Peat-free case studies: Hampshire Carnivorous Plants
Matt Soper of Hampshire Carnivorous Plants shares their peat-free progress
Have you made the transition to peat-free? If you’d like to share your story to help and inspire other growers, please get in touch.
Many growers and nurseries in the UK are already 100% peat-free, or are well on their way. Hampshire Carnivorous Plants have shared their progress with us to help other growers learn about their experiences and the solutions they found along the way.
So what are Matt’s top tips for growing carnivorous plants peat-free?
Hampshire Carnivorous Plants: background
Peat-free status: Growing Sarracenia peat-free, with some displayed at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024
Date established: 1995
Type/size of plants grown: Specialist carnivorous plant nursery growing all carnivorous genera including Sarracenia, Nepenthes, Drosera, Dionaea, Darlingtonia, Heliamphora and Pinguicula
Number of plants produced per year: Around 40,000
Growing environment, irrigation and nutrition used: 90 per cent unheated glass, 10 per cent heated glass. Irrigation uses 100 per cent harvested pure rainwater; the plants don’t need feed
Growing peat-free – in conversation with Matt Soper, Owner
When did you start your transition and when are you aiming to be peat-free?
Hampshire Carnivorous Plants have tested different peat-free growing media to improve growth over the last 15 years, as we know that going peat-free is better environmentally.
Are more customers asking for peat-free plants?
More were asking three years ago; we think this may be because some mixes are inconsistent so people did not want to risk losing a whole collection after trying one type of peat-free mix. The results from sphagnum are exceptional, but it is expensive and not always easy to obtain in larger quantities.
What kind of trials did/will you start with and on what plants?
We have been trialling Sarracenia with success and are now moving on to trialling some of the tricky sundews and Venus flytraps. So far, our trials have shown that some of the peat-free media available are inconsistent but our work is paying off, and we have found the right mix for some of our varieties.
What peat-free medium has been most successful for you?
Sphagnum moss above all else, and in addition, cork granules are good and inert, but a bit expensive. Pine is good but the results we had from it were a bit inconsistent.
When potting peat-free for RHS Chelsea, I used a mix of sustainably sourced sphagnum, composted pine bark and cork. We also have two new products we are now trialling which look good so far – fingers crossed.
"The results from sphagnum are exceptional"
What were the different feed and irrigation needs when growing peat-free, and were there any other changes to production?
Our plants need to be re-potted more often, because the medium containing pine bark rotted. Otherwise, we don’t feed and the plants are always stood in water, so that remained the same.
What are your top tips for those starting out growing peat-free?
Our top tip from our trials and years of experience is that when growing carnivorous plants peat-free, you will need to re-pot more often – we suggest every two years.
How is your RHS Chelsea display shaping up?
Plants are growing well for our display at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024, which will include Sarracenia growing peat-free, and we will select the best of the best just before the Show.
Hampshire Carnivorous Plants at RHS Chelsea 2024
Hampshire Carnivorous Plants’ display in the Great Pavilion at RHS Chelsea 2024
Sarracenia ‘Judith Hindle’ growing peat-free
"When growing carnivorous plants peat-free, you will need to re-pot more often"
Have you made the move to peat-free?
If you’d like to share your story to help and inspire other growers, please email us at [email protected].
