TerraForums Venus Flytrap, Nepenthes, Drosera and more talk
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Sundewd, I grow Sphagnum in my indoor enclosure
and outside on my patio in shallow trays. Plant pot
saucers, the plastic trays that TV dinners come in, or
the containers that meat is packaged in from the grocery
store (sterilized first). About any kind or size will work.
I grow it just about the same way that PM does.
Put an inch (3 cm) of peat or peat/sand mix in the tray for it
to grow into. Float it as PM stated, but don't let it stay
that way all the time as it may develop odors from the
protozoans and other micro-organisms living in there, so
let the water level go down to where it is very moist before
adding water again. It's also beneficial to flood and drain it
a couple of times every month or two to remove some of
the waste products created by the aforementioned micros
and, as you know, always wash your hands thoroughly
after handling Sphagnum.
In my enclosure under 6 flourescents, it does best placed
about 12" to 14" (30cm to 36cm) below the tubes. I have
kept it closer to the lights and it turns a yellowish color
and further away, it becomes a dark green color. At 14",
it is about the same color as a VFT's leaves which is what
it looks like in the wild.
Outside, simply grow it in bright shade or filtered sunlight.
The cultures that I keep on my patio have been above
100* F (32* C) and as low as 17* F (8* C) with no
problems except for the colder the temperature, the slower
it grows.
Alan
and outside on my patio in shallow trays. Plant pot
saucers, the plastic trays that TV dinners come in, or
the containers that meat is packaged in from the grocery
store (sterilized first). About any kind or size will work.
I grow it just about the same way that PM does.
Put an inch (3 cm) of peat or peat/sand mix in the tray for it
to grow into. Float it as PM stated, but don't let it stay
that way all the time as it may develop odors from the
protozoans and other micro-organisms living in there, so
let the water level go down to where it is very moist before
adding water again. It's also beneficial to flood and drain it
a couple of times every month or two to remove some of
the waste products created by the aforementioned micros
and, as you know, always wash your hands thoroughly
after handling Sphagnum.
In my enclosure under 6 flourescents, it does best placed
about 12" to 14" (30cm to 36cm) below the tubes. I have
kept it closer to the lights and it turns a yellowish color
and further away, it becomes a dark green color. At 14",
it is about the same color as a VFT's leaves which is what
it looks like in the wild.
Outside, simply grow it in bright shade or filtered sunlight.
The cultures that I keep on my patio have been above
100* F (32* C) and as low as 17* F (8* C) with no
problems except for the colder the temperature, the slower
it grows.
Alan
You are absolutely right and I stand corrected.
Thanks for bringing the spelling to my attention. I actually
know how to spell the word, but obviously I didn't type it
correctly. I fully agree with you about the due respect
that should be given to Sphagnum (and all Bryophytes),
considering the fact that each and every one of them play
a very important role within their respective ecosystems.
Imagine woodlands, forests, bogs or swamps without them.
Goldtrap2690 and Technoracer, there are a lot a variables
to expect when growing any kind of plant. If you know it's
origin, you are off to a good start. Canadian Sphagnum will,
of course do best in a cooler environment, but keep in mind
that mosses are fairly simple non-vascular plants and are
highly adaptable to different conditions. I have read that
milled and lfs will both grow if soaked and given very
bright light and high humidity. Experimenting with different
conditions is the key. The ones that I grow came from a
warm-temperate climate, and enjoy those conditions.
Hope this helps and good luck.
Thanks for bringing the spelling to my attention. I actually
know how to spell the word, but obviously I didn't type it
correctly. I fully agree with you about the due respect
that should be given to Sphagnum (and all Bryophytes),
considering the fact that each and every one of them play
a very important role within their respective ecosystems.
Imagine woodlands, forests, bogs or swamps without them.
Goldtrap2690 and Technoracer, there are a lot a variables
to expect when growing any kind of plant. If you know it's
origin, you are off to a good start. Canadian Sphagnum will,
of course do best in a cooler environment, but keep in mind
that mosses are fairly simple non-vascular plants and are
highly adaptable to different conditions. I have read that
milled and lfs will both grow if soaked and given very
bright light and high humidity. Experimenting with different
conditions is the key. The ones that I grow came from a
warm-temperate climate, and enjoy those conditions.
Hope this helps and good luck.
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (alandallas @ Feb. 21 2003,8:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Sundewd, I grow Sphagnum in my indoor enclosure
and outside on my patio in shallow trays. Plant pot
saucers, the plastic trays that TV dinners come in, or
the containers that meat is packaged in from the grocery
store (sterilized first). About any kind or size will work.
I grow it just about the same way that PM does.
