Guy Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 In the latest online issue of the Carnivorous plant society newsletter Phil Wilson writes about various alternatives to peat. A really interesting article which will definitely encourage me to try coir and various other substrates. One of the alternatives he writes about is sphagnum moss, which many of us use either alone or mixed with other substrates. In the article Phil writes "Be wary of live sphagnum offered for sale on eBay as it’s often actually moss for hanging baskets and not suitable for use with carnivorous plants". If Phil uses this forum then a bit more info would be really helpful. I'm sure the sphagnum I buy from my local garden centre is intended for hanging baskets and I'm now a bit concerned my plants may be in less than optimal conditions. Or can anyone else shed any light on this, please? Thanks. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobH Posted September 26, 2021 Report Share Posted September 26, 2021 I would suggest Phil is referring to LIVE sphagnum moss whereas the stuff you typically buy from Garden Centres is "dead" sphagnum moss. Having said that I doubt that "dead" sphagnum moss would do any harm. After all peat is primarily dead and compacted sphagnum moss along with other long dead bog plants. So my suggestion would be find somewhere selling live sphagnum and try that. I have seen people on this forum selling live moss and I am sure you can find it by doing a search. Kind regards, Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Posted September 26, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2021 Thanks Rob. The sphagnum I buy from my local garden centre looks to me as though it's alive! It's green, moist and springy. But perhaps dead sphagnum looks like this as well. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobH Posted September 26, 2021 Report Share Posted September 26, 2021 Guy, try Stephen Morley "gardenofeden" on this forum for an answer. He has been growing peat free for 30 years I believe and should have a more definitive answer for you. Kind regards, Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted September 28, 2021 Report Share Posted September 28, 2021 Phil means that some of the stuff sold as sphagnum is not sphagnum. Some sellers have no idea what they are selling and label any moss as “Sphagnum “ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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