Sphagnum Moss. Any difference ?

[voyager]

I have been using the same brand Ray has shown in his post.
a few months ago, I picked up an 80L / 1Kg package for $39 + $6 shipping through eBay. Being as I am remote,
shipping is always a major consideration in the final price.
If they do not ship by USPS the cost is usually too high.

Right now, on eBay that package is going for $30 to $50 + shipping.

[Oscarman]

Moss from Wisconsin - their not just "America's Dairyland". I would try that. Very happy with the quality of NZ moss. Not sure if the cost savings with Chilean moss outweigh the lower quality issues.

[MattWoelfsen]

It is nice to read a thread where people actual find sphagnum moss a suitable substrate to grow orchids! Some folks have such a dim view of sphagnum moss that they appear to have some sort of emotional breakdown when they see a plant in moss. Anyway....

In my experience, I have tried Upper mid-West from Wisconsin and Minnesota--live and dried. I have tried genuine Chilean moss, and have eventually settled in New Zealand (NZ) Sphagnum moss. The reasons:

1. I grow Neofinetia falcata. These plants are potted and mounded, and are expected to grow in the same media for at least two years (or more). NZ lasts far longer than the other moss.

2. All the other moss I have purchased have a lot of twigs and other detritus. I have spent a lot of time cleaning up the moss before I start using it.

3. NZ retains moisture a lot longer than other moss.

It is expensive compared to other moss. However, I'm using NZ to grow my expensive orchids--skimping on potting material doesn't make sense. The product available from FirstRay's is what I use...FirstRays seems to be the least expensive.

[voyager]

Getting my new acquisitions mounted up has run me out of NZ moss.
I had seen some bales of moss at the local farm supply co-op while picking up some Tango to begin my war on LFA's.
I ran back down to take another look.
They're 5 kilo bales in a plastic cover for a $68 non member price with a VERY generic look to them.
Little doubt it was Chilean moss for the commercial GH trade.
Just opened the bag.
There are a lot of soft sticks mixed in to it.
They still stick you as you mix water into the moss to soften it.
But, they don't draw blood.
The strands of moss are pretty ratty.
Compared to NZ moss, they look like they've been drug behind a horse a mile or two.
No where near as good a product as NZ moss.

[Subrosa]

Does anyone have experience with the SunGro line from Canada, particularly the grower grade blue?

[Ray]

One thing I have learned about sphagnum that helps is preparing it properly:

I have a large sealable plastic container. I put a 500g "bale" into it and wet it down with a small amount of water - far less than enough to saturate it. Seal the container and wait about an hour, and the moisture is spread uniformly throughout the moss, it fluffs right up, and can be separated without breaking the strands.

Reseal it for use next time...

[RJSquirrel]

zoo med again for those of you who dont use bales of it..
Anything you get in bales is going to be full of crap you didnt pay for.. I know a lot of people who arent particular about the moss. Cheap is the best if you ask them. If your growing and not showing the moss to me doesnt make much of a difference dirty moss vs clean is the same. If you like your plants to look their best then use better moss. Its all just moss.

I still buy the cubes from petsmart when I need one. 15 bucks isnt going to kill me a few times a year for good moss.

[MattWoelfsen]

The bromide often stated: "you get what you pay for". Individual circumstances must dictate the validity of spending a lot of money on potting material versus how much time you have (to clean, etc.) versus how much you value the quality of a particular product versus using that product on invaluable plants.

I grow most of my Neofinetia (Vanda) falcata plants in New Zealand Sphagnum Moss--AAA for the root mass and AAAAA Long strands to wrap plant mound and keep everything in place. The plants are expensive and I want to keep them healthy. My time is valuable, so spending time cleaning up moss is too much time. And I have determined that I can afford to buy the best product for my plants. This is my situation, YMMV!

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

I use a lot of sphag, so it would make a big difference to me.
Anyway I am using it in my habenaria lindleyana that has just come out of dormancy, mixed with bark. I am going to be p if it kills it....

I'll post an update on the lindleyana thread separately, but I am happy to report that the Wisconsin moss - for this particular plant - was a success. Yes, the moss did contain other organic materials, but evidently that suited the habenaria just fine. As potting mix should preferably be replaced each year for habenarias, this "cheaper" stuff is perfect. I think I am also going to use it in my catasetum mix next year, on one or two as an experiment. Of course I still use the NZ moss and that has lasted on certain phals upwards of 2 years with no evident ill effects.
Being prudent is not the same as being cheap

[voyager]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

zoo med again for those of you who dont use bales of it..
Anything you get in bales is going to be full of crap you didnt pay for.. I know a lot of people who arent particular about the moss. Cheap is the best if you ask them. If your growing and not showing the moss to me doesnt make much of a difference dirty moss vs clean is the same. If you like your plants to look their best then use better moss. Its all just moss.

I still buy the cubes from petsmart when I need one. 15 bucks isnt going to kill me a few times a year for good moss.

I beg to differ with you RJ.
I have found the 80l bales of the same type as Ray shows in his earlier post in this thread to be very clean.
I find any contaminates to be very few and far between.
The strands of moss are long and fluffy, almost like a fox's tail.
Comparing the Chilean I'm now using to it is like comparing a hot dog to a Filet mignon.

Time not price was my prod to go with the locally available lower quality material.

Moss is my "potting" material.
I use it on everything I mount.
I don't use pots.
I don't use all that much.
But, when I use it, I use a lot of it all at once.
Then, it might sit for a year or more until the next go-round.