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Sometimes when nothing seems to be going right, undertaking a fun new project makes everything better. If you’re in need of some excitement, why not try to create a garden out of carnivorous plants?
Although it may seem hard, learning how to make a carnivorous bog container garden is actually pretty straightforward.
From choosing a pot to selecting the type of carnivorous plant, we’ll go through them all! If that seems like your thing, let’s check out how we can do this, shall we?
You may have heard about bog gardens in swamps full of fairies and gnomes. But what is it really all about and how can we recreate one at home?
In nature, bog gardens are basically marshy pits with super moist soil. You’ll often find them near still water bodies like ponds.
When you’re looking to recreate a bog garden in your yard or even in a pot, make sure of three things.
Compromise on any of these points, and you’ll notice the bog garden looking gloomy and slowly dying off.
Now that we’ve kept that in mind, let’s see how we can recreate either in an empty area or even indoors!
So now that you’ve pretty much decided to create a carnivorous bog garden, we have a little more brainwork left.
Before you physically start building the garden, you’ll need to ask yourself, where you envision your garden to be.
You could either create a mini potted bog garden on your windowsill or turn your backyard into a swamp! Once you have a clear picture burned in your mind, we can now begin.
Image Source Canva
Whatever your preferences maybe, you’ll need some containers to start with. Depending on your choice, the size of the containers may vary.
Here again, it’s time for you to decide.
In case you’re a “Go big or go home” kind of person, then we suggest some roomy pots or even a shallow kiddie pool in case you’re feeling a little bold.
However, when you simply want a few potted plants as a living room decor, then a 30cm deep pot which is 20 cm wide, will do.
Search for a wide shallow clay pot and simply line it with some gardening or horticultural charcoal. This will help the water stay clean for longer once you start watering the plants.
No matter what kind of garden you’re aiming to build, the soil you choose can either make or break the whole thing.
Now think of carnivorous plants that naturally grow in the wild. The reason they resorted to eating insects is because of the lack of food.
Thus, these plants are used to low nutrient soil. In case you add too much fertilizer, it could have a reverse effect on them.
Our suggestion? Use a mix of peat moss, sand, and sphagnum moss in the ratio 2:1:1. This will give you the perfect balance!
Mix the three in an old container and scoop them in the pot using a small spade. Then, water the soil mixed until all parts are combined well.
It’s now time to choose your selection of carnivorous plants. The good news is, there are quite a few options to choose from.
This is probably the first name that pops in your head when you hear the word “carnivorous plant”.
These plants grow best in soil with low nitrogen levels since they get enough through insects.
Also, pitcher plants hate getting their roots bothered, so handle with care while repotting.
This makes a great indoor plant. It gets rid of any mosquitoes or flies that may bother you while you’re reading our posts.
These plants enjoy a lot of sunlight so make sure you don’t plant them in the shadow of bigger plants.
This water-loving plant enjoys a bit of shade. So plant it in an area where it receives a lot of indirect sunlight.
Add this to your carnivorous bog garden and you’ll absolutely adore the way it looks!
Last but not least, you’ll want to water your plants regularly. Since you’re building a bog garden, remember that the soil always needs to remain moist.
This is essential even when you’re building an organic garden.
Keep in mind that the weather on your side of the world will play a massive impact on your garden.
If you live in a hot and dry climate, creating a bog garden outdoors might not be the best idea. In that case, we suggest you stick with the indoor plants.
When you’re watering your bog garden, always steer away from hard tap water. That’s because the minerals in them may be too harsh for your plants.
Instead, opt for distilled water or even better, fresh rainwater.
Carnivorous plants mainly survive in a tropical climate where they can feed on insects. If you recreate a bog garden in a cold climate, it could spell trouble for your plants.
The solution? You will need to feed your carnivorous plants with insects manually. Take care of them like a pet, or else they won’t survive when all the insects die off.
