Specialized Plants for Bogs
Bog Iris
If you want to grow true bog plants, it takes a special commitment.  The plants will need to be watered frequently and you must make sure their soil never dries out.  In addition, these bog plants cannot be watered with regular tap water too alkaline or introduce chemicals that bog plants cannot tolerate.  You will need to use distilled or rain water.  Not only are bog plants fussy about the type of water they need, a bog garden is not flexible about sunlight either.  You will need to find a location with at least six hours of sun each day throughout the growing season.

Once your bog garden becomes established, there are only a limited range of plants it can host.  A true bog lacks soil nutrients and is also highly acidic for most moisture-loving perennials and shrubs that grow in other gardens.  Still, there is an array of plants that are both fascinating and beautiful that can be grown in bogs.  For many, this type of gardening has become an obsession and you will find it has its own international plant society and numerous Web sites and specialized nurseries.                                                            
louisiana 'Black Gamecock'


Since bog plants do not have deep roots, an excavation of 12 to 18 inches should be enough.  After adding your peat/sand combination mix, wait at least three to four weeks for the pH to adjust and the soil to settle.

Keep in mind that a bog is a nutrient-poor environment and NEVER needs to be fertilized!  If you use carnivorous plants such as the Venus Flytrap, they do not need any artificial food for their traps.  You can provide some bugs if there is limited insect life in your area, but for the most part, passing insects will suit them just fine.

Mulch Block
In winter, plants that are carnivorous go dormant and do not need insects.  However, they will still need protection from fluctuating temperatures.  You can give your bog plants a loose, acidic mulch of pine needles to act as an insulator or a mixture of oak leaves will work just as well.