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 »

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, or sphagnum moss, creates vast carpets of living material over bogs and swamps around the world. Peat, a byproduct of the sphagnum moss growth, coexists with sphagnum in some areas to the extent that it takes over an entire biome. Sphagnum, a unique plant material with characteristics unlike those of most other plants, provides an interesting subject to study and use products too. more »

Sphagnum peat, or sphagnum moss, is harvested from Northern Europe and Northern Canada to use as good drainage and nutrition in soil mixes. Find various uses for sphagnum peat with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video on garden plants. more »

If you do not have a yard big enough for a full-scale garden or if you want to add a little color to a specific spot, containers may be the answer for you. Anything can be grown in a container. One particular type of plant, an annual, does very well in containers. Annuals are plants that only grow once and do not grow back the following year. Using sphagnum moss will help maintain an adequate moisture level in your potted plant when mixed with other potting materials. more »

Choosing the best soil for an orchid plant depends upon several factors. These include the type of plant, the type of pot and the frequency of watering. Other factors, such as cost and durability, are also important. Very few kinds of orchids will grow well in the potting soil used for typical houseplants. Commonly used potting materials for orchids include bark, sphagnum moss, perlite and various synthetic products. Each of these materials offers advantages and disadvantages. more »