Where can I find live angel moss?

[Brooke]

Yes I've had the same thing occur on my NZ moss too. I get it on some of my Bulbos because they are constantly wet.

I also get two other types of live moss that are totally different than NZ live moss. They were free from spores being drawn into the g/h by the vent fans. One is very low growing and the other is thick and about an inch tall. This type can over power a small plant if you are not careful.

Cari if you are just beginning to grow orchids, live moss can be tricky until you understand the watering needs of the plant.

Stray I don't know why you think you need live moss to grow your C. coccinea. It will do great on a mount without it or do you want it for the look?

Brooke

---------- Post added at 08:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

Most dried sphagnum has enough viable spores in it that if you keep it soaked with PURE water, it will germinate and start growing. By itself, it makes a spectacular medium, as it stays moist yet airy, but any application of fertilizer will kill it.


Ray Barkalow
Sent using Tapatalk

I do use rainwater for all of my orchids but have never found fertilizer to kill it. My Bulbos get lots of fertilizer and it doesn't kill the live sphag.

Brooke

[Stray59]

Brooke:
It is partially for the look, but also due to, in nature, Sophronitis coccinea grow almost exclusively on beds of live moss - it raises the humidity and keeps a constant moisture level at the roots. I know they don't HAVE to have it, (obviously as neither of mine do) but I want it as it is so cool looking and it does help with the moisture retention/humidity. As I say, I have some Indiana moss growing, but it is in the development stages and hasn't taken off yet. Also, when I got the Soph's they had the moss bed intact and the supplier said he always has it growing in the pots for just the reasons I mentioned.
Just another experiment I suppose, but moss will show the conditions are too dry faster than the orchid will and again, I just want to try it out. I wish my NZ sphagnum would sprout - it makes sense it would, but so far I haven't had that success!
Thanks for asking,
Steve
p.s. I used to live five hours south of Indianapolis, in Southern Illinois - while out hiking one day I and a small group of friends stumbled across a creek where what LOOKED exactly like sphagnum was growing wild. I wish I could remember where it was, as I would love to go back - there was a fern bank and some Dogtooth violet patches that were just out of this world!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by brooke

I do use rainwater for all of my orchids but have never found fertilizer to kill it. My Bulbos get lots of fertilizer and it doesn't kill the live sphag.

Brooke

That's not my experience, but maybe it was the water quality, and not the fertilizer, that caused my issues.

Thanks Brooke. I may try again...