ctarry Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 A while ago I tossed out some live sphagnum moss in a container and left it at the bottom of the garden in the 'wild' area. Found it this morning, and it looks perfect. What is the best way to kill off any nasties that may be lurking in it (but not to kill the moss) before using it? Freeze it for a few days? Very hot, but not boiling water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ada Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 just use it,i do,never bothered any of my plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctarry Posted October 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 The problem I had last time is that I think it contained scale insects, and it was a horrible outbreak. It is something I really want to avoid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ada Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 scale insects must have come from something else,bin it all and grow some more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctarry Posted October 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 (edited) The scale insects appeared within a week or so of first adding live moss, and they first appeared on the plants where the moss was used, which is why I thought it was the moss. Never had any prior. It took months to completely get rid of them, and lost loads of plants as a result. Even if I got new stuff, I would want to do something just in case, especially as I now have seedlings as well... Edited October 16, 2015 by ctarry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredG Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 Mosses are non-vascular so scale insect would have a very very hard time trying to get a meal out of them. I'd look for another source for the scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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