Growing in pure sphagnum – I'm finding it's not so bad

[astrid]

Hey everyone!

I have several plants from multiple genera who arrived to me in pure sphagnum moss.

And guess what! I've checked the roots, but I am keeping them in that moss! (If the moss wasn't broken down or infested, and I just repack it in the old moss or pack it with newer, nicer moss)

I have an oncidium, two complex/common paph maudiae type hybrids, a phalaenopsis, and a rootless psychopsis all growing in pure sphagnum moss.

My paphs seem perfectly content in sphagnum moss, contradicting what some members of the board have told me- that they would lose all the roots growing in sphag. They haven't, and in fact, the new growth on my paph out of flower is growing so quickly that every day I look at it, it seems bigger!
The other one is in flower so we'll see about it.

These two I just water whenever the moss starts to feel almost dry, which happens about once every 7-10 days.

My oncidium (heaven scent "redolence") also seems happy. The sphagnum moss its in is loaded with little tiny green roots that green up when I water and whiten up as a week goes by. I water this one when the roots are fully white, and maybe a day after the moss feels dry.

The phal in sphagnum moss used to be something I'd bristle at and immediately repot when I saw it a year ago!! But now I see these fat green roots in the moss that are more than happy to be there. I water the phal when the moss is basically bone dry and the roots have gone back to a silvery color, and I mist the air roots daily. It's in bloom and has only blasted one single flower probably due to moving from the store to my home.

I keep the rootless psychopsis in wet, loose sphagnum moss to coax out some new roots and keep them hydrated and humid. Of course, this is an unusual circumstance.

Anyway, after reading all of this, what do you guys think?

Will I have long-term problems?
Do any of you grow in pure sphagnum? If so, what are your experiences, and why do you choose it as a growing medium?
I am in a pretty humid/temperate climate, yet these plants seem happy in sphagnum moss– could the moss be providing extra humidity that the plants enjoy?

Thanks, guys!