Live sphagnum on top of LECA

[Subrosa]

Sphagnum can handle light fertilization without issue. It grows very well locally in typical forest soil alongside small streams containing mine runoff, which is loaded with iron. I also have no problem keeping it as a top dressing for Pogonia and other bog orchids which I fertilize. And while full sun is definitely optimal, the local variety grows very well in deep shade. In shady conditions it's a deep green color, while in full sun it's much lighter in color and takes on a distinct yellow tone in the fall.

[Mr.Fakename]

Do you know what species of Sphagnum you have?

I've been growing some in different conditions for a few months now, and depending on their sub-genus they can be super easy or a real pain.

The Sphagnum sub-genus will retain moisture and will grow pretty seamlessly as a top-dressing, but the other ones require such a quantity of water that their heads might desiccate really fast.
It may work perfectly fine in LECA though, it's worth a try.

Two things worth noting :
- When grown without enough light for its taste, Sphagnum will get etiolated. Instead of having bushy carpets that retain humidity, you'll end up with weird looking sticks with a few twigs, and they'll be terrible at hydrating with capillary action.
- Sphagnum acts like a predatory moss and will drop the pH to 3-4 to kill concurrent plants. They release polyuronic acids, which, if I understand correctly, messes up with calcium carbonate and nutrient absorption.
I do not know how sensitive Bulbo are, maybe this is useless to you.


Most species can withstand (small) fertilisation, but as stated algae become a problem on the long run. And they develop within the Sphagnum's cells so you can't do much about that.


Best of luck!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Sphagnum acts like a predatory moss and will drop the pH to 3-4 to kill concurrent plants.

Under what conditions? Live sphagnum apparently has neutral pH.

Maybe you're thinking of stage 2 ------ peat moss.

[vegetalmatter]

Thanks for the helpful/encouraging responses you smart people!!

Unfortunately I don't know what species of sphagnum it is, I bought it on Etsy as simply live sphagnum moss

Just to update..
I think it's actually doing pretty well! The color has grown more vibrant and is noticeably "greener" (maybe because it's receiving less light?)

And also noticed an increase in general fluffiness and more finer hairs on the strands (bad description so check out the pics instead)

On the left: 6/26
On the right: today (7/09)







I have however noticed that a select few heads are developing brown and black tips, possibly from fertilizer or tips drying out faster



Overall though I am pretty excited and optimistic and it just looks SO CUTE!

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Under what conditions? Live sphagnum apparently has neutral pH.

Maybe you're thinking of stage 2 ------ peat moss.

Under all conditions, unless there's too much calcium carbonate and it neutralises the acids.

Here's what I've been told by a biologist specialised in Sphagnum:

"Both living and dead Sphagnum lowers the pH of their surrounding water every time to a value around pH 3 to 4. This is a strong buffered system and if you would add distilled water of pH around 7, it will immediately become pH 3 or 4 once it is around the Sphagnum.
If you want a short technical explanation for this, they do it by exchanging kations for protons on the polyuronic acids in the cell wall.
The benefit of this acidifying mechanism is double. Bacteria and fungi growth rates are much lower so they don't manage to decompose the dead Sphagnum, allowing it to build up a peat layer. This keeps acting as a sponge, keeping water for optimal Sphagnum growth. The high water table also slows down Sphagnum decomposition because conditions are anoxic in water.
The wet, acidic anoxic conditions in bogs are the reason that vascular plants grow extremely poorly in bogs to the point where Sphagnum remains the most dominant plant. It's a climax vegetation type and the Sphagnum is also the 'ecosystem engineer' of this system. Another reason for this mechanism is that the kation capture allows Sphagnum to monopolyze the few present nutrients in the peat, stealing them away from possible competitors."

I've tried to replicate this by soaking live S. centrale in rainwater, but testing low pH with Phenol red isn't a good idea. I'll have to grab pH strips.

Some species, like Sphagnum angustifolium, like a more basic water and won't be so acidic.

Originally Posted by vegetalmatter

I have however noticed that a select few heads are developing brown and black tips, possibly from fertilizer or tips drying out faster

It does look nice! Tannin accumulation is also an issue, if you can spray it daily or so it will help a lot.