moss on cochleanthes roots?
I have a cochleanthes amazonica which I am still trying to understand (so
far not doing all that well). It came in a clear pot, and it has a bunch of moss that is growing on top of the medium and also on some of the roots. It came with this moss when I bought it from a vendor. Is this moss harmful to it, or is it ok to leave it there? If it is harmful, what should I do about it? Thanks, Joanna |
moss on cochleanthes roots?
On those rare occasions where I've seen moss, it seems to have no negative
impact whatsoever. Even in my greenhouse, the stuff eventually dies, despite frequent watering and high humidity. -- Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info! .. . . . . . . . . . . "J Fortuna" wrote in message ... I have a cochleanthes amazonica which I am still trying to understand (so far not doing all that well). It came in a clear pot, and it has a bunch of moss that is growing on top of the medium and also on some of the roots. It came with this moss when I bought it from a vendor. Is this moss harmful to it, or is it ok to leave it there? If it is harmful, what should I do about it? Thanks, Joanna |
moss on cochleanthes roots?
Just guessing Joanna, but moss is a natural element so I would say no?????
Also, my mentor grows paphiopedilums & his pots are full of moss. Will ask him. -- Cheers Wendy Remove PETERPAN for email reply "J Fortuna" wrote in message ... : I have a cochleanthes amazonica which I am still trying to understand (so : far not doing all that well). It came in a clear pot, and it has a bunch of : moss that is growing on top of the medium and also on some of the roots. It : came with this moss when I bought it from a vendor. Is this moss harmful to : it, or is it ok to leave it there? If it is harmful, what should I do about : it? : : Thanks, : Joanna : : |
moss on cochleanthes roots?
Wendy wrote:
Just guessing Joanna, but moss is a natural element so I would say no????? Also, my mentor grows paphiopedilums & his pots are full of moss. Will ask him. Moss (the short fuzzy kind with the little spore stalks) is more of a tag along than an actual medium. It is ubiquitous on the forest floors, and anywhere where it is damp and humid, with a bit of light. That is pretty much idea conditions for many orchid species. Spores float around in the air, and germinate wherever conditions are good. You may also have a little live sphagnum moss growing, but that is a bit less likely. So, you see that short moss (I'm sure there are dozens if not hundreds of species) a lot in greenhouses, where conditions are optimal for moss growth. You will also see green algae (on the walls, and sometimes on the potting mix or outside of pots). I personally think that if you are getting algae on your pots, you are probably watering too much, unless it is a really water requiring species you are trying to grow. A little green moss is ok. Sphagnum moss is a different critter. It is harvested from peat bogs (sphagnum breaks down into peat!) and then usually dried and compressed into bales. That is the most common form you see used for potting orchids. It works pretty well, but I'm told you can't really fertilize a lot when using it as a medium, and that it breaks down after about a year. You can also pot in fresh sphagnum, if you have a bog nearby. Sphagnum is great for bringing plants back from 'the dead' (or almost). It actually has antiseptic qualities and was used as a wound dressing up until maybe WWI. Kind of neat. Rob -- Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren 1) There is always room for one more orchid 2) There is always room for two more orchids 2a. See rule 1 3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain more credit |
moss on cochleanthes roots?
Wendy wrote:
Just guessing Joanna, but moss is a natural element so I would say no????? Also, my mentor grows paphiopedilums & his pots are full of moss. Will ask him. Moss (the short fuzzy kind with the little spore stalks) is more of a tag along than an actual medium. It is ubiquitous on the forest floors, and anywhere where it is damp and humid, with a bit of light. That is pretty much idea conditions for many orchid species. Spores float around in the air, and germinate wherever conditions are good. You may also have a little live sphagnum moss growing, but that is a bit less likely. So, you see that short moss (I'm sure there are dozens if not hundreds of species) a lot in greenhouses, where conditions are optimal for moss growth. You will also see green algae (on the walls, and sometimes on the potting mix or outside of pots). I personally think that if you are getting algae on your pots, you are probably watering too much, unless it is a really water requiring species you are trying to grow. A little green moss is ok. Sphagnum moss is a different critter. It is harvested from peat bogs (sphagnum breaks down into peat!) and then usually dried and compressed into bales. That is the most common form you see used for potting orchids. It works pretty well, but I'm told you can't really fertilize a lot when using it as a medium, and that it breaks down after about a year. You can also pot in fresh sphagnum, if you have a bog nearby. Sphagnum is great for bringing plants back from 'the dead' (or almost). It actually has antiseptic qualities and was used as a wound dressing up until maybe WWI. Kind of neat. Rob -- Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren 1) There is always room for one more orchid 2) There is always room for two more orchids 2a. See rule 1 3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain more credit |
moss on cochleanthes roots?
