Live Sphagnum Moss as pot media?

[zhilin]

Hi, I read a orchid culture book, saying that the live sphagnum moss is the best for orchid as pot media. But the book doesn't give much explanation. I happen to grow much live sphagnum moss. So I am interested in using the live moss as pot media. I just have a quick question: Is the live moss suitable for Doritaenopsis, Epidendrum, Psychopsis , Paphiopedilum, and Phalaenopsis? And if I use live moss as pot media, what shall I be careful (e.g. watering)? Thanks.

[navyderek]

Yeah, live sphagnum moss is awesome as a potting media. Water retention and distribution throughout the orchid roots is fantastic. If I could get it to grow better I'd be using it exclusively. Treating it like you would dead sphagnum moss should produce good results.

Something that helps prevent root rot in the inside/bottom of the roots is to layer the bottom of the pot with river stones- it will even out the air circulation and the sphag will dry much more evenly.

[zhilin]

Thank you for the advice.

Yeah, live sphagnum moss is awesome as a potting media. Water retention and distribution throughout the orchid roots is fantastic. If I could get it to grow better I'd be using it exclusively. Treating it like you would dead sphagnum moss should produce good results.

Something that helps prevent root rot in the inside/bottom of the roots is to layer the bottom of the pot with river stones- it will even out the air circulation and the sphag will dry much more evenly.

[stefpix]

does not sphagnum require purified/ distilled water and no fertilizer? i thought the salts would kill it. Where do you find live sphagnum?
stefano

[zhilin]

Yes, the moss requires distilled water/RO water. But for very short term and draining pots, light fertilizer won't kill it. I'm using it as a top dressing for my nepenthes. I fertilize my nepenthes every other week with 1/4 standard strength, and the moss is still thriving. The live moss was bought from a carnivorous plant grower in last year.

does not sphagnum require purified/ distilled water and no fertilizer? i thought the salts would kill it. Where do you find live sphagnum?
stefano

[delilah]

I didn't know that you could fertilize nepenthes. I was told to only use distilled or RO water on carnivorous plants.

[stefpix]

Yeah but then how can you use it to grow orchids that get fertilized and watered with tap water?

[phytochrome]

I harvest Spag a few miles from town at my friends place. It is gorgeous! I love starting plants in it and have recently begun putting more in my containers. We'll see, but the plants see to love it!

[zhilin]

Actually you can fertilize most carnivorous plants. But need to be more careful. Using MaxSea and coffee treat are two popular fertilizing methods among carnivorous plant growers. For me, I use MaxSea with 1/4 tsp/gallon for foliage fertilizing (spray the dilute on the leaves of my nepenthes, American pitcher plants, and sundews). You may google many discussions on these topics. However,using distilled or RO water and feeding carnivorous plants with insects or fish food is a safe way to grow these plants. I fertilize my plants just in order to speed up their growth.

I didn't know that you could fertilize nepenthes. I was told to only use distilled or RO water on carnivorous plants.

[zhilin]

I don't know. Actually, I've not yet use live moss to grow orchids. I just want to collect opinions from your guys before I use the live moss.

Yeah but then how can you use it to grow orchids that get fertilized and watered with tap water?