Rooting Experiment Results

Sherry, what other orchid stuff? You mean the bark? I saw something called "Orchid Mix" in Lowe's tonight but didn't even look at it because it was my understanding that they liked an open, rough-textured medium to grow in and not a soil-type environment.
Randy.. I'll second the question.. what are polymers? I thought they were plastics.

Barb

I wish I had looked closely at the other orchid stuff, there were several, maybe not all orchid - I got to Lowes right when they threw the stuff in the aisles, in tight plastic bundles. I'll check my next trip, assuming they haven't sold outta everything...

This big monkey wants some. LOL. I went by Lowes after work and they didn't have it!! They did have long fibered spagnum moss. It kind of looked like your pic Barb. I thought some one mentioned it on this thread but now I can't find it. Shucks.

Thanks Sandy, so much for doing that for me. Roseville is about 2 hours away. I must be so dense, I still can't figure out how to put in to get the info on my Lowes. Of course I was there tonight and they do not have it.


So is this no good?

You are so welcome. Here is the link how I found my store. Just change the info. Sorry the store I listed was not closer. Of course it is not listed at my store not even to order on line to pick up at my store. I could get it at the store I sent you the link to :o( but seeing I live way far away I won't pick it up there I guess. (stomping my foot) BUT I am going tomorrow anyway. I will give them a piece of my mind {of what little is left} LOL

http://stores.lowes.com/lowes/cgi/index?design=default&lang=en&mapid=US&svv=true&fname=&snum=0097&sname=BAYTOWN%2C+TEX.&ci=&zip=77520&zipid=77520

Kell,
That's what I was talking about before when I said sphag moss. I've not used it yet, but am planning to in the next few days...soon as I get my H2O2. I've seen it's use recommended on Brug sites so I'm assuming it should work well (just saw it today). I think the only purpose of the moss is to hold the H2O2 and water, right? If so, then sphag should work as well as any other moss. If you have any left over use it to line any wire baskets you have, you'll like the look much better than the coco mats!
Heather

BTW, for those who don't know, or have forgotten, please be sure to wear gloves when working with this moss, it can cause infections. Make sure to wash well after handling it. If you would happen to get an infection after handling it please take it seriously and let your Dr. know you were in contact with the moss. It's nothing to get freaked out about, but I did want to mention it in case someone didn't know.

The moss freaks Baxter out!

Kell... D-mail me your addy and I'll send your moss out.

Barb

Polymers are the water crystals...the one little scoop you see there will fill a fairly large bowl of the full water crystals you see on the left. The one on the left is about 40 little crystals inflated with H20- The seeds are moon flowers.
Rj

Randy, you do the best show and tells! I know this is silly but, ya know, it would so much more simple if they would say 'water crystals or polymers'.
Well, I like that too and will try it with my moonies and glories - I guess you know that will mean, yet another, trip to Lowes and my resolution is totally blown, but I made a stand-by, just in case...we are suppose to have frigid weather tomorrow and over the weekend...

Thanks Sherry! Well..in their defense...the bottle does say water crystals...I am not sure what got me on to (Jeanette) saying (Jeanette) polymers all (Jeanette) the time !!...haha :) - (such influence Jeanette!)
Honestly - I do not like the poly- I mean water crystals - for seed propagation on my first round of experiments. I probably used too many crystals..that little bowl was not what they were originally in. I put the moonflowers in seed pots right after that picture. So- I would stick to the baggies and paper towels, or the moss as a standard for now. ...the propagation rate was outstanding for the baggies and paper towels.! I will try again with the crystals, then I will report the results. I have seen some advertisments in Gardners Supply with the crystals for seed starting. I did not get any morning glory seeds to propagate in the water crystals..again..probably used too many. I was going to say I lost the morning glory seeds...but- I poured everything on the front flower bed today...I bet morning glories start growing --
By the way...those expensive seed heating mats? Try Wahlgreens, .. heating pad - - with moisture and temperature control $17.99 - The cheapest seed mat I could find was around $38.00...then again I haven/t looked that hard yet.

