live sphagnum moss

[thakshila smith]

Hi, I have learn t that most of our members here use sphagnum moss
as a growing media for orchids. How about using live moss for this purpose? They will start growing again and even can provide nutrition to plants.
In our tropical mounted orchids are living on among them. There is growth of moss on branches of tree or tree trunks and can provide moist or growing base.
There are many kinds of living moss around our paddy fields and
I thought of using them.

[RJSquirrel]

I like moss and try to get some growing in my pots but when it doesn't get enough water or what ever it needs ,it gets smelly real fast..I do like the ball moss and spanish moss in the trees but when it gets wet it smells foul too...dont know how to keep it alive for more than a few weeks at a time

[thakshila smith]

Thanks . The moss growing on water I suppose very nutritious
and when its dry not smelly but fine fertilizer. Full of nitrogen .
We just throw away to avoid the regrowth.
they grow without any help of others.
I suppose they need correct temperature the only item you can't provide over there regularly.
Wish you good luck.

[Imperial_Exotics]

You can purchase dried bundles of New Zealand Sphagnum and hydrate it by soaking it in water, then wringing it out.

Works great.

In fact, the Sphagnum will "come back to life" after awhile and start to turn green again. And no, that is not algae, it is the moss growing again. Apparently it becomes dormant.

Just do not allow it to remain too wet. Misting is more than sufficient.

Originally Posted by thakshila smith

Hi, I have learn t that most of our members here use sphagnum moss
as a growing media for orchids. How about using live moss for this purpose? They will start growing again and even can provide nutrition to plants.
In our tropical mounted orchids are living on among them. There is growth of moss on branches of tree or tree trunks and can provide moist or growing base.
There are many kinds of living moss around our paddy fields and
I thought of using them.

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[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

I like moss and try to get some growing in my pots but when it doesn't get enough water or what ever it needs ,it gets smelly real fast..I do like the ball moss and spanish moss in the trees but when it gets wet it smells foul too...dont know how to keep it alive for more than a few weeks at a time

Ball moss and Spanish moss are not mosses but Bromeliads (relatives of the Pineapple plant) and do not work well for growing orchids. Sphagnum, live or dried is the moss that many growers use. I find, however, that I do much better with sphagnum when it is loosely packed and not tightly packed in whatever pots are being used.

[Brotherly Monkey]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

Ball moss and Spanish moss are not mosses but Bromeliads (relatives of the Pineapple plant) and do not work well for growing orchids. Sphagnum, live or dried is the moss that many growers use. I find, however, that I do much better with sphagnum when it is loosely packed and not tightly packed in whatever pots are being used.

I'm the same way with spag, myself, ron, and noticed I have a much better view of it, as a medium, than most folks

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by Brotherly Monkey

I'm the same way with spag, myself, ron, and noticed I have a much better view of it, as a medium, than most folks

I like sphagnum, but it does best in a relatively humid environment with very good air movement where it can be kept constantly moist. It does not work very well when the grower has to let it dry out for the plant's sake - it's then a real pain to water and the plants do not seem to do well in it then.

In my orchidarium where the humidity is never below 70 and usually around 80% and where there is enough air movement that the plants with airier growth habits are in constant motion, I use net pots for the most part and water as often as twice a day and it really works well for me, but I don't do well with it in other areas where there is less humidity and less air movement.

[Brotherly Monkey]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

I like sphagnum, but it does best in a relatively humid environment with very good air movement where it can be kept constantly moist. It does not work very well when the grower has to let it dry out for the plant's sake - it's then a real pain to water and the plants do not seem to do well in it then.

I actually use it with many plants that I let dry out. but I think my success comes from the fact that I water with a pressurized spray bottle, so the water never just pours through the medium, and will simply settle on the moss in small droplets, and gets absorbed rather quickly

[got ants]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

Ball moss and Spanish moss are not mosses but Bromeliads (relatives of the Pineapple plant) and do not work well for growing orchids. Sphagnum, live or dried is the moss that many growers use. I find, however, that I do much better with sphagnum when it is loosely packed and not tightly packed in whatever pots are being used.

Actually, I use live Spanish moss in certain instances and it works like magic.

The trick is using it on mounted orchids wrapped loosely around roots attaching onto the mount. I also drape it over mounted orchids to retain moisture.

However, I would not recommend using it for a potting medium.

[Florida_guy_26]

Hey everyone, I am going to add my 2 cents, but as far as sphagnum and any other mosses go, I do not use any of them unless they grew accidentally and are still growing in or on mounts or some pots. I do not use sphagnum as it promotes root rot way too easily and other moss needs too much moisture as even with 80+% humidity my moss dries out unless i water a few times a day. I use prime agra and it works well as the orchids are huge and full and look good. I used to grow in pure sphagnum moss but it nearly killed some of my temperate orchids- unless you live in a place with lots of humidity and no direct sun in summer, chances are moss is not the best thing to use. I only use it for my phals along with prime agra in about 1 to 1 ratio or it gets waterlogged and kills roots easily. The other "mosses" mention are bromeliads and do not do well after being removed from trees. Also, be careful as there are parasites that can be transferred to orchids from bromeliads and trees if you do not clean and spray with insecticides and alcohol before trying to bring them into the orchid environment.