Put an inch (3 cm) of peat or peat/sand mix in the tray for it
to grow into. Float it as PM stated, but don't let it stay
that way all the time as it may develop odors from the
protozoans and other micro-organisms living in there, so
let the water level go down to where it is very moist before
adding water again. It's also beneficial to flood and drain it
a couple of times every month or two to remove some of
the waste products created by the aforementioned micros
and, as you know, always wash your hands thoroughly
after handling Sphagnum.
In my enclosure under 6 flourescents, it does best placed
about 12" to 14" (30cm to 36cm) below the tubes. I have
kept it closer to the lights and it turns a yellowish color
and further away, it becomes a dark green color. At 14",
it is about the same color as a VFT's leaves which is what
it looks like in the wild.
Outside, simply grow it in bright shade or filtered sunlight.
The cultures that I keep on my patio have been above
100* F (32* C) and as low as 17* F (8* C) with no
problems except for the colder the temperature, the slower
it grows.
Alan
[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
WOW, look at all of that Sphagnum!!!
Do you want to know how much Sphagnum is wanted here?!? It is wanted so much that the bacps put sphagnum in plastic bags as raffle prizes!!! is there any way I could trade something with you to get a small 6 inch strand of Sphagnum from you? That would be enough to start growing it
and outside on my patio in shallow trays. Plant pot
saucers, the plastic trays that TV dinners come in, or
the containers that meat is packaged in from the grocery
store (sterilized first). About any kind or size will work.
I grow it just about the same way that PM does.
Put an inch (3 cm) of peat or peat/sand mix in the tray for it
to grow into. Float it as PM stated, but don't let it stay
that way all the time as it may develop odors from the
protozoans and other micro-organisms living in there, so
let the water level go down to where it is very moist before
adding water again. It's also beneficial to flood and drain it
a couple of times every month or two to remove some of
the waste products created by the aforementioned micros
and, as you know, always wash your hands thoroughly
after handling Sphagnum.
In my enclosure under 6 flourescents, it does best placed
about 12" to 14" (30cm to 36cm) below the tubes. I have
kept it closer to the lights and it turns a yellowish color
and further away, it becomes a dark green color. At 14",
it is about the same color as a VFT's leaves which is what
it looks like in the wild.
Outside, simply grow it in bright shade or filtered sunlight.
The cultures that I keep on my patio have been above
100* F (32* C) and as low as 17* F (8* C) with no
problems except for the colder the temperature, the slower
it grows.
Alan
WOW, look at all of that Sphagnum!!!
All my moss came from using dead LFS US and NZ commercial types which came back after some time.
I've got a lot of other mosses possibly sphagnum sp. but some may be from my local climate as the vent to the enclosure sucks air from outside my window almost year round. The mosses grow best in my highland nep & orchid chamber. Some form of moss has started growing on my bench, it's a hint of green now but with all the spores bursting constantly and the wetness of the bench it's only a matter of time before it thickens & carpets the bench-that will be cool I think!
My lowland chamber doesn't grow moss too well, I don't know if the light is too bright or it's too hot or there's not enough airflow (none) but the mosses I've got seem to preffer the highland conditions.
Moss is cool!
I've got a lot of other mosses possibly sphagnum sp. but some may be from my local climate as the vent to the enclosure sucks air from outside my window almost year round. The mosses grow best in my highland nep & orchid chamber. Some form of moss has started growing on my bench, it's a hint of green now but with all the spores bursting constantly and the wetness of the bench it's only a matter of time before it thickens & carpets the bench-that will be cool I think!
My lowland chamber doesn't grow moss too well, I don't know if the light is too bright or it's too hot or there's not enough airflow (none) but the mosses I've got seem to preffer the highland conditions.
Moss is cool!
G
Guest
Guest
Hi guys,
If anyone else is in desperate need of live sphagnum, e-mail or PM me. I don't have huge amounts of it left (not until spring when I can get some from my bog garden again).. but I do have enough to trade small "starts" with people who want to try growing it. It's from a temperate environment but I've sent it to friends in FL who say it grows just fine there as well.
I have a long green type.. a long red type.. and the short, red brown, compact species that small CP's like P. villosa grow in in the wild. Sorry I don't have the exact species identified.. sphagnum identification is rather tricky
the short red brown one.. this makes very dense hummocks in the wild and is perfect for small plants.
The long red one.. I love the color and texture of this one.. it looks lovely when well grown
and a comparision of the three kinds I grow..
If anyone else is in desperate need of live sphagnum, e-mail or PM me. I don't have huge amounts of it left (not until spring when I can get some from my bog garden again).. but I do have enough to trade small "starts" with people who want to try growing it. It's from a temperate environment but I've sent it to friends in FL who say it grows just fine there as well.
I have a long green type.. a long red type.. and the short, red brown, compact species that small CP's like P. villosa grow in in the wild. Sorry I don't have the exact species identified.. sphagnum identification is rather tricky
