Bog gardening

[Rogan]

Right! Not being a CP expert I'm totally confused - the pink-flowered S. purpurea (Chris) is Sarracenia purpurea var.venosa ssp. burkii? and the green-leaved S. purpurea (Fred) is Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea f. heterophylla?     I never realized that S. pupurea can be so diverse - anyway they all look jolly good in the bog together   

Lesley, I'll have to pollinate Pinguicula primuliflora to get some seed next year (I wonder if they accept their own pollen?), as I won't be able to send you any leaf-tip plants - it's worth a try.

Pogonia ophioglossoides is obviously very much at home in boggy conditions, its flowers look wonderful in juxtaposition to those of the Sarracenia.

[christian pfalz]

rogan, definitly burkii...
cheers
chris

[Rogan]

Here's a diagrammatic representation of my d.i.y. tractor tyre bog. The level of the water in the bog can be controlled by simply raising or lowering the end of the siphon tied to the stake. Both ends of the siphon are curved upwards to keep water in the pipe even when the level in the bog drops too low - automatic siphoning is thus ensured the next time the bog fills up.

[gote]

Thank you Guys! You have been very helpful
Göte

[fredg]

and the green-leaved S. purpurea (Fred) is Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea f. heterophylla?    

Yes Rogan, see photo

Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea f. heterophylla
Sarracenia rubra Long Lid
Sarracenia rubra Long lid pitcher

[Gunilla]

Amazing plants .  Yesterday we visited a place in Blekinge, Sweden where thousends of Sarracenia purpurea grow in a small bog. It was a strange feeling to walk on the surface of spahgnum moss, like walking on a trampoline. 

Sarracenia purpurea

[Gerhard Raschun]

not thousand of plants, only a few in my swamp.....

[christian pfalz]

gerhard, excellent, this is a bog garden, how i like....
very good...
cheers
chris

[Maggi Young]

Stunning views in the wild and in gardens!
Your swamp is terrific, Gerhard ... so many orchids there too - lovely! 

[Paul T]

Fantastic pics, everyone.  The Pogonia is such a cutie.

Rogan,

The Tractor Tyre bog is brilliant.  Do I read your diagram correctly and it is two tractor tyres tall?  The automatic drainage system for overfilling is a stroke of genius.  Well worthwhile thinking about for any bog system that one produces, providing it is raised in such a way as to allow that form of drainage.  What sort of barrier do you have within it?  Is it a solid or soft plastic (i.e pond liner) type arrangement?

Excellent info and pics everyone.  Thanks.

[Rogan]

Hello Paul, It's good to hear from you.

I have only used one tractor tyre to construct my bog, so the depth of the CP medium is only about 20 cm (8") or so - probably more than enough for most CP's. My "pond liner" is just a square sheet of poly-tunnel plastic folded up at the corners and fitted snugly against the inside of the tractor tyre. You have to be careful not to puncture it with any sharp objects while tending your plants.

[Paul T]

Rogan,

Thanks.  Looks so simple.  Now, where can I get a tractor tyre....... and room to actually put it of course. 

[fredg]

Eleorchis japonica is a lovely little asian bog orchid.
It makes a change from the usual Pogonia and Calopogon
It's perfectly hardy for me and grows merrily alongside my carnivorous plants.
The standard type flowered three weeks ago, the alba variety is in flower now.

Eleorchis japonica
Eleorchis japonica
Eleorchis japonica v alba
Eleorchis japonica v alba

[Lesley Cox]

Those are very pretty Fred. I'm surprised that orchids tolerate bog conditions as I've always thought of them as liking plenty air around their roots, even ground orchids such as Pleione.

[fredg]

Lesley

There are quite a few terrestrial orchids that enjoy bog conditions.
Pogonia ophioglossoides will romp through a bog in no time ,yet, for some strange reason fetches ( in my view) a rediculously high price on ebay.
Calopogon tuberosa is another that loves a bog.
I have a few North American Platanthera too that will not be in flower until late July / August.
This little Platanthera clavellata is sitting in a tray of water in shade.