How do you water when using sphagnum?

[leslieann79]

A question for all you sphagnum moss users. I used to use bark and I would put the pot in a little bucket and let it soak for a bit. I was wondering if you still need to let the plant soak when its planted in sphagnum moss? I've found that its easier for me to tell when to water when plants are in moss! So how do moss users water their plants?

[NYCorchidman]

I also soak my orchids that are in the bark or anything chunky and open.
I do not soak the ones in the moss.

What I do is I pour water until I see water come out at the bottom of the pot. then drain well. that's it.

I also had some success by just adding a little bit of water so the moss will stay moist at all time instead of getting it sopping wet.

I have grown phals and paphs in moss.

[Kailyn]

I dont use all spag but a mix of spag perlite and coir i mix up the water/fertilizer in a one gallon bucket (i only use half so about 2 liters) then soak the pots in that. I have one phal in mostly moss in a terracotta pot and I find it dries just fine after a full dunking.

[Bud]

I put the pot under a sink once a week and let the faucet flow for a couple of minutes....this flushes out any plant and root debris, fertilizer crystals accumulated on the roots and waste matter....you might think the surface of the moss is dry but the center ball might still be wet....so master the skewer method for moss pots.

[leslieann79]

I tried the skewer method, but now I just stick my finger down in the middle and feel. I wash my hands first. Is that an ok way to check? My moss is not packed very tightly and they are potted in net pots.

[Chris17]

I stick my finger in--all the way to the bottom. I wait until the moss is getting dry at the bottom before watering again. Also I regularly mist the aerial roots.

[NYCorchidman]

You don't have to stick your finger all the way in. Does your finger meet the roots at all?? lol

Wet moss and dry moss weigh VERY different and easy to tell the difference.