This message was edited Feb 16, 2006 8:57 PM

Randy, for some odd reason, the water crystals don't appeal to me, I've had a negative attitude about them for some unknown reason - it really irks me when I do that, for absolutely no reason I can figure. However, I bought some Mircal Gro potting soil with water crystals, totally forgot I did that, until I read some old notes, and realized the baskets I used it for were the best baskets I've ever had. Previously, I've had zero luck with baskets, but I always used plastic pots, and last year I used those with the mats in them, I think it was a combination of the water crystals and the matted baskets, both of which I will use this year, along with the 5 in the gh that hopefully will make it through the rest of the winter. It is supposed to be 22 degrees here Sat night, I'll need an extra heater, unless they revise the weather report...after this cold, wet weather, I'm going to start pulling stuff outta the gh, and get it into the sun and just cover it if it freezes again...

Sherry I am here freezing! Last week it was in the 70s and now it is so cold. There is a snow advisory for this weekend up in the hills here!!

"On Saturday a colder and more organized system is forecast to
arrive bringing another chance of snow to all of the Bay area hills."


I may have to get the sheets out. Snow is such a rare occurrence.

Randy I have used those crystals in my pots before and they always manage to get to the top and be a gelatinous mess. I never thought to try germinating seeds on them! I am going to try the moss first though on your recommendation!

Heathrjoy, your Baxter is so cute!!! I had no clue you could get infections from that moss. Why is that and what kind of bacteria is in it??

THANKS Barb!!! I owe you!

Kell, it is 71 degrees right now, but the humidity has disappeared, so it feels good. I had sore throat last night, and a twinge of an earache and got a shot and three meds today, allergy but the kind that can turn into an infection and I've never had one my adult life but 5/6 years ago and it was awful, so I'm hopped up on meds, with happy fingers, and error after error...the good news is that there has not been a flu case reported here this winter...

I am 30 miles north of Kell and last night was sheets and lamp time . I put a lamp with a small light bulb for a little heat . Make sure you have a lamp shade and be forwarned that critters go under for heat to .

So you had frost, Tony? I am saved by being right near the water here. I hope we do not get any this weekend. I just can't seem to get energized to go move them all or cover them. I did grab my new begonia and bring it in. I guess I like that plant the best. LOL

I went to Lowes today and home depot and they neither one carry it here :o( I tried to buy at Lowes.com and no luck for me. was 26 here sunday morning and today 80? This is one strange winter. I had to turn on A/C today for a little while.

We have needed a winter so the Gulf waters would cool down. But looks like another bad Hurricane season. I don't want another Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita or any other name for anyone in 2006.

Hope ours and your weather evens out.

I went to lowes.com and can not order the orchid mix, went today to my Lowes and they don't carry it, and then to Home Depot and they don't carry it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! :o( sigh

I did buy 5-1 gallon named daylilies for 1 dollar each and a tomatoe plant for 1.48 and a bell pepper plant for 1.48. Would have bought more tomatoe and pepper if I knew they were clearance. Named plants are great, but as long they are pretty (and so far haven't seen an ugly daylily) names are not important to me. Names are great when looking for brugs.

I paid 4.98 for 3 rhyzome pkg of superstition Iris (coal black). This was Home Depot. I hope it blooms this year. :o)

Kell, what kind of new begonia did you get?? I can really grow the regular begonias, like Angel Wing. Are there other begonias that tolerate hot/humid weather??? I cannot seem to find any new or different begonias that might like my zone, the ones I love grow well in 'any' cool climate.

When I went to Lowes last Mon, they had 6 kinds of orchid stuff, in the area they had the Orchid Moss. Now, there are only two orchid products and they have this tag with them:

>>>This item is currently unavailable for purchase online through the GREENVILLE, MS store. Please contact the store at (662) 335-3525 if you would like to place a special order, or change your store to check another Lowe's in your area>>>

Kell! Moss is in the box in the car... I need your address.
Had to laugh because the box weighs more than its contents do and it is just a regular cardboard box.
D-mail me, lady...

