Is moss ok for orchids (green living one)

[Maru777]

I bought this den at Redlands last year and it must have come with some living moss seeds (or whatever moss have, spores?) on the canes or roots. It came bare root so that was my assumption anyway. After I got it home, I put the plant in SH with new lecca pebbles and left it to do its thing. The plant was healthy and it is growing quite well but after a while I noticed green moss growing around the roots. I rather like it. It looks quite nice and I imagine it would keep the pebbles more moist underneath, although living in +80% humidity usually means I don’t get that much of an issue with the dry top layer. I was wondering if there are any concerns with allowing this to expand in the pot and also any way for me to “propagate” the moss if there are no problems. I only have it for this one plant. Thank you!

[estación seca]

It's harmless. I would leave it alone.

[Subrosa]

To propagate it just move a mossy ball of LECA into another pot. Your conditions should make it that simple.

[orchidman77]

Yep, it's no problem and I think beneficial as well! I have a friend that regularly collects mosses from his backyard and cleans them before cultivating them for his mounted orchids.

[SG in CR]

I would agree with estación seca for the most part, but with one exception. I've noticed that some orchids that come from drier climates, B. nodosa in particular, don't deal with live moss very well if it starts overgrowing the base of the plant. I didn't know that and lost a B. nodosa and a Myrmecophila tibicinis because their bases got overgrown with moss and they just kind of slowly withered and died. I've had others that got the same watering and fertilizing but were growing without the moss and they are still doing great.

[SADE2020]

I think that too much of anything that can stifle the roots is better to control it. In the end, orchids need air circulation ....what you show is nice, even cute ..but an overboard should be controlled from my experience.

[Maru777]

Thank you, everyone! Much appreciated!