Super Sphag n-Bag results

[breeindy]

I grow carnivorous plants and they grow in a mix of peat,perlite and spaghnum, putting spag around the plants on top of the soil. It grows lush in my greenhouse and i have to pick it out continuously but it increases humidity around the plants and when it dries turning whiter from being green, i know plants need water. It's easy to grow.

[Tropic]

breeindy ... this is exactly the best indicator for me in the greenhouse for water and fertilizer controls. The Sphagnum moss lets me know very soon if it is 'happy' and so I can make immediate adjustments and in some cases, save the orchids. Carnivorous plants sure like the immediate association of sphag. in the wild also. I have found many of these plants here in the high altitudes of Costa Rica and in Guyana growing in areas with abundant mats of sphagnum moss on sand or gravel beds. Sure love the stuff.

[jay]

Well this whole experiment started since I had the live sphagnum for carnivorous plants. I now think I am going to keep this mini division in the live sphagnum.

Its roots are diving in, it finished growing its last leaf, and it has started a new leaf.

[jay]

Tropic,

Thanks for posting all of those pictures with your orchids in the live sphagnum moss. Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but life has been a little too busy lately.

Your results are amazing, and they look incredible. I hope that my little Paph. Dollgoldi continues to respond so well to the live sphagnum.

Thanks again,
Jay

[priz_m]

Originally Posted by Ray

Most dried sphagnum has plenty of spores, so if kept moderately light and wet with pure water, they will often germinate and grow, giving you an unending supply of live sphagnum.

DO NOT FERTILIZE IT, or it will die (with time)

Is there a recommended procedure? I noticed very light green patches in some of my dry sphag, what could I do to get it to grow?


Thank you in advance.

PS Jay, congratulations on your more than awesome results!

[Leisurely]

Jay, Ray says: "Don't fertilize it, it will die". How are you going to satisfy your plants fertilizer needs if you continue to grow it in live sphagnum? I have heard reports of worm tea working miracles for Paphs. Maybe that would work and not harm the moss.

Additionally, As Tropic mentioned, I wonder if the Rupiculous Laelias would respond well to the sand/gravel bed topped with peat and then dressed with live sphagnum. You would definitely have to use very shallow containers to avoid excessive moisture, I think. I grow a few and it was just a thought. I might give it a try.

[Tropic]

I have grown some Rupiculous Laelias successfully in granite or quartz river washed pea sized gravel with a light layer of peat and then covering the roots with the live sphagnum moss. Using small clay pots, I was able to control any excessive moisture and fertilized the plants by dipping the pots into diluted liquid organic fertiziler(tea) to about 3/4 depth of pot or where the active root growth should be and then light misting with rain water in the morning to assist the live sphagnum moss and refreshing the orchid plants.

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[Leisurely]

Tropic, I would like try your method of growing the Laelias but I have such a problem with green algae that I don't think I could keep the moss alive.

[Tropic]

Leisurely, I think your area in FL is just too hot and that the sphagnum moss will have problems to grow well enough to overcome the more agressive green algae. I do have some areas within my greenhouse where there is a microclimate that is not to the liking of the sphagnum moss and I sometimes get this problem with the green algae. When that happens I completely clean out the potting material, change the moss and begin again. Sometimes it works for a while, but most times the problem returns and I have to totally abandon using this method.

[Leisurely]

Well Tropic, it seemed like an interesting thing to do but I guess I will just abandon the idea. Thanks for all of your information.