Barb

Here's a bit,

"The infection manifests itself as small painless lumps or bumps resembling an insect bite 1-12 weeks after exposure. Usually the first appearance is within 3 weeks after initial infection. The lumps become open sores. The ulcers fail to heal and the micro-organisms which caused them enter the lymphatics and can move along the lymphatic system eventually infecting lungs, joints or the central nervous system. This dissemination can cause serious illness, especially in people with immuno-deficiencies. The disease cannot be spread from person to person. While the primary infection may be limited to the skin, infections of joints (osteomyelitis, arthritis), lung and central nervous system (meningitis), is possible but are very rare."

that I copied from this site
http://www.ars.org/About_Roses/health_sporotrichosis.htm

Just do a google search on "sphagnum moss infection" and you'll get all the info you need. I chose this site to share because it's the only one I could find that had a pic of the infection lesions.

Hope this helps, but doesn't freak anyone out. Just wear gloves and use common sense.

I live in middle Mississippi and I went out in search of Orchid Moss, superthrive, and maxicrop and couldn't find any of them !!! I even had our Lowe's guy look on the computer and he said it wasn't even available for them to order in our area. If Greenville's Lowe's can get it I don't understand why Jackson can't. Anyone else in my are had any luck locating these products?

Sherry and Kell, the only use I've had from the crystals was when a brug cutting was rotting in the bubbler - I took it out and cut it to about 1.5 inches..then put it in a solution of crystals...and it actually took.

I was sitting out in relative humidity this morning and all of a sudden the humidity was suck right out and the cool blew in. It's actually not cold yet. Being a native Seattleite- it's just about that kind of weather.

ILJ99 - Try your local feed store, hardware store, and nursery.

Pict of the cutting

OMG! I dropped my unopened new bottle of Super-Thrive behind the fridge and there is no way to get back there other than taking the fridge out. I'll buy new S-T and get that one the first time the fridge has to come out. I have a brand new (2 years old now) of $115 grooming shears under my deck that went through the slats. Oh well.

Ok, guys & gals, I just called Lowe's customer helpline about the Better Gro Orchid Moss to find out what's going on with it. I talked to David, he was very nice and very helpful and patient.

#63195 is the item # for the moss. It is not available in all states. I went through the list of states that everyone that has posted so far is from. The only state he said was not on the list to sell it was CA.

He also said that if your local store does not carry it they may be able to get it from another store in their district. If that is not possible you can call customer care at 1-800-445-6937 and they can do a shipment from the store to you. You will have to pay for shipping, but remember, this stuff weighs nothing. I didn't think to ask what their shipping costs were. If you do this, I would also ask about shipping it to the store to save shipping costs.

When I looked up the Orchid Moss on Lowes.com all it gave me was basically an advertisment for all of Better-Gro's products, and says to see your local store for more info. I asked about this and was told you can't buy it on-line. The item # isn't even available on line and if you do type it into the search box it comes up "unavailable."

I hope this helps some of you find the moss you're looking for, there is some for sale on eBay right now also, Item number: 4355123184. Or do a google search for "orchid moss", at the top of the page under Product search it will be the second listing. I don't know if the price is reasonable, I've never priced it.

Heather

The Orchid Moss in Greenville MS was for sale, online last Monday. I picked mine up at the Greenville Lowes because I was going anyway. However, they ran out between Monday and Wed, when I checked again for this thread. I made this kind of effort for 15-5-15 CalMag, so I KNOW what it is to want something you cannot locate, whew. What we go through for our brugs, but it's fun, then I know the ropes for locating stuff when I really need it. Oooops, what did i say, my search for brug products is life or death, mine, if I cannot find the hot, going item, lol!!

There's not a Lowe's here but I am checking Home Depot this afternoon.
If it isn't available there I will order from Lowe's. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. Now looking for piggy poo.

