Good Current Source for NZ Sphagnum?

[JMNYC]

Hi!

When I first got bitten by the Orchid bug way back, and evolved which potting media would work best for me and why, naturally, AAA NZ Sphagnum was included, and then, more widely available and affordable.

At that time, I got all my media components, never pre mixed, from a family owned business in FL. Incredibly, they still don't accept plastic, you must write and SNAIL them a CHECK.

But not only did their shipping costs soar, their fir bark diminished in quality, and they stopped carrying AAA NZ Sphagnum altogether and only offer the Chilean. I used to get the good moss from them by the bale; it was heaven; I also took it for granted; not a good thing in life.

Last supply I got online was excellent, also OK price, but, for the life of me, I can't locate that vendor. I see many on eBay.

Can my fellow members here maybe share if they have found good, reliable sources for this important medium?

Many thanks!

[MattWoelfsen]

There are two vendors I go to whenever I need high quality New Zealand Spaghnum moss:

New World Orchids

https://newworldorchids.com/product-category/moss/

And Orchids Limited:

https://www.orchidweb.com/category/potting-media.html

I don't know what part of the USA you are located, so choose the nearest vendor: NWO is in Michigan, Orchids Limited is in Minnesota.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

There are two vendors I go to whenever I need high quality New Zealand Spaghnum moss:

New World Orchids

https://newworldorchids.com/product-category/moss/

And Orchids Limited:

https://www.orchidweb.com/category/potting-media.html

I don't know what part of the USA, so choose the nearest vendor: NWO is Michigan, Orchids Limited is in Minnesota.

Thank you!

I am following up on both; I am almost out of what I had.
_______________________________
Here, as mentioned, where I used to get everything:

Tropical Plant Products

Jus see, they, the Lewis family now get $70 for a 5 kilo bale of the Chilean.

Sigh.

[HighSeas]

I've ordered from Tropical Plant Products too. It's such a pain to do the snail mail order. I'm quite surprised they haven't upped their ante.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by HighSeas

I've ordered from Tropical Plant Products too. It's such a pain to do the snail mail order. I'm quite surprised they haven't upped their ante.

OMG yes!!!!!!! Anachronistic business practice, penny wise, pound foolish!!! I would wait anxiously after shipment, they did ship first....for the invoice with the pink carbon copy I would use include in the envelope with the check. No, maybe it was yellow.

Envelopes, stamps.....things we have mostly freed ourselves from.

Sheri doesn't question what her family put in place. I learned this first hand.

But boy, I do miss the days when I could get a bale of top quality NZ moss and high quality fir bark (for openers) from them.... affordably!

Funny thing is, I still have a good supply of the BALE of coarse tree fern fiber I got from them long ago.....cause it just doesn't break down.

[james mickelso]

I purchased a small bale from a hydroponics store recently. Very good quality. $21 for a 12"x8"x8" bale.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

I purchased a small bale from a hydroponics store recently. Very good quality. $21 for a 12"x8"x8" bale.

O! James, can you share which one precisely? and was that with shipping? (Kinda think not.) I believe I have put one via some hydroponics vendor on ebay on my watch list....I must check.

Those dimensions seem so tiny compared with what I used to get! I need a lot.

[katrina]

I purchased my most recent bale from Josh's Frogs...3Kg bale...price very reasonable...good stuff.
New Zealand Long Fiber Sphagnum Moss (3kg 240L) - Long Fiber Sphagnum Moss | Josh's Frogs

If I don't need much and/or I'm getting something "special" then I will sometimes buy it from repotme. They have really good stuff too...comes pre-wetted and fluffed...but you pay extra for that convenience. Repotme carries some of the other stuff I use so there are times when it's just easier to do one order at one place. Repotme also have good turn around on shipping and fast delivery and they carry items that no one else does. Orchid Supplies from rePotme.com - Orchid Mix - Orchid Pots - Orchid Care - Orchid Fertilizer

This past time I needed a LOT so I went w/Josh's. It was my first time ordering from them...I'm happy w/the quality as well as the turn around on the shipping.

Across the board, NZ sphag has gotten more expensive and (to be frank) a bit harder to find than it was even 3 or 4 years ago. Not sure why...it's just the way it seems to be.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by katrina

I got my most recent bale from Josh's Frogs...3Kg bale...price very reasonable...good stuff.
New Zealand Long Fiber Sphagnum Moss (3kg 240L) - Long Fiber Sphagnum Moss | Josh's Frogs

If I don't need much and/or I'm getting something "special" then I will sometimes buy it from repotme. They have really good stuff too...comes pre-wetted and fluffed...but you pay extra for that convenience. Repotme carries some of the other stuff I use so there are times when it's just easier to do one order at one place. Repotme also have good turn around on shipping and fast delivery and they carry items that no one else does. Orchid Supplies from rePotme.com - Orchid Mix - Orchid Pots - Orchid Care - Orchid Fertilizer

This past time I needed a LOT so I went w/Josh's. It was my first time ordering from them...I'm happy w/the quality as well as the turn around on the shipping.

Across the board, NZ sphag has gotten more expensive and (to be frank) a bit harder to find than it was even 3 or 4 years ago. Not sure why...it's just the way it seems to be.

Bless you for all of the above, and the links! You bet, more expensive by far, and harder to find! But to me, the Chilean is like throwing money right out the window.

[MattWoelfsen]

I think high quality NZ sphagnum moss is very expensive for three basic reasons: (1) supply--it comes from New Zealand and there have been recent natural weather problems that have damaged sphagnum moss farms. (2) Demand--this product is superior (IMHO) to any other type of sphagnum moss available. It is widely used by Japanese and other SE Asia orchid growers and orchid nurseries. (3) Shipping--it is a long from New Zealand to the USA.

I use NZ AAA moss to wrap my orchid roots, and then I use long strand NZ AAAAA moss to secure the root ball in place. This is the way I grow my Neofinetia falcata. It seems to me that I have become so engrossed in Neofinetia that any thing associated with growing this plant is expensive!