Question
Dear sirs,

I'm planning on eventually growing Darlingtonia in an outdoor bog garden. I live in Walnut Cove, NC in zone 7. My question to you is what size lava rock would you reccomend for use in an outdoor bog garden for the cobra plant? Also, what other soil ingredients might be helpful for this plant in a garden? Thanks for your time on this matter.

Daniel Bunton

Answer
Hi Daniel,

Use lava rock (scoria) that is 1 inch minus.  It is often sold for landscaping.  Just look for the smaller sizes of it.  A good mix for Darlingtonia is equal parts peat moss, perlite or pumice, bark, and lava rock.  You want a mix that drains quickly that is low in nutrients.  If you have access to it, topping the bog garden with live sphagnum moss will be very beneficial to Darlingtonia.  Also, plan on using a drip water system in your bog garden.  This will be necessary with your hot piedmont North Carolina summers.  For more information visit our care pages at http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com