FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Is there a media that's better? Sphagnum Moss or Peat Moss? I see a lot of images with peat, and a lot with sphagnum.

Both have their pros and cons. I think flytraps do better in sphagnum.

Peat is fine, as long as it's mixed with perlite or something to help with drainage and aeration. But many people prefer LFSM just because it's already airy and drains well.
Peat is cheaper, but you have to mix it with the perlite (if wanted), and it takes some time and effort to get the peat to absorb water.
Pros and cons to everything.

ChefDean wrote: ↑Mon May 03, 2021 12:10 pm Peat is fine, as long as it's mixed with perlite or something to help with drainage and aeration. But many people prefer LFSM just because it's already airy and drains well.
Peat is cheaper, but you have to mix it with the perlite (if wanted), and it takes some time and effort to get the peat to absorb water.
Pros and cons to everything.

What is LFSM?

Long fiber sphagnum moss.

If cost were not a factor, would there ever be any benefit to using peat over LFSM, for any plant?

Cost isn't a factor. I cant find any locally. Everywhere I looked have no LFSM. Any recommended online vendors?

Check at Lowes. It is sold as orchid moss.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/BETTER-GRO-Orc ... x/50284907

ecbaker209 wrote:Cost isn't a factor. I cant find any locally. Everywhere I looked have no LFSM. Any recommended online vendors?

Here is a recommended online vendor: https://www.flytrapcare.com/store/chile ... agnum-moss

my question wasn't directed at you though, it was for the USPS guys. Does peat have anything going for it, besides price?

Panman wrote:Both have their pros and cons.

To start off, I agree that peat is much cheaper than sphagnum moss.
Peat has somewhat better water retention (I think) and is way more acidic than sphagnum moss.
Sphagnum moss can be used for a wide variety of CPs, whereas peat should only be used to garden plants such as drosera, sarracenia, or flytraps.
Some growers do use peat as the main ingredient in tropical CP soil mixes, but I don't think that's the best idea for long-term health (just in my opinion).
So there you have it, some pros and cons about peat moss and sphagnum moss.

I like this video's comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxuITJ3h15M&t=830s

I prefer peat/perlite but also grow a few in long fiber sphag. Long fiber sphag is cleaner to work with but you have to be very careful unpotting as the roots get tangled up in the long fibers of the moss. Peat and perlite just basically falls away from the roots causing less chance of damage.