's benefits. The weight of the peat moss helps keep the plant from tipping over. Plus, I believe both substrates do a great job, so it's never been that big of a deal to me. The sphagnum moss is just way more expensive.

[@sean2val]

I think the trick with sphagnum moss is water from the top no standing water so that the water does not become stagnant

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

This is how I water my nepenthes. I think lfsm works better with nepenthes as they don't like sitting in standing water. For flytraps though, especially when it's hot, top watering means you are probably going to be watering daily, which can become a bit tedious. But I do agree with you.

[@sean2val]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub true sticking with peat for most but i like to experiment found the north Queensland sundews do well in sphagnum moss watering from above strange the water and light seems to be the most important factor with most of these guys starting growing nepenthes have them in orchid bark doing well but grow slow might switch to spag like you use , great channel sir and thank you

[@jimmystargel6203]

I perf peat n perlite or washed sand. The spag drys way to quick especially if you have a large collection out side in all day sun ,to meny times id have to water in the hot summer same with the sarracena and dews,the peat holds more water in hotter times in direct sun,for me at least ... every one's different

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

yes, the peat and perlite definitely hold in the moisture better. This is a huge benefit in hotter areas.

[@indraalamsyah355]

peat moss make water murky isnt it,. idk why mine really murk like a tea even after i change the water it will look bad again after 1 week

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

It does. Gives the water a light brown tint. But it usually goes away after a few changings.

[@indraalamsyah355]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub and it does increase the TDS too right? idk first addinf water was 40ish Tds and after a while it increase to 60+ Tds

[@ianmccrae5626]

My fly trap has lots of traps and the little 9 cm pot is full what is the best way to repot it with out killing it. I would love some good advice.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Hello Ian! I just did a repotting video, you can check it out here. I give some care tips and show you how to repot. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGHFq4yorb-bnM0

[@drlnstza9802]

When long fiber sphagnum moss breaks down, isn't it just becoming...peat moss?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Kind of. I can't tell you the exact process for moss turning into peat, but when sphagnum breaks down it's definitely not quite in its peat form. The bigger problem is a pot full of sphagnum moss, when broken down, is only about a quarter full. The point of it being a con that it breaks down is that you have to repot it more often or add more moss disturbing the plant. It's not a deal breaker, it just doesn't last nearly as long as peat moss does.

[@drlnstza9802]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub Thank you! Appreciate your videos and best of luck for your endeavors!

[@Tommy81.519]

I get long fiber sphagnum moss for 6.99 for 4 litres so maybe I will stick to that lol even tho I have a huge bag of peat moss. Ps love the video! Thanks for the info Also if you receive a fly trap thats been grown in a peat pod, do you remove the pod or keep it in it?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Ya, that's a good price for sphagnum moss, hard to blame you there. Yes, I usually will remove those peat pods and repot it. I don't think they are very good for anything other than very short term.

[@justanormaldefaultpfp9309]

can you use live sphagnum moss?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Yes, I see many people grow them in live sphagnum moss. Sometimes, the moss even comes back to life after it's been dried. Some nurseries sell live sphagnum moss. I know California Carnivores sells it, if it's in stock. Check it out! If you use CPHUB at checkout, you also get an additional 10% off! www.californiacarnivores.com/collections?aff=7

[@justanormaldefaultpfp9309]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub thx

[@Macca81]

What is it with the carnivorous plant folks where repotting means replacing 100% of the media? I don't know anywhere else in horticulture where that is the norm!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

You ever had a spider mite infestation? Might make you a little more likely to get rid of that old substrate. Lots of reasons to do this when you don't know or trust the old substrate. I don't do it when I repot from my own collection. But when I get one from big box, yep.

[@Vikface1978]

Drinking game… take a hit every time he’s says “Ummm” or “Err” 😂

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Only of you want to get wasted! 🍻

[@Chattyman2]

beginner grower here, when potting on your plants, why do you stip every single bit of the previous growing medium off? Can't I just pot on in a bigger pot, filling the extra space with new medium as needed?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That's a great question and I think it really depends. A lot of people like to strip them down every time they repot. This does tend to give the plant a little more repotting shock. The way I decide to remove all the substrate or not is whether or not I trust the previous grower. If I buy one from a big box store like Walmart or Lowes, I know they probably have been watering with tap water and the substrate may be sub par. There could even be unwanted pests, bacteria and mold. In those cases, I almost always strip them all the way down. If you buy from a reputable grower who uses high quality substrate and you can see there are no pests or unwanted mold, I don't see any problem keeping some of the old substrate on and just putting it in a bigger pot.

