Wondering how to use sphagnum moss? If you’ve been into gardening for quite some time now, you’ve most likely heard of peat moss or sphagnum moss. Many gardeners love to use sphagnum moss because it’s free of diseases, insects, and weeds. It’s also effective in retaining water and air space, making it one of the best mediums for plants to thrive.
How You Can Use Sphagnum Moss
Sphagnum moss naturally grows in different locations, and most gardeners use them for container gardening, such as hanging baskets, houseplants, and orchids. However, there are other ways you can use sphagnum moss:
Tip #1: Use it for hanging baskets
You can use sphagnum moss for hanging planters for flowers and other plants. The moss is excellent in keeping the soil warm and retaining moisture. Some gardeners would mix the sphagnum moss with the soil from hanging baskets for added ventilation and acidity. Most florists use moss to preserve the flowers and decorate the arrangement.
Tip #2: Use them for growing orchids
Sphagnum moss is one of the most common growing mediums for orchids. Most orchids are epiphytic, meaning they grow on another plant for support instead of growing on soil. These orchid plants grow well indoors if you place them in sphagnum moss. The moss provides plenty of moisture and ventilation, imitating the orchids’ natural growing conditions.
Tip #3: Use it as an ingredient for your potting mix
Sphagnum moss also comes in powdered form, commonly used as an ingredient for various potting mixtures. Peat moss is an excellent addition to pot soil because of its water-holding capacity. Some plants benefit from powdered sphagnum moss, including succulents, cacti, flowering plants, indoor, crops, and kitchen herbs.
Tip #4: Use it as moss sticks
Moss sticks are dried sphagnum moss wrapped around a PVC pipe. Gardeners place moss sticks in the middle of a big pot to support climbers and epiphytic plants. Climbers can grow and cover the moss stick over time.
Tip #5: Use it for terrariums
Terrariums are sealed containers that contain plants and soil, creating a miniature ecosystem. To sustain the ecosystem, the plants should be given enough nutrients to survive. Sphagnum moss is an integral part of terrariums because it serves as a barrier between soil and pebbles. It helps the roots of the plants grow within the tiny spaces in the moss. They also place colored moss on top for aesthetic purposes.
Tip #6: Use it to keep the house plants’ soil damp
By placing sphagnum moss at the top of the soil, you can keep your plants warm and the soil damp. In this way, you don’t have to water your plants as much as you used to.
Tip #7: Use it as organic mulch for your potted plants
Sphagnum moss is one of the best organic mulch for potted plants. If your plants are unattended for many days, you can add a thick layer of peat moss mulch submerged in water over your soil and cover it with a plastic wrap. Your plants will remain hydrated for days or even a week.
Tip #8: Use it when you’re starting seeds
You can start planting seeds using crumbled sphagnum moss. Dampen the peat moss, place it in a small container, and then place the seeds in the middle. The moss can keep the seeds moist and warm to help them germinate faster.
Why it Pays to Grow Plants Using a Mini Greenhouse
If you’re using a mini greenhouse, you can use sphagnum moss to keep the soil warm and moist. Growing your plants inside a hobby greenhouse is a more efficient way of growing crops and other plants. If you’re still on the fence, here are some of the reason why it pays to grow plants and crops inside a mini greenhouse:
Protect your plants from pests and animals that may eat your plants
Aphids, cabbage worms, beetles, snails, rodents, squirrels, and other wildlife may want to eat your produce. Shield your plants from plant-eating insects by keeping them inside a greenhouse. Other than pests, you can also protect your plants from infectious diseases that can kill them.
Great for people without much space
Gardeners who don’t have enough space for planting can use a small greenhouse kit. The standard size for more compact greenhouses is around six feet, but there are smaller ones. You can place them on balconies, patios, backyards, and indoors. Even though these greenhouses are more miniature, they provide the same benefits as larger greenhouses do.
Keep your plants safe from bad weather
Bad weather can quickly destroy your plants. Heavy rain, storm, hail, snow, and frost can damage months’ worth of hard work. By placing them inside a greenhouse, you can keep them safe from unpredictable climate. You can create a microclimate that allows you to grow plants regardless of the weather outside. Once the weather warms, you have the option to transfer your plants into your garden.
Ideal for gardeners who want to learn more about greenhouses
Greenhouse gardening requires a significant investment. If you want to test the waters before investing in a larger greenhouse, buying a mini greenhouse is a great choice. It works just like a regular greenhouse, so you’ll be able to know how things work and learn the ideal growing conditions of different plants.
Final Thoughts on How to Use Sphagnum Moss
There are several ways on how you can use sphagnum moss. Whether you’re growing your plants in your garden or a greenhouse, you’ll be able to use sphagnum moss to your advantage.