benefits of sphagnum while avoiding – or at least
delaying – the pitfalls? Here are a few of the tips I’ve
learned over the years:
Use Top Quality Moss
It is far more forgiving of misuse than are lesser
grades.
Learn to Water Lightly
Just moisten the moss, rather than “smashing” it
down with heavy overhead watering. One trick I’ve
learned is to place a 1″-2″ layer of LECA at the bot-
tom of the pot, with the plant and moss on top of
that, then only water from below. The LECA absorbs
and wicks the water up to the moss, which becomes
uniformly moist without ever being mechanically dis-
turbed.
Blending
Consider blending the moss with more “rigid”
components. I have had success with coarse strands
of coconut husk fiber, interwoven with the strands of
moss, as well as perlite or charcoal – anything that
helps the sphagnum “stand up” under its own wet
weight.
Experiment
Once you gain a reasonable level of “mastery” of
the moss, you’ll find it to be a good addition to your
orchid-growing arsenal. Yes, it will always be one of
the shortest-lived potting media you’ll use, but the
phenomenal growth rate is often worth the more-
frequent repotting. GG
Ray Barkalow has been growing orchids for over 45 years, and
owns First Rays, which offers horticultural products to the hobby
grower. He may be contacted at [email protected] and you
can visit his website at FirstRays.com.
Visit FirstRays.com.
October 2017
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
47