How to Create Pitcher Plant Bogs

Select a location for the pitcher plant bog. Pitcher plants need full sun in an area protected from wind. In hot and dry, but not humid climates with an average summer humidity level below 50 percent, light afternoon shading is beneficial to prevent burning.

Dig a hole that will accommodate the preformed pond liner and place it in the hole. Pond liners are sold in almost all garden centers. Choose one that is about 12 inches deep. Alternatively, you can use vinyl pond liner or even a plastic kiddie wading pool.

Adjust the pond liner so that it is level. You may choose to make one side slightly higher than the other to direct water overflow on rainy days, but it is not required for the plants to grow.

Fill in the soil around the pond liner. Disguise the edges of the pond liner with decorative stones.

Mix one part sand and one part peat moss and spread an even layer several inches thick in the bottom of the pond liner.

Place the empty flowerpot in an accessible corner right up against the edge of the pond liner. This creates a small well where the water will be added later. The rim of the pot should be an inch or two below the rim of the pond liner. Use a flower pot that has large drain holes in the bottom or a plastic net pot available from hydroponic and pond stores. It should be about 4 to 6 inches in diameter and slightly shorter than the edge of the pond liner is deep.

Fill the plastic pot with smooth river rocks, gravel or other decorative rocks that will not leach minerals into the water. Overfill the pot with rocks so they mound on top to the height of the pond liner rim.

Fill the pond liner with the peat and sand soil mixture to about an inch below the rim of the liner. Take care around the well to not get too much soil in it. The rim of the pot should be right at the soil surface with a mound of rocks an inch or two higher on top.

Arrange the pitcher plants on the surface of the soil where you want them to be planted.

Dig holes in the soil and plant the plants. Either remove them from the pots and plant them directly in the soil at the same height they were in the container, or bury the entire pot to the rim. Burying the pots makes it easier to remove and divide the plants later.

Fill the pond liner with rainwater. Pour it into the mound of rocks on top of the well rather than directly into the soil. This keeps the water from washing the soil away from the roots of the plants and creating an uneven soil surface. It also allows you to easily remove a few rocks later to check water levels without disturbing the plants. You can fill the pond liner until it is overflowing, or to the surface level of the soil. It does not matter as long as the soil is wet and boggy. Keep the bog full of water throughout the entire year.