Sphagnum Moss. Any difference ?

[james mickelso]

Kewl. Thanks a bunch. I keep having to repot rescue phals in the moss I take out of them.

[Ray]

The different grades of sphagnum are actually, to a major degree, different species.

The "5A" or "5-star" stuff from New Zealand has the longest, fluffiest strands, but it is getting mighty expensive. I find that the 4-star "premium" grade from Pacific Wide in NZ (the Orchiata people) is excellent. It's just as fluffy, but with shorter strands (not "short" by any means - I have to cut it up for use in my Better Off mixes).



Here's some more info on sphagnum.

[RosieC]

Ray, is that bag in the picture what you say is the 4-star stuff?

I've got exactly that, identical looking bag here in the UK. I find it really good, though I've not really tried anything different.

It certainly works really well for me, I find it fluffy and mixed in length and I'm using it for more and more plants, especially small fine rooted orchids.

[james mickelso]

Ray, I just picked up the same bag of moss shown in your pic at the hydroponix store here. Same thing. I have yet to try it but it looks good. Thanks for the info. I was looking at a one cu ft block of #5 at a nursery here and they wanted $75 for it. "NOT!!!!!". I don't use sphag that much but as a second to last resort when nothing else is working as rescue I use it. I'm starting to pot some phals in sphag too. (Did I say that!!!???) When they come out of the original pot with soft gray/black roots I cut all the old damage off and pot up in loose sphagnum moss and use some newly acquired root stimulant on them. A friend clandestinely gave me some experimental rooting compound to try. I'll let you know how it works as comparison. From what I've heard on the vine, this stuff is crazy good. I'll keep you posted.

[Leafmite]

I usually buy the four star one but I don't use very much of it so I don't mind paying the higher price for it. One hobby bag usually last me a growing season. This is one of the reasons I appreciate having growing mediums like red lava rock and LECA. If I had to re-pot my entire collection in NZ sphagnum moss....

[Ray]

Yes Rosie - that's the 4-star stuff

[WaterWitchin]

I recently purchased some Wisconsin moss from a local store, as I was in a pinch time-wise. What a nasty, trash-ridden mess. Big mistake. Once you've used the "good stuff" (like what Ray has) there's no looking back.

And yes, a weird smell when wet... and my nose isn't all that big.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

NZ doesn't break down as quickly. Chilean has a lot of trash in it and more tannic acid. Wisconsin moss is great for gardens but I threw away half a bag because it was really trashy. Lots of short fibers and silt.

Alas, this speaks my experience as well, But, the good, long fiber, AAA NZ Sphagnum I use is increasingly off the hook expensive....plus the family owned business in FL I once bought all my mix components from in big quantity, now only offers the Chilean....and their shipping has gone thru the roof...and the quality of their fir bark diminished too.

To me, getting the good stuff is still worth it; the plants don't like the Chilean as much and it breaks down much faster than the good stuff from NZ.

[orchidsarefun]

used the Wisconsin moss for my Habenaria Lindleyana, just posted an update on a separate thread. The consistency/quality has held up well....
There are horses for courses. The Wisconsin moss is very useful for orchids that are unpotted or require a dormancy and then fresh mix - much cheaper alternative too Chilean moss. Next year I will be using it in my catasetums ....and my Habenaria Medusa as I managed to regrow that one too.

[Matorchid]

Hey guys,

[COLOR=ebay has it all[/COLOR]they also sell by the liter not gallon. Free shipping can be there as well. 150 gram bale equals 12 liters hydrated, plus free shipping

---------- Post added at 07:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 AM ----------

And total 8.99 8.99 and gets better the bigger you buy