MOSS

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Those of you in its northern reaches... how cold can it tolerate overnight? I'm guessing it can't survive more than a day of freezing weather. Or am I wrong? I know "ball moss" (Tillandsia recurvata) lives in slightly colder places.

In nearby Athens and Commerce, Georgia, there's a lot of Spanish Moss in the trees, which greatly adds to the charm of these lovely Old South towns. It freezes, even snows, there, but Spanish Moss, like The Dude, abides.

---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 PM ----------

Originally Posted by charlesf6

Would the mites/ bug infeststation possibility not be worth the investment if I were to use it to wrap large Vanda roots for humidity purposes? Like shown in that pic from the NJ show?

If you can keep it both alive and also pest-free, I suspect it would be excellent.

[bil]

It's easy to keep alive. I spray it every day when I water the vanda, but whatever you do keep the fertiliser ultra weak, or you will burn it and the vanda roots.

I use 25ppm nitrate on every water

[Dollythehun]

What about wrapping them with some Synthic(sp)...

Synthic Synthetic Sphagnum Moss, thoughts & use

[bil]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

What about wrapping them with some Synthic(sp)...

Synthic Synthetic Sphagnum Moss, thoughts & use

Will it hold moisture? Spanish moss is dirt cheap, and it grows fast if it is happy, so it's a good way of seeing if your vanda is happy!

You could use lengths of cotton based string trailing around the roots.

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by bil

It's easy to keep alive. I spray it every day when I water the vanda, but whatever you do keep the fertiliser ultra weak, or you will burn it and the vanda roots.

I use 25ppm nitrate on every water

Yes, that's what I am talking about!!! Great

[Pattywack]

Charles, there is a Tillandsia grower I've ordered from several times, I believe he is in Kentucky. Plant Oddities, very nice people and their Spanish Moss is very reasonable and it is greenhouse grown. I've never had any insects nor problems whatsoever. Check their website if your concerned about quality of plants. You might just find a nice Tilly there too!

[AnonYMouse]

Heh, last plant shipment used them to insulate the plants (doubled as packing material, too).

I've killed them in the past, very easy to do in drought years.

[pipsxlch]

I can send you all you want for the price of shipping if you want. I'd just dampen it with a pesticide first, like any plant grown outside there are probably bugs of some sort in there.

Red mites are known, especially in Spanish moss that's been on the ground. The stuff sold in craft/floral supply stores has been baked in ovens to kill the mites (which kills the moss too).

[Dollythehun]

Originally Posted by bil

Will it hold moisture? Spanish moss is dirt cheap, and it grows fast if it is happy, so it's a good way of seeing if your vanda is happy!

You could use lengths of cotton based string trailing around the roots.

Yes. It holds moisture. I only suggested because of the mite problem. I've also heard of people cutting strands from micro fiber cloth.

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

Yup, Spanish Moss. Down here in Georgia there are even songs about the stuff. You know you're in the Old South when everywhere you look there's Spanish Moss hanging from the trees. Farther South from where I am, where it's warmer, Vanda growers let this moss grow in among their roots, keeping them slightly humidified.

This is what I want to do too, but I am in NY.