FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hey, I have a question. I just bought three fabric pots from Temu last week. I just want to put Northern Sarracenia Purpureas and Drosera Filiformis in a fabric pot for a bog garden. Can I still use fabric pots for carnivorous plants?




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As sensitive as these plants are, I wouldn't. Notwithstanding they've likely come from China, so who knows what chemicals may be on them, they'll not be as inert as a plain plastic pot.

Okay, will washing them removing any chemicals still?


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Plus I am now putting peat moss and watering with reverse osmosis water to see.


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Are these bags fairly porous to allow for drainage? I've only seen them used for growing potatoes, so don't know much about them.

If they’re black bags I would be a little concerned about overheating the roots. The bags might not breath enough to let the heat out.

I just made it into a Sundew big and I saw the water draining out too.


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fluffy123 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:30 pm Okay, will washing them removing any chemicals still?

That would depend on the chemical, whether it was water soluble or not.
Plus, if it's made of a natural material, it'll likely rot in the wet, acidic environment. That would release nutrients. If it's a synthetic material, it'll likely degrade in the constant sun, releasing chemicals. Also, wind or rain blown debris will get caught in the fibers, introducing nutrients.
Probably better to stick with known methods, no reason to re-invent the wheel.

I checked it and it’s biodegradable.


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And I am using rain and reverse osmosis water too.


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fluffy123 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:32 pm I checked it and it’s biodegradable.

Meaning natural materials that will leach nutrients to the media as it degrades.

fluffy123 wrote:And I am using rain and reverse osmosis water too.

But the media is acidic, which will accelerate the degradation.
Your choice, but I'd stay away from them.

And if I use that on a Nepenthes indoors and is smaller will it still be the same thing too or not?


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And this one is reusable and washable too.


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fluffy123 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:27 pm And if I use that on a Nepenthes indoors and is smaller will it still be the same thing too or not?

Probably. It's still going to be a wet, acidic environment. Plus, being fabric, the roots will grow through it making it necessary to literally rip roots out. Many carny plants can handle that, but many cannot.

fluffy123 wrote:And this one is reusable and washable too.

So you'll uproot it periodically, possibly damaging the roots, to wash it? As pouty as Nepenthes are, that, I think, would be more detrimental than beneficial.
I'd not do it.

Fabric pots aren't really too good for carnivorous plants due to the amount of water they need. All of what Chef Dan has said is very valid, and I would add that being fabric they will tend to wick water, so you will be losing water from all around the pot, and in summer this will be at a fair old rate so you will need to water more frequently.
Cheers
Steve