Sphagnum moss is a popular medium to use when potting orchids. Sphagnum moss has a delicate system of capillary tubes that make it quite absorbent. Its long and fibrous leafy stems grow so close together in their natural setting that they can form a "bog mat" that will support the weight of animals walking on it. Sphagnum moss is fairly sterile, has a low pH, and soaks up water like a sponge. These characteristics make it suitable for orchid growing. When the orchid roots are in contact with sphagnum moss, the roots have easy access to all the water in the moss. more »

Sphagnum moss grows in damp areas with high soil acidity. It grows in clumps, which can spread over a large area. Gardeners usually know about sphagnum moss and its many uses. Its ability to absorb and retain water and its ability to insulate naturally provides many applications for plant care. However, this moss's value, historically and in modern times, also extends beyond the garden. more »

Hanging baskets lined with sphagnum moss create attractive, natural planters. Flowering, trailing and vining plants complemented by a layer of sphagnum moss create a textured, visually pleasing suspended garden. Sphagnum-lined baskets are a simple project for a gardener and are especially attractive because they can be designed and constructed with a minimum of bending and kneeling. more »

Sphagnum moss grows in cool moist places. Bogs and marshes are a popular place to find this moss. In earlier days, this moss had medicinal uses. For instance, in times of war, sphagnum moss was used to quickly dress wounds when no linen or cloth bandages could be found. But today, it does pose a landscaping problem for some as it also grows in yards and on rocks. In order to fix the moss growth in the yard, try this quick remedy. more »

Sphagnum moss grows in wet and boggy areas with low pH levels. It's typically found in thick, spongy clumps and has light green color fronds or leaves. Sphagnum moss is harvested as a fertilizer, commonly called peat moss. You can grow your own by transplanting live portions of moss to an appropriately moist place. more »

Peat moss is a generic term referring to several species of sphagnum moss. Peat moss thrives in moist, shady, low PH environments, such as in bogs and swamps throughout temperate climates. Sphagnum moss is used commercially as a fertilizer because of its ability to absorb and retain water like a sponge. Growing peat moss requires transplanting parts of a live sphagnum moss clump into a controlled environment that will facilitate the successful reproduction of moss spores. more »

Grown in various regions across the world, sphagnum moss, which was once thought to be a useful wound dressing because of its absorptive qualities, is now considered a gardener's resource. While sphagnum or peat moss is considered a renewable resource grown in bogs, it can take 20 years, unaided, to renew. An entire harvested bog could require hundreds of years. The moss serves multiple purposes, with the top scrapings of a bog being used for orchids, houseplants and hanging baskets, while the sphagnum moss deep in the peat bog itself is often mixed with potting soil or in gardens. more »

Sphagnum moss Potting soil 6-inch pot Hand shovel Spray bottle more »

Peat moss is used by gardeners as compost to retain moisture in gardens and potted plants. Peat moss is partially decomposed sphagnum moss. more »