SphagnumMoss

Valerie · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 9:58 am Post subject: SphagnumMoss

I'm not sure if anyone here has heard of it or tried growing bonsai in it, but I thought I'd start this topic in case anyone is interested.
This would well suit growers who live in countries that experience extreme heat and water restrictions.

I'm growing acacia trees and am going to be doing a little experiment to see which ones do better, those in normal bonsai potting soil or those grown in sphagnum moss.

I found a very interesting 3 part video tutorial on You Tube yesterday, for those interested you can find part 1 here:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPVaAXgRoKk&feature=related

I hope this can help out some growers out there as this guy swears by it.

Take care
Val

tim ford · Orange Belt Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 304 Location: kent

Hi, Valerie
Your tree in the sphagnum moss should do well, i saw a video of the same subject last year and i put a small juniper into the moss and it seems to be doing well this year. i have recently put a cutting in the same moss hoping for results, it may not look very pleasing to the eye but i wonder if an established bonsai would live happily in just the sphagnum Very Happy

Surrey John · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:32 am Post subject: Re: SphagnumMoss

It's always risky to make suggestions in a thread about a topic one has no experience of, but here goes!

Surely any bonsai other than a seedling or a very young tree would find a 100% sphagnum moss rooting medium very unfriendly? Too soft for roots to to grip, so making the tree unstable, and too wet for their comfort. Sphagnum is always used, is it not, where water-retention is needed. We all know that rapid drainage is what we seek for our bonsai, so to plant a bonsai in a 100% water-retentive medium doesn't seem very promising to me.

But, of course, it's experience that is needed, so I'm glad someone is trying! SJ.

yamadorinige · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject: Re: SphagnumMoss

My initial reaction would be the same as Johns, but on reflection I would say it would be possible to grow trees in 100% sphagnum moss. I use 100% sphagnum when I airlayer and they do perfectly well in it, for anything upto 2 years( I don't know how they would cope for longer as I have never needed to leave an airlayer on for more than 2 years)

imholte · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 1:28 pm Post subject: Re: SphagnumMoss

I grow my orchids in 100% moss, and they do great, but they are quite loose in the moss. I only have to water them once a week, but after a while the moss compacts and you have to mix it up a little to let the air in. One of the reasons that proper free draining soil is desired for bonsai, water retention, stimulates root growth, and allows proper air mixture among the roots.

I think that you probably could grow bonsai in moss...but you could also grow bonsai in marbles too. The main thing in my mind is why would you do this? Proper free draining soil works just fine on our trees.

Valerie · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: SphagnumMoss

It's been very interesting reading every ones replies to this topic. I thought it would be a good growing medium for older trees for those who live in drought stricken areas and who are on water rationing etc.
My last 12 years in Zimbabwe were on water rationing whereby each household was allocated 600 litres of water per day in a good rain season otherwise we were only allowed 300 liters per day. With temperatures in mid summer soaring t0 42 degrees in the shade, the sphagnum moss would've been a god send.

I wouldn't grow all my tress in it here in the UK, but I shall do a couple of trials as I am diarizing everything that happens etc.

fred · Yellow Belt Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 63 Location: Harare

Sphagnum moss is an excellent growing medium for trees with weak roots and yamadori/collected trees but it also has been associated with a potentially lethal fungal infection. People think that when the moss is green the tree should be in a healthy condition. Actually moss covers the soil and it becomes difficult to tell by sight whether the soil is moist or dry. By watering to suit the moss, the roots of the tree suffocate from lack of air due to constant moisture. A heavy coating of moss sometimes restricts the penetration of water to the soil unless the water is applied with force.

Check this out ->

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATSphagnum%20Moss.htm

"……….Sphagnum moss can be a source of a chronic fungal disease called sporotrichosis, which enters the skin through scratches and abrasions. From there it can get into your lymph nodes and cause swelling of the joints. The entry point will develop blisters. If treatment is not given, amputation of the infected area can become necessary; death from the disease can also occur……………."

Surrey John · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 9:18 am Post subject: Re: SphagnumMoss

Hi Fred! So, apart from the fact that it can kill you, you reckon Sphagnum is OK? SJ.

fred · Yellow Belt Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 63 Location: Harare

The odds are your more likely to be run over than Sphagnum killing you.Sphagnum is one of many types a fungus's and have many cultivars. Oaks love moss and mushrooms, but for old bonsai tree's (40+ years) I would not let them near moss because certain types of fungus may he harmfull to you baby Bonsai. Moses and Liverworts....the gametophyte 25,000 species... love damp climates... i'm propergating some moss for air-layering in august Smile