Spanish Moss Vs. Peat Moss

Spanish moss survives dry periods, unlike sphagnum moss.

Florists and gardeners use both Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) and peat moss, but the two are not interchangeable. In evolutionary terms, Spanish moss is closer to a bromeliad, like pineapple, than sphagnum moss (Sphagnum spp.), the source of peat.

Spanish Moss

Spanish moss is an epiphytic flowering plant, not a moss. It grows in warm, humid climates in North and South America and drapes over tree branches, absorbing moisture from the air through long, pale tendrils. Spanish moss is home to small insects and other organism. Spanish moss requires treatment or sterilization before use.

Peat Moss

Peat moss is aged, compressed sphagnum moss. There are dozens of sphagnum moss species. The majority requires constant moisture and cool conditions, unlike tropical Spanish moss. Because sphagnum moss grows in highly acidic waters, peat moss is usually germ free.

Functions

Peat moss is highly porous and may hold nearly 100 times its own weight in water. Because of its water-retaining ability and lack of most pathogens, it is ideal for seed-starting mixes or use as a soil amendment. Spanish moss, does not incorporate easily into soil, but does act as an effective mulch, especially for indoor potted plants.

References

• University of Florida School of Forest Resources & Conservation: Spanish Moss
• University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point: Sphagnum Moss
• Washington State University: The Myth of Permanent Peatlands

Resources

• Missouri State University Department of Biolosy: Phylogeny of Eukaryotes