I just did a "Froogle" search for "orchid moss." Turns out someone on eBay is selling the product for $4.89 a bale (Buy It Now option only) plus $3 shipping. The seller lists that 22 bales are available. For those that can't find the orchid moss anyplace else, this may be an option if you are willing to pay the extra costs.

Here's the link to the eBay page:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4355123184&category=42218

I imagine the seller is going to wonder why there is a sudden avalanche of buyers trying to snap up the orchid moss! LOL

Jeremy

This message was edited Feb 17, 2006 8:35 PM

He says he combines shipping. I may inquire about how much shipping for 4.

I have Orchid moss and Shpangum moss. Can some one tell me what the difference is? They both look pretty similar to me.

Thanks for all the good sleuthing guys!

Sherry- if your refridgerator emails you to tell you it needs servicing because of a foreign substance underneath it...will you move the fridge then? LOL...:-)

Hi Rj,

Don't take it as the gospel truth, but I think that Orchid moss and Sphagnum moss are the same thing.

And, although I do have both the expensive seedling heat mats and the temperature controler, heating pads work just fine too. I have found that if the heat pad is still too warm, you can put several layers of newspapers, towels, or anything that will raise the container above the pad to keep it from getting too hot.

In fact, I used a regular old heat pad to germinate tuberous begonia seeds the first time I tried them, not those expensive mats and temp controlers.

Bingo, Randy, good question. My orchid and sphagnum moss greatly resemble too, and i understand that sphagnum is good to prevent psudemonia, sp, but I've never had that, that I know of, but good to know it will prevent it.

Randy, you won't believe this but my fridge sent me a message recently, which began by morse code, a strange occasional beeping that took me two days to find. The beeping signal was to tell me that it it needed a new filter and it told me where the filter was, how to remove it and where to go to get a new one, and i did it and it worked. I could NOT believe it. The way it's going, it's not going to be long before the fridge is running this barn. So, I think I'll go hit the control and maybe the fridge has sonar too and can do a search and will lift the Super-Thrive out before it becomes a toxic spill. Of course it fell behind the worst side to get it out. Darn it!!

Sherry ROTFLOL!!!!!>..hahahahha

Thanks David- I noticed that last year when I was repotting my orchids, and making hanging baskets out of sphangum..Glad I wasn't the only one that noticed. I can see that the orchid moss picked the "finer" mosses...can I say that?

I couldn't find the Orchid Moss at Home Depot but did find sphagnum moss at Walmart. I am going to try it and see what kind of success I have.

I'm surprised that Wal-Mart had it. I looked last year and my local Wal-Marts didn't carry it. Maybe it's a new item for them. That's good to know, thanks for sharing!! :)

You're welcome.

heathrjoy, that sounds terrible!!
Rj, your cutting looks so much better than mine do!

LOL Sherry, maybe your fridge will send me a message too on how to get it all together. I need help!

I was at the Orchid Show in San Francisco and a booth had orchid moss. I was so excited. I went in to buy it and it was Sphagnum moss . I told the guy that that no, that was not the right kind and he said that is the only kind! As soon as Barb sends me some, I will compare!

BTW What's happened to Barb? Barb come out of hiding.

I assume that is an orchid, it is beautiful and oh so different, wow!!

I thought as much re the moss. I think for the orchid moss they use the highest grade of Sphangum...but Sphangum never the less. We all know that anything that has the plant name -orchid- in front is an automatic candidate for inflated pricing.

Thanks Kell, those cuttings have lava sand added to the soil. 1 part mulch from the mulch bin, 1 part cotton compost seed mulch, less than 1 part of black cow composted mulch, and less than 1 part Lava sand. When I mix all of that I throw in alphalpha pellets that have fish emulsion, mollases and cotton seed. Those things are great. I used that when I expanded the flower beds in front.

Are you talking about cotton seed mulch/compost?? If so, can you buy it in sacks in Houston?? Only way I can get it is to have it delivered by the giant truck, which I do about every other year, this is an off year, whew - it took all summer to get it spread...where do you get the alfalfa pellets with the fish emulsion??