sphagnum moss question

[Jayman]

What's so important about sphagnum moss? People keep saying that you should put some in the pot with the cp. My VFT is doing just fine with some plain peat moss. If you guys REALLy reccomend putting s. moss, where would I get some? Thanks.

[Dyflam]

I know that it has excellent moisture retaining properties for one thing and is acidic for another but what I use it for is to keep my outside plants cool. The containers I have outside with moss stay much cooler.

[Tamlin Dawnstar]

Also sphagnum has excellent antispetic properties, and it is a good indicator of the need to water when live moss is used as a top dressing. I have found if the sphaguum is happy and growing usually so are the plants.