Rooting Experiment Results

I'm fairly sure we had this discussion above, but maybe it bears repeating. I searched online last night for orchid moss and most all the links took me to sites offering sphagnum moss (either short or long strand, and lots of discussions about how New Zealand sphagnum is superior to all others, and a dart frog site where people were somehow making "orchid moss" grow as terrarium plant?). I don't think our local Lowe's carries the official orchid moss, but I will keep looking. There is one hydroponic gardening store in town that also seems to carry some of the more unusual, specialty items that the big box stores don't bother with. I found orchid moss available on eBay, but the shipping is about the same as the moss. I wonder if it is possible to buy it in bulk like other orchid supplies?

Jeremy

..lol..That new Zealand stuff is $$...Dont need that 40 degree nites here either..too much to do..me still cleaning up my place..maybe I will see the ground underneath all these tree limbs in my backyard..sigh...

Sphagnum moss is the same as orchid moss. People with compromised immune systems, such as diabetes, should consider using rose gloves (they come up to the elbow) when handling the moss to prevent getting infected with this rare but potentially dangerous fungus:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/sporotrichosis/fact_sheet.htm

I am off to Lowes today to buy some of the better grow orchid moss.. it is $4.60 including tax here and shipping from here for one package runs $4.80 priority mail.. it weighs 5.3 ounces not including packaging for shipping weight.. I am mailing a package to someone today.

But isn't the orchid moss we are discussing here for rooting plant cuttings a finer texture of sphagnum moss (not in strands like regular sphagnum)?

Jeremy

How fine were you thinking of. I've received cuttings wrapped in fairly long strands. The advantage here is they tend to be easier to work with. The finely cut stuff falls apart.

I agree, the strands are better to work with, and if one wants it finer...then...snip snip. I have all my bromeliads, and epiphitic plants growing in the sphagnum/orchid moss.

I've never seen or handled the "official" Orchid Moss (as shown in the package in bjf826
(Barb)"s post above on February 11, 2006, 7:04 PM She mentions that it is a blended moss that contains some sphagnum. But, based on the photo she posted of the rooting experiments, it does look like regular sphagnum moss. (photo post above by bjf826, February 11, 2006, 1:53 PM. I have lots of sphagnum on hand because I got a bunch of cull pack orchids last year from Lowe's that were planted in tightly packed sphagnum. I teased the sphagnum out of the orchid roots and repotted the orchids with bark mixture because I think the sphagnum retains too much moisture for orchids in my humid climate.

Jeremy

Jeremy, I've had to do the same thing to my orchids here in TX.

I came up with the theory, bettyd, that 1. the orchid suppliers for the big box stores use the tightly packed sphagnum because it prevents the orchid from spilling out of the pot during transport and handling, to prevent the spillage that an orchid bark mixture might spill, and 2. the orchid suppliers for the big box stores are not too concerned about the long-term life and health of the orchid. It just makes my heart ache that orchids have become a "throw away" potted plant to be enjoyed while in bloom, then tossed out. DutchLady on DG in Naples, Fl, has mentioned she finds orchids frequently in the yard trash. I'm glad she is there to rescue them! And the current policy of most big garden centers is that if the orchids don't sell for a markdown of 50% off, the plants go to the compactor. Such a waste!

Jeremy

Jeremy, yes that is a waste, but if you've seen what they do to orchids in these garden centers, most of their orchids are dead or dying, by the time the markdown occurs.

I switched from the bark to the moss. I had problems with the bark retaining too much moisture..not sure if I put too much in, or it wasn't good quality. The moss, I could separate and modify the amount if needed.

I noticed a business here taking advantage of the folks that like the "blooming orchids" only, called Orchids Express. It's an orchid rental place, when your orchid is done blooming, you bring it in and exchange it for another blooming orchid.

I've thought about having the same sort of business here myself, rj. I have a few friends that I loan orchids to when the orchids are in flower, and they return the plants to me when the flowers are gone. It would be easy enough to offer the same service to strangers for a fee. LOL I suppose any such business plan would need to include a deposit to cover the cost of the plant in case it isn't returned or is so badly damaged that it can't be salvaged.

Jeremy

I just found this explanation of how the pricing works for "rent-an-orchid" on a website:

LOL....I know what you mean. I went to Orchid Express here, and it's quite an operation. They let me go through the greenhouse. It was larger than I expected, but then it might have to be to be providing that many blooming orchids on demand.

