Sphagnum Moss Top Dressing for Succulents?

[The Mule]

Anyone here use sphagnum moss as a top dressing for succulents? I keep my succulents in a soilless mix that I make with crushed pumice, chicken grit and calcined clay. Works great, dries fast, my plants love it and I've been using it for many years now. It's not the most attractive looking mix, so I'll usually cover it with a top dressing of natural brown gravel and a few river rocks. I'm going to be doing some repotting soon and was thinking of mixing things up a bit though, and trying a different type of top dressing. Would long fiber sphagnum moss work well with succulents (mainly various Euphorbia, jades, Pachypodium)? Or would it hold too much moisture and create an environment that would encourage undesirable things like fungus and fungus gnats? I've read that it dries quickly... And I'm not talking about incorporating it into the mix, just laying it on top as a decorative layer. I keep my plants in a relatively dry room (40-50% humidity).

 

[Carol 83]

I'll usually cover it with a top dressing of natural brown gravel and a few river rocks.

I'd keep doing that instead.

 

[ZombieNick]

I'd keep doing that instead.

Not only is it less risky, I think the aesthetic is night and day better.

 

[badatusernames]

Succulents just don't need that much water

I'm really bad with succulents but I have a few I've managed to keep for a few years. I have a light topping of shohin akadama for color, and pumice and lava for the soil. And I think the light akadama topping is probably a bad idea as it is, I just had it on hand and like how it looks. Brown gravel probably a better idea.

 

[MSGhero]

I think it would hold slightly too much water, unless it's in front of your AC or something. You could maybe make it work, but it would be easier and less risky not to

 

[The Mule]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I'll skip the sphagnum moss.