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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Long fiber sphagnum moss.
 
 


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SoniSoni

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 

Long fiber sphagnum moss.
 
 I messed up the math trying to compare cubic inches, grams, litres, and ounces and bought Chilean long fiber moss sold by cubic inch that turns out to be $11.00 per 8 oz ! It is clean and soft.  At Home Depot I bought brand, Mosser Lee $2.00 per 8oz. but it contains lots of debris and wicked, wire-like roots. OUCH 
 Can someone please recommend a brand that is not too expensive, but not too dirty?
Thank you,
 Soni

 

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Soni   GA. 7-8.  

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chthonical

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
I am lucky enough to live right next to a sphagnum bog. I just went out today and pulled a bag for my cuttings, as well as to hopefully culture so I never have to pull anymore from the bog again. The trick with that is you need distilled water to grow it, because sphagnum doesn't take to tap water very well. A very small amount, mind you. I didn't just go in and plunder a bin full or something. I don't see you really avoiding debris unless the sphagnum has been cultured, though. Most is from cordoned bog areas where they allow exploitation.
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SoniSoni

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
no kidding?   I'm on well water, could I grow some? [image]
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chthonical

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoniSoni
no kidding?   I'm on well water, could I grow some? [image]


I want to say yes, but I know that water quality differs from area to area what with minerals and all that.
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newnandawg

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Soni, here is the best SP I and many others on the forum have found and the best price.

http://www.amazon.com/Long-Fiber-Sphagnum-Moss-Gram/dp/B005HQZ2JQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1384807223&sr=1-3&keywords=long+fiber+sphagnum+moss
rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
your well water would have to have less than 50 ppm TDS.  Not likely at all.
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SoniSoni

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
   How did I not see this on Amazon. ?  It looks real nice ans good price/   

 Thanks again. 
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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
There's another thread that recommended the exact same Amazon source. There's a lot of information already posted here.
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Dennis
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SoniSoni

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
I've found its often easier to get to the F4F topic threads through google search than through forum search
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BLB

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Look for orchid supply places they have the high quality sphagnum
texascockatoos

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Here is a thread that I started in 2010 on the same stuff.
It's even cheaper now.  I highly recommend it.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/long-fiber-sphagnum-moss-6-cubic-feet-56-off-only-39-now-5606236

Super soft, very fluffy and no trash.
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Cathy
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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
That's the post I was talking about!

Long time no hear Cathy!  Good to see you posting again!
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Dennis
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greenfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
What is the expansion rate of the moss at the top of the thread?
The weight is 1.1 lb. dry, what volume do you get after it is soaked and ready to use for rooting?
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SoniSoni

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
After thought>>>  Do you think the Chilean moss is bleached?  Its very clean, pale, beautiful stuff.
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newnandawg

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Greenfig, I can not tell you the expansion "rate" but you get a bunch of moss.
greenfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Mike,
How big is that bunch?
I was thinking to buy for orchids too an was trying to get a volume estimate. More than a 5 gal HD bucket?
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newnandawg

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Greenfig, much more
FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
I bought the same stuff from HD and it worked fine, BUT, I dumped the whole bag out and took hedge shears and chomped it all up into a finer mix.  Still not as good as the expensive stuff, but for $2, it was worth the trouble.  Don't let it get too wet or you'll see mold.
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Frank
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SoniSoni

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
@ Figgy Frank.  Do you think this less refined moss is harvested from a strata that has less anti-fungal anti microbial qualities? 
   This is all new to me and I truly appreciate when knowledgeable members like you, take the time to repeat the ABC's for newbies.  
 I have difficulty with the "search" feature, possibly because I dont know the terminology to ask a question.  LOL.  I'm sure some of my questions have been asked and answered many times prior but I just can't find the info.
Soni
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newnandawg

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Frank, are you saying you bought the same moss as from the website at Home Depot?
chthonical

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
On the topic of sphagnum moss, here's my current setup for the cuttings I have. I have this in a sealed tote on top of my computer tower to soak up heat. Worried I may have added too much water, though. I also have a few containers I'm trying to get growth from, though I need to really come up with a better way to get some real production going.
sphaggy.jpg

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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoniSoni
@ Figgy Frank.  Do you think this less refined moss is harvested from a strata that has less anti-fungal anti microbial qualities? 
   Soni


I'm not sure.  When I was trading, a member had sent me cuttings that were tucked in a very nice textured sp. moss.  Very fluffy and high quality compared to mine (mosser lee).  The mosser lee brand had a lot of long strands that looked like pine needles.  Overall, I got what I paid for.

newnandawg,

The brand I had chopped up is Mosser Lee.  I got it at Home Depot as well.
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Frank
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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Gotcha Frank
needaclone

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
I bought some of the Chilean long fiber sphagnum moss last winter.
I purchased 1 kg (2.2 lbs).
It measured 4" x 11" x 11" -- which puts it just about 0.3 cubic feet.
It was very highly compressed...the bale was DENSE! The label says it decompresses to 6 cubic feet, or about a factor of about 18.  I didn't use it all at once, so it is hard for me to verify that number.
The moss was very clean (MUCH, MUCH cleaner than Mosser Lee) but it did have a very small amount of "clean debris" (e.g. grass blades, roots).  It did not seem as clean as the "New Zealand" fancy long fiber sphagnum moss, which was also much more expensive.
I used less than half the bag for most of the cuttings I did, and much of what I used last year is in good condition to be reused this year.
Also, the fibers were quite long, so eventually I started chopping it with scissors before use doing cuttings.

Jim
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greenfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
What is the benefit of using the long fiber moss vs the brown peat moss? I have been using the peat and found it works just fine. It is easier for me to control its moisture and I can use a bunch of fresh peat every time since it is dirt cheap. What are the cons?
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chthonical

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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
Quote:
Originally Posted by greenfig
What is the benefit of using the long fiber moss vs the brown peat moss? I have been using the peat and found it works just fine. It is easier for me to control its moisture and I can use a bunch of fresh peat every time since it is dirt cheap. What are the cons?


I have read that living sphagnum maintains an environment unfriendly to mold by shifting the pH to be mildly acidic.
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greenfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chthonical
Quote:
Originally Posted by greenfig
What is the benefit of using the long fiber moss vs the brown peat moss? I have been using the peat and found it works just fine. It is easier for me to control its moisture and I can use a bunch of fresh peat every time since it is dirt cheap. What are the cons?


I have read that living sphagnum maintains an environment unfriendly to mold by shifting the pH to be mildly acidic.


Same with the peat, it is slightly acidic. It is recommended for azelias and rododendrons which like acidic soil.
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texascockatoos

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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
I bought my bale off of Amazon.  It is about a 1' wide (all sides), 2' tall and comes highly compressed.
I just flake off a layer and soak in a 5 gal bucket overnight.
Then drain and fluff.  
A layer about 3" thick across will yield soft fluffy moss and fill the 5 gal bucket about 60% full.

Hi Dennis,
Nice to have some time to be back and play.
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