If I get a bigger anything, I'm going to have to quit my job as it's already nearing full time status. From the propagation, repotting, greenhouse, and continuous landscaping..I move plants around like re-arranging a living room. It's like a continuous art, hobby, science, biology landscaping project.

Bumping this up..for somene who is looking for rooting Brug cuttings in. Orchid moss

I bought the orchid moss and have put brug cuttings in it... am having great luck so far... wonderful root systems forming in the cups.. no holes in the cups either... just keep the moss misted occasionally .. as long as I can see condensation on the inside of the cups, I know the moss is moist enough without being too wet! I am able to write the name of each cutting on the outside of the cup too. very handy.

Tammie

I am glad that your babies are snuggled in this orchid moss..lol..keep their roots undisturbed until planting time...leftover extra moss can be reused..

I have been back over this thread several times and now I knwo what it was that I wanted to ask. Didn't really see it in the threads. Are your cups supposed to have holes in thebottom or not?

Some put holes, some do not... I did not... as I wrote above.. I just watch to make sure I can see the condensation on the inside of the clear cups to know there is enough moisture... and no water sitting in the bottom of the cups.. sometimes there is a tiny bit in the bottoms.. that is OK...

Thanks for bumping this up as I have never seen it before. I may try some of this myself.

I dont have holes in mine either..but I can just see all them roots trying to get out and start walking..LOLOL...

I have some question what happens to the cutting at planting time. Do you remove any of the moss? Moss tends to retain lots of water. Has anyone had any rot problems? One last question. Are these roots considered water roots?

This message was edited Nov 26, 2008 1:06 PM

Guys, when you take cuttings, do you let the cuts heal before putting them in the rooting medium. If so, for how long?

Thanks,

Jerry

I do not put holes in my cups, I just stick the cutting without any hesitation into the moss and cup, and the cuttings that I have rooted in moss are successfully putting out leaves since they have been potted.. hope this helps...

It wont hurt the cutting..It just keeps the soil moist lttle longer between watering..
I am not sure if these roots are called water roots..since I dont put cuttings directly into water cuz mine are in a moist medium.

yep, sure does help, thank you! : )

Thanks every one.

Bumping this back up since I am showing few people that using Orchid moss is how I root all my brug cuttings..Yes, I still have Daisymae who was snoozing by the patio doors..She is 11 years old and doesn't get around too much..I had to bribe her to eat so I can get a good pic of her..LOL..This picture was taken this evening..

Maybe I didn't get the watering right because I had lousy results. Then I read warnings that caution its use by people with compromised immune systems, such as diabetics. Sporothrix schenckii, a fungus that normally lives in moss, can cause serious problems in those people. I'm diabetic so I think I'll stick to water and potting mix.

it looks like DaisyMae is about to eat my plant food.. the alfalfa pellets..
I'd like to say how georgeous she is... but you understand..
I had water issues with moss also.. but it might be easier to root this time of year most anyway..

I haven't had any water issues and maybe cuz I have well water. I am fixing to do a bunch of cuttings in orchid moss and will take pictures as I do the cuttings.
Daisymae is eating unsweeten horse feed..She won't touch just any regular hog feed..I tried..lol..She slowly gets around..mostly sleeps in the banana shade or on the patio..

So were is DaisyMay's buddy?

At the moment in with Daisymae cuz it is pouring down raining...she didn't even come greet at the door..lol..I will take pics of her too..if she can keep still long enough..hahaha..keep sticking her nose at my camera.

Nadine,

I have well water, too. The water issue was one of the moss retaining too much water. After the first few days, I was afraid to squeeze out any water for fear of damaging any forming nubs or roots. The cuttings rotted.

When I use the moss, I squeeze out as much as the water as I can before I use it for anything... I use tall plastic containers to put my brug cuttings in them..cuz I want deep stem rooting in order for me to plant them in the ground here..or a large pot..I will post pics of my next brug cuttings to be rooted that are coming soon...

Thanks for bumping Moodene...
I have a particularly stubborn Brug noid that I am having probs with.
I have had it in Spag moss as suggested for a week now and it isn't withering.
Fingers crossed, but it looks as it should now...
Thank you Barb for the initial thread...

Love the gorgeous Daisymae....

This message was edited Jul 8, 2010 5:40 PM

Thank you..right now Daisymae is snoozing in her house..we are having rain off and on for the last few weeks...need a canoe....plus rubber boots!

Okay, I rooted 4 of these big stalks brugs that are over 3 feet tall..in a bucket full of orchid moss...Pink Velvet is going to Kenboy..It is nearly 5 feet tall...LOL...

Here is a shot of the roots..