Learn about sphagnum moss uses in gardening and how it differs from peat moss.
Its outstanding water retention ability makes it a first choice for potted plants and hanging baskets.
What is Sphagnum Moss?
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Unlikeliving moss, sphagnum moss is dead, dried material from a sphagnum moss plant.
Only the new growth of the plant is harvested and dried.
The dried moss has a fibrous, airy texture.
Sphagnum moss for planting or gardening
It absorbs and retains 20 times its weight in water.
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Composition:Discernible pieces of original plant, long fibers, and spongy texture in a neutral pH makeup.
Sustainability:Faster formation (0.75-4.75 inches per year), and only new growth is harvested.
Origin:Dead parts of sphagnum moss that accumulate at the bottom of the bog and are harvested.
Composition:Decayed sphagnum moss and other plant and insect materials in an acidic (3.0-4.5 pH) makeup.
Sustainability:Slow formation process (0.5-1.0 mm per year), and therefore faster depletion.
you’re able to either use sphagnum moss on its own or mix it into another potting medium.
It is lightweight, pliable, and attractive and retains moisture while letting excess moisture drain.
For Decorative Purposes
Sphagnum moss also has some dry, purely decorative uses.
It comes in handy when shaping succulent wreaths or creating other frame-built floral displays.
It gives pots and baskets a finished look and fills indead space in terrariums.
Look for sphagnum moss that is not processed.
This is nothing to worry about and does not affect the quality and performance of the product.
It is less likely for commercially dried sphagnum moss to regrow from spores and spread.
