A New Sphag Question

[Anton]

Next Sphag question.

Is it green when you use it, or brown ?

I am thinking of putting a container of sphag in my GH to grow it for use, and just wondered whether it should be living and green or brown and dormant when used as a potting mix.

The potting mix I made up has a percentage of the dormant sphag, but I have never used it by itself as the potting medium..

[kmarch]

Hi Anton, I moved your post into a new thread since the one it was in previously was on Spanish Moss not sphag.

To answer your question: I use both for different things. I use dead sphag, all cut up as an addative to help regular mix retain moisture. I use green sphag (live sphag) to pot my Masdevallias. They seem to love it and as the moss grows, so grows the Masdevallias.

[fred]

Its safe to say Anton I am lucky enough to get fresh sphagmun moss

I use live sphag.

the sphag i am lucky enough to get is up to 2 feet long even longer in some places.

usually the top 5 to 6 inches of growth on the sphag is lush and green and almost like wool then goes to a light Tan to almost brown very close to the ground.

I also grow sphag I keep the sphag in a heavy duty clear plastic bag well away from direct sun light.
I just keep an eye on the sphag from time to time to make sure the sphag does not dry out
I can keep the sphag that way for about 5 months and it still grows as well.

I dont use any dead sphag because when placed in a pot the dead sphag can rot and turn the good sphag sour.

[Anton]

I saw stacks of nice lush green shag in KI, but, due to "unforeseen circumstances" wasn't able to bring any home........... DANG !

[fred]

that would have been good sphag to use Anton