Today I wanna talk about sphagnum moss because I see a lot of confusions and little information about this substrate using in planting aroids (philodendrons, monsteras, anthuriums, etc.)
Confusion no 1: Sphagnum moss is a temporary media, only used for propagating cuttings.
That is not true for the most part. You can totally grow beautiful and big aroids just with sphagnum moss (a good quality one.)
Confusion no 2: You cannot grow plants in moss because it can decompose and get compacted very fast.
That is also not true. A high quality sphagnum moss will last you for good 2 or three years. You probably will need to repot the plant way before the moss goes bad.
Confusion no 3: You cannot use sphagnum moss for long term because it doesn't have any nutrients.
Yes it's partially true. Sphagnum moss doesn't carry any nutrients itself. However, that's when liquid fertilizers come in and you will have to use them anyway. The main role of sphagnum moss is providing air and moisture for your plants. It absorbs nutrients from fertilizers so the roots can take in later. If you fertilize your plants the right way, they have no problems growing in moss.
Alright, now let's talk about the benefits of sphagnum moss.
1. It creates lots of air pockets which contain oxygens. With good amount of oxygens, your roots will breathe better and grow faster.
2. it holds moisture very well so that your plant will get the H20 they needs to produce energy.
3. it's a great indicator to let you know when your plants need water. Whenever you see the top layer of moss dry or when you hold the pot and it's significantly lighter, it's time to hydrate your plants.
4. It's less messy. No more dirt falling off everywhere.
5. it's easier to see the root growth.
However, there are some issues you will face if you decided to use moss as your main substrate.
1. You will need to water more often because sphagnum moss dry faster than soil
2. It will have algae faster than soil or perlite.
3. Without experience, you can easily mess up the PH balance and harm your plants.
Tomorrow I will show you how to use sphagnum moss properly and when to use it to maximize your plant growth. Stay tuned!
