Live mosses

[Phatfarmerbob]

So I potted a couple orchids today into SH and topped the pot with live moss that I collected off a rock by the creek. It was totally spontaneous and not thought out. It looks great, but now I’m worrying I have exposed my whole grow tent to some unseen bug or pathogen. Ughhh I looks really nice too.

[Ray]

You might have, but I think the bigger concern is the moss dying because its needs and the orchid's are so different.

[Phatfarmerbob]

Yeah I don’t know what I was thinking… it’s 70-80% in the tent but we’ll see, I got a wild hair and went crazy today … oh well if it dies I can just pull it off…

[WaterWitchin]

I like to collect live moss and just plant in its own pot or bowl. Like little terrarium moss gardens. If you like the look on the orchids, just get some preserved moss, like reindeer moss. It lasts a long time.

[Subrosa]

I grow plenty of orchids in live Sphagnum. In fact I wouldn't grow rose pogonia, Pogonia ophioglossoides any other way. But they're all bog orchids, which naturally grow in live Sphagnum, so the conditions for the moss are the same as for the orchids. I do have other mosses growing well in different sets of conditions in conjunction with other plants. The first thing is to understand that the orchid comes first, so maintain conditions the orchid likes. If the moss thrives, maybe that's a good thing, if it doesn't, oh well. I would start a small pinch in the pot and see if it takes hold and spreads. My mosses all grow from fairly quickly to stay out the way fast, so if you introduce a moss to suitable conditions it won't take long for it to cover the desired space, and maybe then some. And if the conditions aren't suitable a patch the size of a quarter isn't going to cause any issues if it dies and decays in say, a 4" pot.

[Leafmite]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I like to collect live moss and just plant in its own pot or bowl. Like little terrarium moss gardens. If you like the look on the orchids, just get some preserved moss, like reindeer moss. It lasts a long time.

I have been tempted to have a bowl of moss. I have a little patch or two of moss in my yard and see other types for sale online...maybe I will start one this summer. Moss is so pretty and there are so many types!

I get quite a few orchids with moss growing on top of the medium. It does not last long once I put the orchid under my lights as my conditions are not humid enough (even with the goldfish tub). If the grow tent is humid enough and top where the moss grows is kept damp, it should do quite well. The trick is probably to keep the orchid root-bound or have a pot and medium that allows good air-circulation around the roots to prevent root-rot.

[Clawhammer]

I have a love/hate relationship with live moss. In my basement greenhouse conditions it grows everywhere and on every plant that doesn't fully dry out between waterings. Besgrow sphag even comes back to life in my dampest pots.

Pros:
- Looks really nice
- Roots growing in live moss are very happy
- Increases water retention in the pot (good for s/h)
- Moss growing on top of the medium is my leading indicator that I am overwatering plants that like to dry between waterings.

Cons:
- chokes off and kills my minis and micros
- constant "weeding" is required to keep it from taking over as it grows much faster than orchids
- Changes drying rate of medium underneath, has led to root rot due to soggy conditions

My s/h pots are actually the most happy with a moss "cap". I water s/h pots every day and moss grows on top naturally. Prevents the top layer from drying and ochid roots love growing into it.

[RJSquirrel]

I like moss but it doesn't help them very much

[reverseboB]

I have added moss to my semi-hydro pots and have had good results. The orchids do seem to like it a lot and it keeps the leca from floating and shifting. Now repotting one of these pots takes a little more work as the moss doesn't just stay on the top buts grows into the pot.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I like to collect live moss and just plant in its own pot or bowl. Like little terrarium moss gardens. If you like the look on the orchids, just get some preserved moss, like reindeer moss. It lasts a long time.

At least where I'm from collecting live moss from the forest or sand from the beach is illegal! Is there any kind of regulation around that in the US? I guess it'll vary by state.