Managing Blackened Sphagnum Moss in Bogs: Top-Watering and Species Considerations

Moss black

Moss black 1

QUESTION: Hi Jeff!

JP again… I trimmed my sphagnum moss a little bit today, and in some pots, moss tends to be black, like burned. I guess it is not wet enough and therefore like burnt, right?

Beside watering more, keeping it wet, what could I do else?

I mostly have Sarracenia in my mini bogs, but some hold a few flytraps. Therefore I was thinking whether or not I can flood the whole pot for 1–2 days to soak the sphagnum wet, or won't flytraps like it at all???

Thanks a tons!

Cheers from Germany,
JP

ANSWER: Hi JP,

I find this happens mostly when pots are only being bottom watered. I think what occurs is the sphagnum starts to concentrate the tannic acid from the peat moss giving this black appearance. Dry conditions make it worse since you have more evaporation. Letting pots get rained on, or doing more top-watering should help. I don't tend to see this on pots we have outdoors in our nursery, but it does happen in the greenhouse.

I see a butterwort in the second photo. Is it P. grandiflora?

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
https://www.growcarnivorousplants.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jeff,

Thanks a lot for your professional answer, you should have become a carnivorous plants researcher!

The Pinguicula you see is a vulgaris. Also native here. Can you find it in the US? Is there any species you can't get your hands on in the US? I remember last time you mentioned that Drosera rotundifolia would be nice looking as small species.

Cheers, JP

Answer

Hi JP,

We have a few P. vulgaris in the nursery, and they are found in the Northeastern US and Canada. Here on the west coast we have P. macroceras and in Southern Oregon/Northern California P. macroceras ssp. nortensis. I've had a strong interest in temperate butterworts in recent years since they seem very uncommon in the trade currently. Most of what we have has come from Best Carnivorous Plants in the Czech Republic.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
https://www.growcarnivorousplants.com