FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Is it possible to identify what species of sphagnum this is?

Me just realizing sphagnum moss has more than one species

Identifying sphagnum moss species can be tough. I just categorize it as either "coarse" or "fine" (yours would be coarse).

You should try posting these pics in the Sphagnum sub on Reddit.

MikeB wrote: ↑Sun Oct 29, 2023 11:40 pm Identifying sphagnum moss species can be tough. I just categorize it as either "coarse" or "fine" (yours would be coarse).

You should try posting these pics in the Sphagnum sub on Reddit.

Is it course because of the thickness and the strands (for lack of a better word) and the strands being further apart? If so I guess I would categorize mine as fine. I have been attempting to also grow Ren moss but that seems to be taking a long time. It has started to sprout new growth but that growth starts out green then turns red eventually. I would like to grow enough as to start selling some as I find red moss a really cool addition to the green for top dressing.

The coarse species are more loose and open. They grow fast and form deep, fluffy mounds (at least, the wild moss around here does). Take a look at the pic here.

The fine or compact species are much more tightly packed. They grow more slowly and spread out as much as they grow up. Take a look at the pic here (beautiful red/purple moss).

The last time I used any coarse sphagnum in a pot, it was top dressing on a Sarracenia flava. This is a tall pitcher plant, so I thought it should be able to handle the moss. That was a "maybe". The moss quickly grew to 5 inches tall, but the pitchers still shot out of it and into the light.