Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 07:59:28 -0400 From: "Michael Hunt" <mph101@surfree.com> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1255$foo@default> Subject: Re: moss and seeds
While other mosses grow with cp than just sphagnum I would be very wary
about using the product labeled green moss sold for terrariums. The ones
I've seen are not compatible with cp and will likely not work and take out
your plants.
Live sphagnum sometimes is hard to find. Try OFE Int. in Miami Fl. Maybe
California Carnivores? I still get mine out of drainage ditches along tree
farms in the spring. So I still collect it, but I use alot less than I did
back in the 70's when everything was grown in live sphagnum. The results
with pure sphagnum were not near as good then as now with all learned about
other growing mediums. I grow very few cp in pure sphagnum, in fact just
Heliamphora (New Zealand) and a couple Cephalotus. I like it as a topping
still.
By the way, can anyone tell me how to start the dried New Zealand moss??
I've tried various methods and can't seem to get it to restart once dried.
Thanks,
~Mike
St. Petersburg Fl
----- Original Message -----
To: Multiple recipients of list <cp@opus.hpl.hp.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 1999 12:55 PM
> Hi Kenneth,
>
> > I am a novice with CPs but not with bromeliads, and wrote a series of
> > articles on using different media for bromeliad seed germination. I did
> > not have access to live sphagnum, but tried a product I have seen only
on
> > the west coast - Green Moss, harvested from the Pacific Northwest. It
> > almost always starts growing again after being kept moist. This stuff
was
> > the best planting medium I found, very few problems with fungus.
>
> If it's what I've seen sold in nurseries, this moss is definitely
> not sphagnum moss, but rather one of the terrestrial mosses found growing
> in the understory of our wet, humid forests. It holds moisture, but not
> as well as peat mosses. I have never tried it on cp's, and never will,
> since it's not from their natural environment. You have to be careful
> because all of the nurseries in my area sell this moss as sphagnum moss.
> Make sure you can tell the difference!
>
> >
> > BTW, I have never seen *visible* fungus overwhelm a seedling, but of
course
> > have probably lost a lot to the more subtle sorts.
>
> Being in the Pacific Northwest, our winters are very humid, dark,
> and gloomy, ideal for fungal growth. While my cp's which I have on the
> west facing windowsill often become covered in the fungal mycelia, it's
> never outright killed any of the plants (in case everyone doesn't know,
> I'm very rough on some of my plants, it's surprising what they'll stand up
> to sometimes!). However, I have had whole flats of seedlings die with no
> visible fungus. Definitely must be the different type in my opinion.
>
> >
> > On that subject, just where *can* I buy some live sphagnum?
>
> Live sphagnum is definitely a hot commodity. I personally
> obtained mine from when I was up north (with permission from the
> landowner), but only a small amount. However, it grows like a weed under
> the right condition, so you only need a little.
>
> > Kenneth Quinn
> >
>
> Happy growing,
>
> Chris
>
> **********************************
> Chris Teichreb
> Department of Biological Sciences
> Simon Fraser University
> Burnaby, B.C.
>
> cjteichr@sfu.ca
> **********************************
>
>
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