I keep my plants in it for about a year. I mix in a handful of sponge rock
for a 6-7" pot full of moss. Anything needing bigger than a 3" pot is put
into clay with a few peanuts in the bottom. And I douse with Physan every
4-6 weeks. So far I had good luck with that regimen for the things I grow in
moss.
I have grown sphagnum in dishpans in the greenhouse when there's extra
space. Most people who stop in can't believe someone is growing their own
moss in SC. I must admit that it's just for the fun of it as a dishpan might
give you 1 or 2 6-7" pots of moss. But it's pristine, top of the line stuff
you won't find anywhere else. Oh yeah. Venus Fly Traps love it too.
Gary

"Ray" wrote in message
...
Just be sure to replace it frequently - like every six months or so - or
it can become a soppy, root-killing mess.

What's really cool is that if you water it with pure RO, and keep it warm
and bright, spores will germinate and you'll have live moss to play with.
If only there was a way to have live moss and still feed your plants.
Live moss stays naturally airy, so won't every get soppy.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"kenty" wrote in message
...
You dont need to take much off the bale ,it goes a long way.It is
surprising how much it expands.I love the stuff i wont use anything else
now.More importantly the plants like it too!
Cheers Keith
"Ray" wrote in message
...
I too, have just received in a shipment of 5-star Chilean sphagnum for my
own use and for resale, and it is far more compressed than I have EVER
seen in the past. A 5 kg bale is about 11" x 12" x 13". I pried off a 1
kg slab, sprayed it with hot water, and ended up with about three or more
cubic feet of the cleanest, fluffiest stuff I've seen in years.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"V_coerulea" wrote in message
.. .
Yes, Keith. That's what I'm talking about. My 10 Kg bale was about
18"X18"X24"; bone dry, compressed; great stuff! I've seen, and
occassionally purchased, bales of much lower quality for lining
baskets. It was darker colored, more fragmented, and had a lot of
sticks and other junk in it. This stuff is manna from heaven. It's so
evenly layered, I can peel off a 3/8" (1cm) layer to line a basket with
dry. It's so much easier to do that way than when the moss is already
wet. Fill the basket, water, then plant when the moss is expanded.
Gary

"kenty" wrote in message
...

"V_coerulea" wrote in message
. ..
I just received a bale of Chilean sphagnum and I'm extremely pleased
with it, including the price. It's top quality, blond (light colored)
moss and it cost just $72 for a 10Kg bale. Shipping was only $7 from
FL to me in SC. I use it mostly in clay pots with oncidium
intergenerics, cool-growing miltonias and masdavilleas. It's the only
way I've managed to successfully keep some of these doing well in our
summer heat. It's also, of course, a great basket liner. I've been
paying $20+/Kg for individual packages from well-known orchid
suppliers. I don't know the price of their 1Kg package (or their
larger bales), but if you're growing some of your orchids in moss you
owe it to yourself to check out this place. Drop me a note and I'll be
glad to forward the email address, web site, and contact info for the
FL supplier.
Gary
Gary,Have you ever tried the dried bales of sphag moss.You soak what
you want in water it expands & fluffs up ready to use.It is excellent
stuff!
Cheers Keith