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Post by Flytrap on Apr 3, 2007 12:25:24 GMT -5
For many of us CP'aholics, we grow our beauties in moss. I trust that most of us realize that some moss are toxic to our CPs. But that's not the thought today...
My favourite growing medium for CPs is sphagnum moss. I have grown every genus of CP in pure sphag moss - including VFTs and cephalotus. I now only grow my highland Neps in pure sphag, and even at that, I mix in a small amount of orchid bark.
I noticed awhile ago that sphag moss left alone in an almost sealed clear plastic bag grew like crazy. You see, I've been trying to cultivate the thick coarse sphag moss out in my bog for years with limited success. And usually the best growth of this coarse moss occurred in the top dressing of my plant pots.
As I often root my cuttings in zip-lock baggies, I noticed that after I removed the cutting and left the moss to itself, the self contained envrionment of the sphag was conducive to it's growth.
So I am now cultivating sphag moss in clear plastic bags all over my greenhouse - on the floor and hanging off the walls - where ever there is good lighting.
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Post by mabudon on Apr 3, 2007 12:32:47 GMT -5
Hmm. I have some extra plastic bags lying about, this gives me an idear Thanks David!
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Post by vraev on Apr 3, 2007 14:18:52 GMT -5
I am growing some newzealand sphag in a small tub. the size of a cup and tis growing at decent pace the thing in my terrarium is going like wild fire.
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Post by vraev on Apr 3, 2007 14:24:31 GMT -5
Actually I just removed the moss that was behind the red dragon and put it in the tub.....damn it was sooo firmly rooted....had to put a little force to take it out. Always feel sad about doing it...but it won; tdie....just goes into a better growing environment
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Post by Rick Hillier on Apr 3, 2007 14:42:54 GMT -5
I planted my darlingtonia and some D. adelae in 5-gallon aquariums with New Zealand LF sphagnum. Over time, the spores in the moss started to grow and now both have a nice green covering that has actually started to outgrow the plants. I had enough out of one tank to fill a larger pot (about 6" diameter x 8" high) to replant a nep raff that was in way too small a pot.
I've never covered the tanks either... if I did, the moss would go nuts!
Makes one wonder where it gets its nutrients from over time...
>>> Rick <<<
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Post by vraev on Apr 3, 2007 16:16:33 GMT -5
so guys, should I cover the tub to make it grow faster???
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Post by Syble on Apr 3, 2007 21:08:32 GMT -5
Good to know... I've been working all winter long to increase my live sphagnum count so that I can have all the potted up sarrs top dressed with it by plant time. would be great to have a bunch extra to top dress in random spots too. Guess the next time it cons due to trim everyone up I'll drop them all in baggies. Got so much use for it and not enough of it hehe. I'm catching up well now though, because each time I top another pot the surface area grows. I think I have maybe 2 pots left to dress, then I'm caught up untill I plant the bog or make another tank for frogs hehe. Thanks for the tip Sib
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Post by eql on Jul 10, 2007 16:54:21 GMT -5
so if you take LFS, wet and in a baggie sealed, it will grow like crazy??? awesome!!
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Post by lloyd on Jul 10, 2007 17:00:07 GMT -5
Sib took one look at my moss and told me to throw it all out. Now I'm using only "certified" LFS. Good to have my own horticulturist make a house call.
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Post by mabudon on Jul 10, 2007 17:48:01 GMT -5
EQL- I actually have a "terrarium" in my north facing window, it contains D.adelae and D.prolifera, doesn't get too much sun at all.. It's just a fishbowl with a bottom layer of plain ol "dead" LFS, which I keep topped up with water basically right to the bottom of the "dead" stuff. The live stuff (I put a few little bits on top in the beginning) grows like MAD, even with the lid off the bowl. I should harvest it real soon, I gave a little clump away at the meeting and already it looks like I haven't touched it BTW did ANYONE get a pic of that thing?? I know Sib was laughing at me for being SO stoked about it- I have troubles concealing my enthusiasm sometimes
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Post by eql on Jul 10, 2007 18:41:28 GMT -5
where can i get live stuff to start growing with??
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Post by vraev on Jul 10, 2007 20:07:31 GMT -5
comeon' carl! you promised pics of your plants. Don't tease me with moss
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Post by Sawchuk on Jul 11, 2007 0:08:28 GMT -5
ya no i dont understand the whole growing LFS?? im doin something wrong, even after reading this whole thread i still dont quite understand?? so you simple put, What a handfull of LFS, re hydrated by squeezin in bucket?? then put in ziplock bag, alone and directsun light?? mine wont do nothin i must be using garbage as lloyd was?? whoz pushin tha "PRIMO" moss,I NEED a hookup, i buy baged from walmart? n its buffed forsure Ha i dunno whats wrong, i just learned to squeeze medium to rehydrate or whatever?? so maybe thats whats wrong am i tlakin crazy talk??
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Post by vraev on Jul 11, 2007 1:10:57 GMT -5
no...its not dead LFS....for getting life LFS its good to get a bit of the LIVE green LFS and then put that in a tub or a bag, pour distilled or RO water, then close it up...seal it up and put it in decent light and it grows waaaaaaaaaay better than leaving the tub or bag open.
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Post by mabudon on Jul 11, 2007 9:24:10 GMT -5
I don't think I've ever seen it for sale anywhere around here...
I am sending a package out to Lloyd today, EQL, I could add a little chunk of live moss in there and you could maybe hook up with him to get it- would that help??
Same with you, Sawchuck, if you can't find anything locally, give me a week or two to let it regrow and if you haven't found any, I can arrange a little chunk for ya to start with
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