mcdux
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by mcdux on Mar 22, 2016 7:40:39 GMT -5
Hi all,
I'm desperately looking for live sphagnum. Green and/or red.
Any idea where I could find some? Either locally in Toronto, or on the Internet, as long as it comes from Canada (importing live sphagnum seems to be prohibited, even with a plant import permit).
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Post by danyoh on Mar 22, 2016 9:06:29 GMT -5
I get dried sphagnum moss from amazon here ---> here and put it in a container with 100% humidity after after a couple of weeks it turned green
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Post by H2O on Mar 22, 2016 9:50:07 GMT -5
I have lots of Sphagnum, I could shoot you a small bag to start some moss cultures. Shoot me a PM.
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mcdux
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by mcdux on Mar 22, 2016 12:15:36 GMT -5
Thanks H2O, PM sent. danyoh, I kind of did that... try to grow it from dried LFS. Actually I chopped some last year to sow some Drosera seeds on top of it, and it turned green, but is not really growing. So far I'm not even 100% sure it's sphagnum (I don't see the strands yet).
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Post by Tarantulalover on Mar 22, 2016 13:29:32 GMT -5
I'd love to have some spagnum to H20
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Post by WillyCKH on Mar 22, 2016 16:30:42 GMT -5
As a moss lover I want some moss too! haha Good luck growing yours, mcdux!
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Post by Apoplast on Mar 23, 2016 7:49:39 GMT -5
Hi mcdux - Depending on whether you have a bog near you, you could always collect some (making sure to follow all local laws). My best sphagnum moss right now for growing smaller plants if from the Yukon River valley in Alaska. It grows very slowly though thickly, and so it doesn't overtake my plants. I started with a small handfull and now have a couple pots of it. I didn't grab much because I wasn't sure how an arctic species would do in a highland tropical tank - now I wish I had gotten more! There are 50+ species to choose from in Ontario alone, so lots of potential for finding a species that will grow in your conditions. Good luck!
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mcdux
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by mcdux on Mar 23, 2016 8:32:16 GMT -5
Apoplast, as a general rule, I'm not such a big fan of collecting things in the wild, whether it is authorized or not. Plus, I live in Toronto (no bog nearby) and if I go out of town it's usually to go to a National or Provincial Park (taking anything there is out of question, of course). There is the environmental question but also you have to think about everything else you'll bring with your moss: soil, insects, bacterias... are you bringing any disease, etc. I'll try to get some from a culture first. :-) I would eventually make some exceptions for dead roots or branches for decoration, but I would boil them to "clean" them as much as I can.
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Post by Apoplast on Mar 24, 2016 9:59:49 GMT -5
Hi mcdux - Well, I certainly don't wish to suggest you do anything you don't feel comfortable with. Equally, I can't say where boggy areas are near Toronto. But I live in a large metro area that is largely surrounded by deciduous forest and agriculture, which though drier and colder, is not terribly different from the climate in and around Toronto. Still, there are nicely boggy areas within an hour's drive. I would never suggest collecting in a park or preserve of any kind. However, I've found that ditches from road cuts in boggy areas are frequently well stocked with sphagnum moss species, as they are intentionally maintained to prevent woody cover leaving them nicely open. Incidentally, the lower wetter locations in these ditches can also be a great spot to find more tolerant CP species, like Utricularia minor. It can be fun, easy access, bog exploration.
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Post by shelbykid on Mar 24, 2016 12:55:22 GMT -5
With rates of sphagnum moss growth and overall prevalence there is nothing unsustainable about wild harvest on anything but a commercial scale. Indeed even commercial harvest can be renewable if done properly.
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Post by Tarantulalover on Mar 24, 2016 16:54:47 GMT -5
we'll when you say it that way... I might be heading to the bog and collect some when the weather warms up
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Post by neilmac on May 17, 2016 12:52:33 GMT -5
Can Java moss be used? Got lots from my fishtank and does grow in air.
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Post by lloyd on May 17, 2016 17:08:59 GMT -5
Java Moss has very different qualities than sphagnum.
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Post by Apoplast on May 18, 2016 21:49:17 GMT -5
Hi Lloyd - True fact! That said, I do wonder if Java Moss might add structure to some of the bowls of aquatics I have like U. longifolia. I might experiment a bit with it.
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