Lance Birk
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2006
- Messages
- 182
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Silence,
Live Sphagnum moss is really magic stuff. If you have any ailing orchid, potting it in the live (NOT the dead moss) will bring it back to health. This is the moss found growing in bogs in Michigan and other northern states. It can be collected and kept alive in a deep tray of distilled water. It needs sufficient light to maintain its health, but not so much as to allow algae to grow.
You need to pot the moss firmly, in a white (not clear) plastic pot and water it every time with distilled water. Rainwater might do as well, but since I’m in California, we don’t have rain here. Never use fertilizers with living Sphagnum.
Before 1970, P. delenatii was just about impossible to grow (if you could ever find a piece of one), but I was given some live Sphagnum by Larry Heuer (who’s father lived in Michigan) and I potted my plant in it. Subsequently, I wrote an article about my success and had it published in the Orchid Digest, Vol.34/8, 1970. There are a few photos showing roots as thick as a Phalaenopsis. Read the article, it’s rather informative.
My first P. delenatii plant grew in a 3.5 inch square, white Jardiniere pot and produced 9 stems and 13 flowers. Larry’s dad died and I was unable to get more moss so I can’t tell you much more about how long it lasts, etc., but mine stayed in that pot for about 2 years or so, starting from a one and a half growth plant.
You should note, that in my paph book I suggest the use of moss in potting mixes, but NOT Sphagnum moss, it is the green moss, or sheet moss like that used to line Azalea baskets you see at the nurseries all the time. That moss is superb when used with fir bark and river sand.
Incidentally, if you do manage to get any living Sphagnum bog moss, I’d certainly appreciate having a small bag of it, but I guess that’ll have to wait until things thaw out. Can you let me know if you find a source?
And, how 'bout a progress on how your project turned out.
Lance Birk
Live Sphagnum moss is really magic stuff. If you have any ailing orchid, potting it in the live (NOT the dead moss) will bring it back to health. This is the moss found growing in bogs in Michigan and other northern states. It can be collected and kept alive in a deep tray of distilled water. It needs sufficient light to maintain its health, but not so much as to allow algae to grow.
You need to pot the moss firmly, in a white (not clear) plastic pot and water it every time with distilled water. Rainwater might do as well, but since I’m in California, we don’t have rain here. Never use fertilizers with living Sphagnum.
Before 1970, P. delenatii was just about impossible to grow (if you could ever find a piece of one), but I was given some live Sphagnum by Larry Heuer (who’s father lived in Michigan) and I potted my plant in it. Subsequently, I wrote an article about my success and had it published in the Orchid Digest, Vol.34/8, 1970. There are a few photos showing roots as thick as a Phalaenopsis. Read the article, it’s rather informative.
My first P. delenatii plant grew in a 3.5 inch square, white Jardiniere pot and produced 9 stems and 13 flowers. Larry’s dad died and I was unable to get more moss so I can’t tell you much more about how long it lasts, etc., but mine stayed in that pot for about 2 years or so, starting from a one and a half growth plant.
You should note, that in my paph book I suggest the use of moss in potting mixes, but NOT Sphagnum moss, it is the green moss, or sheet moss like that used to line Azalea baskets you see at the nurseries all the time. That moss is superb when used with fir bark and river sand.
Incidentally, if you do manage to get any living Sphagnum bog moss, I’d certainly appreciate having a small bag of it, but I guess that’ll have to wait until things thaw out. Can you let me know if you find a source?
And, how 'bout a progress on how your project turned out.
Lance Birk
