Deltatango301 Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) How to keep Live sphagnum moss alive I am thinking of buying a bunch of moss off eBay but wondered how to keep it alive During storage and use Any tips http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Kgs-FRESH-SPHAGNUM-MOSS-Best-Quality-New-Spagnum-Sold-Moist-/191698316024?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=ESA%252FH8Cydx6NzjQ4u9p7QNmVvF0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc Edited December 21, 2015 by Deltatango301 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ada Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 just chuck it in a large tray and keep it wet,when it gets going it grows like a weed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corky Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Yeah I grow a few large trays , I use rain water and keep it moist or sometimes submerged if it rains really heavy, mine gets lots of sunshine too the moss is normally covered not for humidity but to stop birds from stealing it for nests 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deltatango301 Posted December 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Am I right in thinking you keep them outside and not in a greenhouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corky Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) Yes, there just left outside , but in good sunlight. I am sure it would grow in a more shaded position but my thoughts were when I pot up plants in it the moss would fry, but its already used to high light in the spring this tray was level or just under, grows better than the darlingtonia;-) Edited December 21, 2015 by corky 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meizwang Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Wrote a post on how to grow commercial quantities of sphagnum here, some pix included: http://sarracenia.proboards.com/thread/2807/sphagnum-cultivation 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredG Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Here's a handy book for anyone interested in Bryophytes. http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/resources/fletcher.pdf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deltatango301 Posted March 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 (edited) I have 5kg of live moss coming going to keep it alive outside the the greenhouse in 700x200x80 deep trays Reading all the posts and articles on the subject going to put 40mm of dried dead moss in the bottom and Lay the live moss on top and fill with rainwater won't put anything on top to stop birds as I have 3 cats Any comments and advise thanks Edited March 8, 2016 by Deltatango301 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yossu Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Wrote a post on how to grow commercial quantities of sphagnum here, some pix included: http://sarracenia.proboards.com/thread/2807/sphagnum-cultivation Wow, great post! I have some sitting in a bucket outside, but it doesn't grow that much. I don't think it's getting enough light. Might try moving it and see if it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billynomates666 Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 Wow, great post! I have some sitting in a bucket outside, but it doesn't grow that much. I don't think it's getting enough light. Might try moving it and see if it helps. Its a bit early in the season to be growing with any rapidity outdoors just yet. Cheers Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yossu Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 Its a bit early in the season to be growing with any rapidity outdoors just yet. I've had it there for a while, but as I said, it's not getting that much light, as it's under a tree, between the house and the fence. I'll try moving it to somewhere brighter and see what happens as spring arrives. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deltatango301 Posted March 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 (edited) My Live Sphagnum Moss In trays waiting for for the sun to shine I just hope the snails leave it alone ? Edited March 11, 2016 by Deltatango301 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yossu Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 My Live Sphagnum Moss In trays waiting for for the sun to shine I just hope the snails leave it alone ? Sit the trays in a larger tray, with an inch or so of water. Snails and slugs don't seem like like swimming, so it should keep them out. As it is now, it looks like a free lunch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredG Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Snails and slugs will use the moss trays as nurseries, they'll not eat it but the hatchlngs will have fun with the plant roots. The main problem, as has already been said on numerous occasions, is birds. If the trays are outside the Blackbirds will think it's just for their use in building nests.It takes no time at all for them to strip a tray. Three cats is about a twentieth of the amount you'd need to guard successfully. Oh and incidentally you have about twice as much moss in each tray as you need. Only the top will grow so spread it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yossu Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Ooh, don't get Fred started on blackbirds! I put some chicken wire over the top of my tray, about 2" above the moss. Blackbirds couldn't get anywhere near! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deltatango301 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I have not had a bird in the garden for two years, but also I have not had moss in trays we will see. I have now moved the moss to a better position for the sun and it's been raised up on pots. Fred I have 6 times as much moss as I need what else can I use it for if some dies c'est la vie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredG Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I'm sure there are members who would appreciate some of that spare moss you have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deltatango301 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 If anyone wants some we can see what we can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yossu Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 What's underneath the live moss? You mentioned putting dead moss. Is that what you did, or did you use something else? If you have any moss spare, I wouldn't mind some. Please shoot me a PM and let me know how much you want for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deltatango301 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I put approx 60mm of dead Irish moss underneath 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredG Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Do you mean Sagina subulata? That's not a moss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deltatango301 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Do you mean Sagina subulata? That's not a moss Fred you have lost me and that's easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredG Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 You said you'd used a base of Irish moss. Irish moss is Sagina subulata which isn't a moss. If that's what you did you may just as well have put the Sphagnum on a bed of compost and as Sagina is a flowering weed the crop this year may not be entirely what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yossu Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 You said you'd used a base of Irish moss. Irish moss is Sagina subulata which isn't a moss. If that's what you did you may just as well have put the Sphagnum on a bed of compost and as Sagina is a flowering weed the crop this year may not be entirely what you want. What if he meant Irish moss peat? Is that the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredG Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 No it isn't Yossu but it's hardly a topic to put in peat free cultivation if you're using peat. The correct advice was given in post #2 by ada, pity it wasn't followed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.