Browning sphag

[tyger_lilli]

I just got a new phal from a grower that likes to pot in sphagnum moss. I know a lot of people are firm advocates of repotting any new orchids they receive already in moss, but the grower swears by it, so I thought I'd give it a try. It's been about a week and I haven't watered it yet because the medium is still moist, but the moss on the surface is turning brown. Is it dying? I blame dried up sphag for the root rot on my first phal because it compacted and retained water for weeks. Does the sphag need to be misted to keep it green and happy? If the moss dries out is my orchid a gonner?

[robb]

i don't know much about growing in moss (sphag), and i had the experiences where moss led to root rot (though i believe it is due to being too compact for the roots to breathe properly). i don't believe the moss needs to be green to do it's job properly, although living moss would likely make a better medium. might be a good idea to pull the plant out and check all the roots, and see if the moss down below is browning too.

[fred]

tyger lilly
brown sphag does not sound to good it may be old.
or as robb has said the moss could be compacted to tightly
I don't let the sphagnum moss dry out as the moss must be kept moist to stay alive

I mist the sphag more often than I mist my orchids
good healthy sphag will show green growth for you.

is the orchid a gonner if the sphag drys out
for a phal if it had always been in sphag the plant would show signs of being dehydrated

so keep a close eye on the sphag

[jerrymeola]

I grow a lot in sphag and if it is just color it may not mean much.

New Zealand sphag is a long fiber light brown that darkens a little when wet.

Wisconsin sphag is short fibered and very dark brown.

Now if you mean the top is turning a light brown as it dries and the lower sphag is still wet, then you have a problem.

[brookn]

Hi, I have a few phals that I planted in sphag, the top does tend to turn kinda brown as they dry out. I potted these in the sphag, so I know how long it has been in there, and how it was done. Sphag can be tricky, and the ones that I have in it like the sphag, the rest of my phals are in a bark mix. I find that after about 6 months it is time to change out the sphag, because the sphag I can get is not alive, and it sours and breaks down easily.

[tyger_lilli]

What are the benefits to keeping the sphag alive? I ask because I'm wondering if I'm going to have to replace it in the event that it all dries out and dies.

[brookn]

If the sphag was alive when the plant was potted in it, that is a whole different story, and Fred is the best one to answer that question. I know that it is possible to get sphag alive in the U.S., not sure of some ot the locations that it is available, I know that there are bogs in Fla. but not sure if it is commercially available. I have been actively searching, and have found someone offering live sphag, but I am reluctant to reccomend them until I order and see for myself. The question is did you purchase and pot your plant into live sphag? If it was live, your description of it sounds like it is no longer alive, and I am not sure what you should do. If it was a bale of dried sphag that was used, it is not "live" sphag, which is what I use.

[tyger_lilli]

When I purchased the plant it was already potted in live sphag, as was the other one I bought from this grower. Some of the top layer of sphag is definitely dead. This happened to the other plant, too. It was fine for six months to a year before the dead sphag started to compact around the roots and hold in too much water.

[brookn]

Sounds about right, it's time to repot to fresh mix. With sphag I am figuring on repotting the ones I have in it approx every 6 months to a year. Once it starts to breakdown, it tends to act like concrete not pretty. Good luck.