Mixing bark with some Sphagnum Moss?

[dbarron]

Yes, when I started incorporating more sphag into the mix with my phals, they loved it. Of course I was living in a less humid place then too.

[charitysmama]

I decided to repot an oncidiuim and use some moss, but all I have is a bag of colored Spanish moss. Will the coloring hurt the plant? It says its for plants, but I want to be sure.

[dbarron]

Spanish moss isn't moss..and I don't think it would make good substrate.

[charitysmama]

Thanks, I read on line that it breaks down and molds quickly, don't need that. lh

[Stray59]

It seems like every time I move into a new house or apartment I have to adjust my mixture - more sphag, less sphag - whatever maintains a good amount of available moisture, without holding a lot of water.
Best of luck - I am sure you can hit the right mixture with a little experimenting.

[charitysmama]

I went outside and saw the four azaleas in front of the house. One is punny and struggling to survive, it looks like. I saw that the trunks and branches were covered with beautiful green Oregon moss, and decided that maybe the moss was slowly killing it. I pulled most off, which came off easily, and decided to see what would happen if I put it in the oven on low for a few hours, thinking that I might be able to use it with the orchid bark. I'll throw that out to anyone who has done this to see if it would work. The only other thing would be that it would disintegrate faster, shouldn't have any critters in it after the oven treatment.

[Stray59]

Personally, I am very careful of what I bring in from outside and use in my orchids. I don't use anything that I can't sterilize very well, as you never know what is lurking in such. I wouldn't worry as much about critters as I would bacteria or fungus - and a low heat will not kill those.
Plus, if it is going to break down quicker, you will need to repot sooner, or again you are inviting mold and infections. So, it may be more convenient and free, but it may cost you more in the long run. If you do not have a supplier of good moss nearby, there is plenty to be bought online - shop around, but get good stuff - the sphagnum that has a lot of twigs and dried grass is inferior and much harder to use.

[charitysmama]

Thanks for the info. I figured it might only be good for putting on top of plants since it seems to be holding it's beautiful green color. I do have moss on my shopping list. I would probably have to "cook" it at a higher temp to kill fungus, etc, but then it might not be a beautiful green. Oh, well. lh

[charitysmama]

Well, I looked all over town for sphagnum moss, and couldn't find any. I finally went to a small nursery which has most everything, and asked for sphagnum moss. The man said he didn't have any, but just go out in the woods and get some, the woods are full of sphagnum moss. I was surprised, bu evidently I live in a part of Oregon which is blessed with it.

[scardall]

Originally Posted by silken

I do it all the time with both medium and fine bark and mix in various amounts of sphagnum depending on the needs of the plant.

I like your idea above. Can I do this with a newly acquired Triglottis Brachiata (Vandacious plant ?????) I got this plant last weekend at a orchid show here in merritt island florida. It is in a 2" plastic pot with moss in it. The plant is 12" tall with roots coming out of the sides between leaves bottom to top (here and there). I would like to transfer it to a better container/ media?? etc.

Please advise? Thanks