Carnivorous plants have evolved into being carnivorous because they generally live in areas that have very poor nutrient content, the majority grow in acidic, damp or waterlogged soils which are low in nutrients. Buying a healthy plant is therefore not the end of the story, by any means. To maintain a healthy specimen, you also need to be sure that the plant has the right ideal growing conditions and is planted in compost suitable for carnivorous plants

The original mix used in cultivation is peat mixed with a variety of other material. Many growers use peat and sand, or peat and grit, we mainly use peat and perlite as a base mix. Certainly Sarracenia (North American pitcher plant), Dionaea muscipula (Venus Flytrap) and Drosera (Sundew) are happy in a 50/50 peat and perlite mix. Not all plants are the same, which is why we use different combinations of this mix. We have mixed our own compost with a perfect composition required for a healthy wicked plant, available in however much you need.

We have also been successfully trialling peat-free compost, and sell this online as well. Peat free compost needs to be tailored more towards individual plants, which is why they are listed individually.

To have a look at the findings of the initial peat free trial, click here