Carnivorous plants grow in nutrient-poor bogs, sands and mosses, and that's exactly what their soil should copy. Regular potting soil, garden soil, compost and anything with added fertilizer will burn their roots. Here's which mix to use for each type of plant.
What makes a good carnivorous plant soil
- Low in nutrients: no fertilizer, compost, or "moisture control" additives.
- Holds moisture: bog plants like to stay wet.
- Still airy: roots need oxygen, so a mineral like perlite or sand keeps the mix from packing down.
The classic ingredients are peat moss, perlite, sand, long-fiber sphagnum moss and bark. Avoid vermiculite and "garden" sands, which can carry minerals, and skip any bag that lists fertilizer.
Which mix for which plant
Venus flytraps, most sundews and Sarracenia: peat and perlite
A peat/perlite blend is the standard for most bog plants. Our Carnivorous Plant Soil Mix is made for:
- Venus flytraps
- Cape sundews like Drosera capensis, plus D. spatulata and thread-leaf D. filiformis
- Sarracenia such as 'White Wizard'
- Terrestrial bladderworts
Petiolaris sundews, Byblis and Cephalotus: sandy mix
These plants prefer a grittier, faster-draining mix. Our Carnivorous Plant Soil Mix with Sand is equal parts peat, perlite and sand, and suits:
- Petiolaris-complex sundews like D. paradoxa, D. darwinensis and D. petiolaris (see our petiolaris sundew guide)
- Byblis (rainbow plants)
- Cephalotus (Australian pitcher plant)
Nepenthes: airy sphagnum mix
Tropical pitcher plants want a light, open mix that stays moist but drains fast. Our Nepenthes Media Mix is long-fiber sphagnum moss and perlite. It also works for Darlingtonia and epiphytic bladderworts. Many growers add bark for extra air.
Heliamphora: sphagnum and perlite
Heliamphora minor grows well in an airy mix such as long-fiber sphagnum and perlite, kept moist with the tray method. More in the Heliamphora care guide.
Quick reference
| Plant | Mix |
|---|---|
| Venus flytrap | Peat/perlite soil mix |
| Most sundews | Peat/perlite soil mix |
| Petiolaris sundews | Soil mix with sand |
| Sarracenia | Peat/perlite soil mix |
| Nepenthes | Nepenthes media mix |
| Byblis, Cephalotus | Soil mix with sand |
Repotting tips
- Pre-moisten the mix with distilled, rain or RO water before potting. Dry peat is hard to wet.
- Use plastic or glazed pots. Unglazed terracotta can leach minerals.
- Repot when the mix starts breaking down, compacting or growing crust, or when the plant outgrows its pot.
- Be gentle with roots. Flytrap roots in particular are sensitive.
Don't forget the water
The best soil won't help if it's watered with tap water. Use only distilled, rain or RO water with TDS under 100. Our watering guide explains why.