Why Is Moss Good For Plants?
There are good moss and bad moss. Moss is beneficial to potted plants because it absorbs and holds water and nutrients, allowing them to flourish. When the soil in a pot gets dry, it loses important nutrients. The use of moss aids in the retention of water and nutrients near the roots of the plant. When moss develops densely on top of your potted plant, it prevents water from reaching the soil, causing the soil to dry out and deprive the roots of nutrition. If you don’t remove the moss, your potted plant may get limp or possibly die. Let’s learn more about the good moss for plants.
What Is The Good Moss To Use For Potted Plants?
Although there are over 15,000 different types of moss, not all of them are ideal for potted plants. The following are some of the good moss for potted plants:
Sphagnum Moss
Sphagnum moss is gathered from bogs of the same name. When it is picked and dry of all moisture, it is alive. The texture of sphagnum moss is stringy and dry. This moss is widely used as a lining for hanging or wire plant baskets to assist the soil to retain water.
Peat Moss
Sphagnum bogs also produce peat moss. It’s the bog’s dead sphagnum moss that’s settled to the bottom. It combines with other organic components from plants, insects, and animals as it decomposes. Sphagnum peat moss is a term for the decaying material that is gathered. Peat moss may hold up to 20 times its weight in water and nutrients when integrated into the soil of a potted plant. It is mixed with soil, sand, and compost to balance its chemical impact on plants. Because peat moss has a low pH, it’s a great addition to acid-loving plants.
Spanish Moss
The last good moss is spanish moss. Hanging or wire plant baskets are frequently lined with spanish moss. It not only allows for drainage, but it also aids in the retention of water in the soil. Spanish moss can also be used as a decorative element surrounding the potted plant’s soil.
Tips To Mixing Moss With Potted Soil
Most home improvement or gardening stores sell pre-made potted plant soil with good moss. Peat moss, compost, and perlite are common ingredients in potting soil. Existing plants can be readily repotted into the new soil. Following:
- At your local home improvement or gardening store, pick up a bag of peat moss, gardening soil, perlite or builder’s sand, and fertilizer.
- Fill a pan halfway with peat moss and set it outside for a few weeks. The moss is parched and must absorb water from dew or rain on a daily basis. You can spray the peat moss with a garden hose if the weather prediction appears clear for the day. Simply make sure the peat moss is moistened at least once a day.
- Mix the moss with the garden soil and perlite in a bucket after it has been outside for a few weeks. Make sure you combine equal portions of each and thoroughly stir it with a gardening implement like a spade.
- Fertilize the soil mixture with fertilizer. The amount of fertilizer required is determined by the amount of soil mixture available. Make sure you read the fertilizer box’s directions before measuring out the amount.
- Mix the fertilizer into the soil thoroughly.
After you’ve finished making your potting soil mixture, you can use it to repot your existing plants or start fresh seedlings.