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Where do you buy your sphagnum moss?

Dumb question I know, and sorry if this subject is being re-hashed.  


I am starting about 120 cuttings in 20 ounce cups and I was going to use the 50-50 sphagnum:perlite ratio. 

I went to Lowes and Home Depot and did not want to spend a small fortune just on sphagnum moss - and I'm not even sure that they carry the right stuff.   I visited a couple of local nurseries.  I started running into variations on "sphagnum moss" like "sphagnum peat moss" etc.  My main question is exactly what kind (brand and exact type) of sphagnum moss do you use, and where would I find it in a quantity larger than the 4 quart bags that they offer at the local big box stores/nurseries?  Are there any known online sources?  Thanks. J. Stewart
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Hello Joe,

No question is a dumb question.

What you are looking for is LONG FIBER SPHAGNUM MOSS.
I would check with the feed and farming supply stores or an independent owned nursery store.
Even if they don't carry it they may be able to order it for you or even give you a large discount if you buy a large quantity of the smaller bags.

That's how I buy my Perlite, Don't know the size but it's about the size of a potato sack and it costs $19.99 ( just to give you an idea ).

Good luck
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Hello,

    Yes, finding the long fibered sphagnum moss took some work.  Most gardening shops seem to get it mixed up with the sphagnum peat which is a different product.   I finally found what I was looking for at an old established gardening store in Kansas City.    Even with them, there was some confusion between the two products. 

   I got a 3.5 cubic foot bag of the long fiber moss and it was packaged by The Mosser Lee Co in Millston, WI    http://www.mosserlee.com/   They don't seem to sell the larger quantity through their retail shop, but sending them an e-mail might be a good idea to see if they distribute their larger quantities to any stores in your area. 
 
    Also, contact all gardening supply places that you can find - someone is bound to have it in your area or in a neighboring city.   

Ingevald

p.s.  I think that this bag costs around $25 - can't remember exactly, but seemed to be reasonable.
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Lowes.  http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=37518455&postcount=30

They keep it near the perlite and other such additives, out in the garden section at my local stores.  It comes in a "brick" that is loosely packed, wrapped in clearish plastic.
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OK, thanks.  Great help!  I gave up on the nurseries and big box stores and followed the advice given here.  The local "Feed and Seed" farm supply houses have the Mosser Lee 3.5 cubic foot brick - they did not have them in stock, but one of them should have it by Friday - $29.99. 

I've used the search function and found lots of great info on this discussion forum. 

Can I sneak in a couple of additional questions?

What method do you use to chop the sphagnum moss?

For the South Louisiana residents:  When would be the appropriate time to start rooting my fig cuttings in a bag?  This would be 3 weeks before the last frost, right?  Not sure when that would be, exactly, but I imagine it would be around.....now.  Any agreement on this?

Note:  I live in Lafayette, about 50 miles west of Baton Rouge.

Thanks! J. Stewart
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Joe,

Compared to $5 or more for the small brick $29.99 for 3.5 cubic ft. would be a bargain.
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For breaking it up, it's easy to loosely break up by rubbing chunks between your hands.  If you do this, wear a face mask, it produces a lot of dust which may be harmful to you.

Others suggest a food processor to break it up - load up, and fire off quick blasts.

You could probably take a sharp 8" chef knife and chop it up easily also. 

Whatever you do, don't do what I did and try to make the task of chopping it up a bigger deal than it is.  Chop chop!
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Hello,
   I also found that running it it through a kitchen food processor (with steel blades) for just a short time worked very well.   I also moistened it up before I put it in.  (yes watch out for the dust).    I soaked it in a large pan and squeezed out the excess water.   It seemed to have shredded it up nicely, but not to the point of fine milling. In this "chopped" form, it mixed well with the perlite.
   I originally tried doing this when it was in the dry state.   It did not shred up as well and made more dust. 
Ingevald

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HELLO. I am from CHile. and I sell PEAT MOSS.SPHAGNUM

iF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TO HAVE A SUPPLIER FROM CHILE. YOU CAN CONTAT WITH ME TO MY EMAIL. VERONICA.DIAZAMPUERO@GMAIL.COM
i HAVE VERY CHEAP PRICES
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I looked at many places as well and it doesn't seem like it's readily available.
I ended up buying terrarium moss which is basically the same thing. I ended up buying it at the local pet store.

They use it for reptiles. 12.99 and i got enough to fill a large Walmart bin with about 3 inches of it.
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There's also this thread:
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/sphagnum-moss-clarification-6060675

I use Better-Gro premium grade orchid moss from Lowes.  I don't process it in a blender but I do break up as best I can with my hands before wetting it with a spray bottle.
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eBay.
I did some shopping around and found this to be a good deal. Nice stuff and works well, I've had good results with it as is.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sphagnum-Moss-Chilean-1-2-Lb-Long-Fiber-Orchids-Plants-Bonsai-Baskits-Terrarium-/121117986139?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c3331cd5b
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I've been very pleased with the MosserLee product (Lowes, blue bag)..and I think it was really cheap. 
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I SELL CHILEAN SPHAGNUM MOSS

This is for 1/2 pound of Long Fiber Chilean Sphagnum Moss. Your Sphagnum Moss will be sent dried and compressed In a 2 gallon Ziploc bag. Whenever i work with these types of Materials i wear Nitrile gloves to avoid contamination. 
 
Chilean and New Zealand Sphagnum break down very slowly and make a good long-term medium.
Good for growing Carnivorous plants, Orchids, Bonsai etc.
Its capable of absorbing 10 to 20 times its weight in water.
Its water-holding capacity makes it a useful potting medium.
Use for lining Baskets and Pots and in Mixes.

the price is:

2 gallon ziploc bag =US$34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rafed

Hello Joe,

No question is a dumb question.

What you are looking for is LONG FIBER SPHAGNUM MOSS.
I would check with the feed and farming supply stores or an independent owned nursery store.
Even if they don't carry it they may be able to order it for you or even give you a large discount if you buy a large quantity of the smaller bags.

That's how I buy my Perlite, Don't know the size but it's about the size of a potato sack and it costs $19.99 ( just to give you an idea ).

Good luck
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i HAVE TO SELL CHILEANS SPHAGNUM MOSS. THE SIZE OF  1 POTATO BAG = us$ 10
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I bought Mosser Lee long fiber sphagnum moss at a Southeastern Home Depot. It is located in the area where tropical plants, seed packs, window boxes, and planters are usually kept, usually the smallest room of the store with swinging doors that open to the outdoor landscape & gardening area. I think it was less than $10.
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HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO PAY?
I HAVE CHEAP PRICES
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My uncle swears by the wholesale moss he buys from Oregon Evergreen & Willamette Evergreen. Consistently succulent green plants, and very efficient for keeping the soil on his garden plants cool and moist.
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