SPHAGNUM MOSS: Effects of Fertilizers on It

Culture Orchid Doctor

by Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler)

Originally published in The Orchid Doctor in 1980 and 1988

Posted by Sys Admin almost 8 years ago.

Article Blog   Article Index
The moss is soon killed by fertilizers and chemicals used on it. OR82-12
Share on Social Media:  
Log in to Add a Comment

More The Orchid Doctor Articles under the Heading Sphagnum Moss

Sphagnum Moss Comments
SPHAGNUM MOSS: A Blessing to Many Growers Good for transplanting seedlings; live sphagnum is hard to get, milled sphagnum is easier to get and as satisfactory; place it one-half inch on top of seedling bark before planting seedlings, then place pots in a plastic bag; do not sterilize moss before using; algae on the moss seems to have no effect on the roots underneath. A66-643+; OD79-186 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: As Growing Medium It is usually of excellent quality anywhere, but in North America some is harvested almost dead; moss from New Zealand is the best yet, lasts longer than any other; watering it is critical and should not be overdone, yet it should not dry out. F86-13 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: As Potting Material Usually live material is used either wholly or as a top dressing, so a constant supply is needed; it requires careful watering and fertilizing; it is a rare carrier of sporotrichosis, a fungus disease that affects humans. A87-53 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: As Potting Media It is the best; use it coarse, the dried packaged type; use it alone or mix it at one cup redwood bark, 1/4 cup perlite plus enough moss to fill a five or six inch pot; the secret is to avoid too tight or too loose packing. OD69-156 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: As Potting Medium It is excellent for use in South Florida, but one must repot every year because it decomposes but when mixed with tree fern or cork bark chips the aeration is improved. F81-17 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: As Source of Sporotrichosis A lymphatic disease caused by a fungus; for full details and treatment refer to OIE86Mar-19; refer also to SPOROTRICHOSIS; see also AU85-19 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: Canadian Type It is usually received dry and brown but after a few weeks of reverse osmosis water it sprouts and becomes alive and green; New Zealand moss, kiln dried, will not recover. OD87-41 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: Harmed by Fungicides The live kind is sensitive, so apply with great caution. AU76-75 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: How to Use It Miltoniopsis, phalaenopsi8 seedlings can be grown in sheet moss, but use 4 inch or smaller pots because in larger pots the moss stays wet too long; for larger pots it can be mixed 50/50 with styrofoam peanuts. OIE85Mar-3; for paphiopedilums and phalaenopsis. OIE86Jan-3 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: How to Water It Chlorine in the tap water kills it unless the water stands in a pail for 12 hours before use; tap water and well water may contain bicarbonates of magnesium, or of calcium, the latter being the one which precipitates on the inside of kettles, and they both raise the pH to alkaline levels which kill the moss; rain-water is not harmful to it. A75-808 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: In Potting Mixes Growers used to place it on top of paphiopedilum media; green live sphagnum indicated the paphs. were adequately watered; if it dried, conditions were too dry; a good idea but it should not be applied to phalaenopsis. A73-807 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: Killed by Fertilizers Use them at one-quarter regular strength and the sphagnum will continue to grow. AU76-75 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: Live As potting medium it is a success with phalaenopsis, cymbidium back-bulbs, paphiopedilum back growths; where it can be collected; refer to A76-724Cultivation in live moss requires a good water supply which is obtainable with a reverse osmosis apparatus with four cylinders, also 1. a filter to remove dirt; 2. also to remove the finest insolubles; 3. activated charcoal to remove chloride and chlorine,4. reverse osmosis process where one-third of the water enters the storage tanks with the impurities reduced from 600ppm to 20ppm; the machine costs nearly $2000. OD87-40 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: New Zealand Type Has been used by an orchid firm in the Los Angeles area for years, especially for Phalaenopsis; good for Phalaenopsis whi ch likes a higher temperature from 65 to 85 dF and fertilizer, such as 18-18-18 or 20-20-20 which kills the moss; city water from the tap checks out at? -- 8.5 (300 parts per million solute) the same water after being squeezed from N.Z. moss is a more acidic pH 5.5. OD87-155If packed too tightly in the pot the plant can be damaged, so prepare it so it does not pack by first wetting it for five minutes in a solution with 5-5-3 fertilizer (one squirt of a-: dropper to one liter water) with an added drop of Superthrive, then tear it into half-inch bits and squeeze it almost dry, so it puffs up and can be tossed into the pot without pressing down; this way the roots do not drown. OIE87Jy-4In N.Z. it is used to grow cattleyas; it is quicker, cleaner, lighter than bark, good for shipping plants in pot;in winter keep it on the dry side and avoid cold draughts; organic f... 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: Source of Fungicidal Extract Other plants may depend on it for antibiotics; British growers have long used it; some difficult terrestrials do well in it; paphiopedilums are sometimes grown in it; odontoglossums do well in it under lights. A67-545 0
SPHAGNUM MOSS: To Grow it Yourself Put some wet peat moss under the sphagnum so that its roots can derive some moisture and nourishment for growing. OIE88Jan-ll 0

New Topics

  1. James W McCully asked question How to read archived articles ? in category General Discussion
  2. David George asked question recently purchased orchid - what to expect in category General Discussion
  3. Danielle Carbonneau asked question phalaenopsis, dendrochum and Odontoglossum in category Phalaenopsis
  4. Nicholas Filannino asked question Phalaenopsis William Kistler? in category General Discussion
  5. Mark Farran asked question How to open and read articles listed in category General Discussion
Ask a Question

Start a Topic

New Comments

  1. Louis Wilson commented on member plant E. alata f. alba by Louis Wilson
  2. Julie Ellner commented on member plant Phal. amabilis var. formosanum by Vickie Seibert
  3. Julie Ellner commented on member plant Rlc. Green Dragoon 'Mendenhall' by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  4. Danielle Carbonneau commented on member plant Ons. Catatante 'Los Roble' by Henry Shaw
  5. Barry J Silver commented on orchid Lyon. SunCoast Pink Passion
  6. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Phalaenopsis William Kistler?" by Nicholas Filannino
  7. Carol Holdren commented on orchid Colm. Eric Gabriel Heines
  8. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Cattleya little susie" by Juliann Eckhard
  9. Carol Holdren commented on member plant Bc. Morning Glory by Chris Siolo
  10. R .Benson commented on member plant Kir. New Hybrid (Fred Clarke) SVO9831 by R .Benson
  11. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Blooming Stenglottis Venus “jamboree “" by John Urey
  12. Jeanne Uzar Hudson commented on member plant Lc. Canhamiana var. coerulea 'Cobalt' by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  13. Jeanne Uzar Hudson commented on member plant Sns. gemmata by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  14. Stefan Neher commented on topic "Orchid roots .com site?" by Mary Lane
  15. Kevin Barry commented on member plant Bul. Tammie Sue Pernas by Tony Pernas
  16. Linda Hartman commented on member plant Ctt. Final Blue by Linda Hartman
  17. Kevin Bergeson commented on member plant Paph. rothschildianum by Kevin Bergeson
  18. Carol Holdren commented on topic "recently purchased orchid shows unstoppable roots " by David George
  19. Michael Makio commented on orchid V. Beatrice Makio
  20. Carol Holdren commented on topic "shorter stem with less vigorous blooms" by katherine mott