[@Chattyman2]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub great answer, thank you very much :)

[@Jesus-eg3yb]

Good video!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Thank you!

[@American-Plague]

If sphagnum turns into peat anyway, why the need to remove ALL the sphagnum when repotting? Why not just leave a little and don't disturb the roots so much? (Unless you're trying to separate rhizomes I guess to get new plants?)

[@plantguy9]

What is the best gardening store to buy a more variety of carnivorous plants? Getting into the hobby and I only have flytraps right now.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I don't know all regional gardening stores. But I've had the best luck at Lowes. Home Depot has some VFT's from time to time and I've also seen more mature Ventrata's hanging at Home Depot. The Ventratas at Home Depot are rare though. Lowes seems to get new shipments of different types of carnivorous plants more often. I've seen Nepenthes, Sarracenia and venus flytraps there before.

[@ez-8238]

Have you ever mixed the two? 40 peat 30 sphagnum 20 perlite 10 sand?

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

I've mixed Peat and LFSM for nepenthes, but not for flytraps. I know some people do it with success though! But I've never personally tested it.

[@tommiles5604]

I tend to be a "fusion" enthusiast. How about starting the bottom with peat/sand/perlite only then gradually add more and more moss as you get to the top? Maybe this will minimize the cost and the improve the repotting procedure, and still give much of the benefits you discussed. Would love to hear for the experts!

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

This could definitely work! I know a lot of people to mix the substrates together. There are definitely some people who do that currently!

[@orchdluvr]

I wanted to make my own VFT media; but was told not to use silica sand. Are there different types of silica sand or what? Just wondering what you would use…..

[@croissant_productions]

Can you just use peat moss alone

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Peat alone tends to get really compact and hard. The perlite and sand are used to help keep the mixture loose to allow good air and water flow. You can probably use straight peat, but will want to repot more frequent due to how compact it gets over time.

[@sebulbathx]

Haha since I don't have english as my native language I mixed up the terms or words a bit. I thought you should mix perlite or sand with the sphagnum moss. And I had a really hard time mixing the two because they didn't want to be mix. Still thought it was needed so I layered sphagnum moss and sand in the pot. It was a hassle. But my plants have not died so I guess it worked fine. Now I know it's PEAT moss that should be mixed with perlite or sand. I wonder if you have put your plant in dried sphagnum moss why can't you just re-pot the plant with the old moss? Maybe remove the largest and easiest bits and let the rest follow in the new pot. I think sphagnum moss looks much nicer in the pot with the plant.

[@American-Plague]

I was wondering this too. If sphagnum decomposes into peat, why the need to remove all the sphagnum when repotting? I guess unless there are several rhizomes in there and you're trying to separate them to create new plants? But for just repotting, I can't imagine it would hurt anything to leave a little sphagnum. Maybe even better because you aren't disturbing the roots as much.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

This is a good callout. However, it's not about the substrate itself but more about the age of the substrate. If I don't know how long it's been in the substrate or don't trust where it came from, I want it all off. It's not that the long fiber sphagnum moss is bad, it's what it may have accumulated. Mold, mildew and possibly even pests.

[@davidpacitti8942]

Thanks for the video! Have you tried soaking the roots with the sphagnum moss on before taking it off? That helps.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That's a great callout! I have dipped the roots in water. It did seem to help a bit, but not a lot. Not like it does for a peat mix. Lol.

[@media1981]

Peat moss = below neutral / acidic Sphagnum moss = neutral to alkaline Different use for different plant type. Carnivous plants grows well in alkaline soil while monstera and other tropical plants are the opposite. They won’t die in it, but growth rate is hugely affected.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That's a great callout. Thank you for your comment. I should have called this out in the video!

[@RommelSantiago]

i used long fiber sphagnum moss. :) it's much mo easier and cleaner.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

Yes, it's definitely cleaner. And I do lean toward liking the way it looks better.

[@RommelSantiago]

@@CarnivorousPlantsHub i also have a high rate of success using LFS for propagation even much higher using live sphagnum moss.

[@CarnivorousPlantsHub]

That's super interesting. I'll have to give it a try sometime down the road. I just always have so much peat on hand, its so easy to just grab some. I feel like I'm always out of sphagnum moss, ordering more.