Wendy wrote:
Just guessing Joanna, but moss is a natural element so I would say no????? Also, my mentor grows paphiopedilums & his pots are full of moss. Will ask him. Moss (the short fuzzy kind with the little spore stalks) is more of a tag along than an actual medium. It is ubiquitous on the forest floors, and anywhere where it is damp and humid, with a bit of light. That is pretty much idea conditions for many orchid species. Spores float around in the air, and germinate wherever conditions are good. You may also have a little live sphagnum moss growing, but that is a bit less likely. So, you see that short moss (I'm sure there are dozens if not hundreds of species) a lot in greenhouses, where conditions are optimal for moss growth. You will also see green algae (on the walls, and sometimes on the potting mix or outside of pots). I personally think that if you are getting algae on your pots, you are probably watering too much, unless it is a really water requiring species you are trying to grow. A little green moss is ok. Sphagnum moss is a different critter. It is harvested from peat bogs (sphagnum breaks down into peat!) and then usually dried and compressed into bales. That is the most common form you see used for potting orchids. It works pretty well, but I'm told you can't really fertilize a lot when using it as a medium, and that it breaks down after about a year. You can also pot in fresh sphagnum, if you have a bog nearby. Sphagnum is great for bringing plants back from 'the dead' (or almost). It actually has antiseptic qualities and was used as a wound dressing up until maybe WWI. Kind of neat. Rob -- Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren 1) There is always room for one more orchid 2) There is always room for two more orchids 2a. See rule 1 3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain more credit |
moss on cochleanthes roots?
Wendy wrote:
Just guessing Joanna, but moss is a natural element so I would say no????? Also, my mentor grows paphiopedilums & his pots are full of moss. Will ask him. Moss (the short fuzzy kind with the little spore stalks) is more of a tag along than an actual medium. It is ubiquitous on the forest floors, and anywhere where it is damp and humid, with a bit of light. That is pretty much idea conditions for many orchid species. Spores float around in the air, and germinate wherever conditions are good. You may also have a little live sphagnum moss growing, but that is a bit less likely. So, you see that short moss (I'm sure there are dozens if not hundreds of species) a lot in greenhouses, where conditions are optimal for moss growth. You will also see green algae (on the walls, and sometimes on the potting mix or outside of pots). I personally think that if you are getting algae on your pots, you are probably watering too much, unless it is a really water requiring species you are trying to grow. A little green moss is ok. Sphagnum moss is a different critter. It is harvested from peat bogs (sphagnum breaks down into peat!) and then usually dried and compressed into bales. That is the most common form you see used for potting orchids. It works pretty well, but I'm told you can't really fertilize a lot when using it as a medium, and that it breaks down after about a year. You can also pot in fresh sphagnum, if you have a bog nearby. Sphagnum is great for bringing plants back from 'the dead' (or almost). It actually has antiseptic qualities and was used as a wound dressing up until maybe WWI. Kind of neat. Rob -- Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren 1) There is always room for one more orchid 2) There is always room for two more orchids 2a. See rule 1 3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain more credit |
moss on cochleanthes roots?
Thanks for reassuring me. I thought that the moss was probably ok, but I
figured it was better to ask about it ("better safe than sorry"). By the way I also posted a photo of this moss to abpo, and Al confirmed that based on the photo, it looks ok. Joanna |
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