yenling83
Omono
I can get it at www.calwesttropical.com 300g for about $30 shipped. Anywhere better to find it? Home depot only carries the green spagnum.
Where's best place to get New Zealand Spagnum Moss?
- Thread starter yenling83
- Start date
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
That's a pretty good gross price for high quality moss - the bad thing is that half of that total cost is shipping. A lot depends on how much you want to buy in one shot because you save a lot on shipping.
Here's a place selling 10 pound units (via eBay) for $135 delivered. $13.50 a pound comes out to about $9 per 300 grams, delivered. But 10 lbs is a lot of moss...
Here's a place selling 10 pound units (via eBay) for $135 delivered. $13.50 a pound comes out to about $9 per 300 grams, delivered. But 10 lbs is a lot of moss...
M.B.
Mame
You might check any local houseplant retailers. We have a nearby store called Exotic Plants that has orchids, lots of indoor plants , different fertalizers (organic especially for indoors) and they do stock New Zealand moss. Worth a little research around your area and maybe a phone call if they sell orchids they might stock moss?
Mary B.
Mary B.
jk_lewis
Masterpiece
Why NEW ZEALAND sphagnum (note spelling) moss?
I can find nothing in the scientific literature that even hints at the fact that it is "better" than any other sphagnum. NZ harvesters DO take stringent conservation measures to ensure that their sources are not depleted, but that doesn't speak to the quality of the moss.
I used to harvest sphagnum from a small swamp on property I owned in north Florida. It did everything any other sphagnum moss did, only better because it was 100% fresh.
I'd like to hear that reason -- especially if it not one of those myths that run rampant through bonsai literature.
I can find nothing in the scientific literature that even hints at the fact that it is "better" than any other sphagnum. NZ harvesters DO take stringent conservation measures to ensure that their sources are not depleted, but that doesn't speak to the quality of the moss.
I used to harvest sphagnum from a small swamp on property I owned in north Florida. It did everything any other sphagnum moss did, only better because it was 100% fresh.
I'd like to hear that reason -- especially if it not one of those myths that run rampant through bonsai literature.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
The root of the appeal of New Zealand moss is that it is harvested in "sustainable" fashion. Nothing more, nothing less. It is long fibered sphagnum moss.
The only difference I can find between "White" long fibered sphagnum and "green" long fibered sphagnum is the green stuff MAY be color altered or even dyed.
The only difference I can find between "White" long fibered sphagnum and "green" long fibered sphagnum is the green stuff MAY be color altered or even dyed.
William N. Valavanis
Chumono
I use long-fibered sphagnum moss all the time. In addition to being superb for air and ground layering I find it indenspensible when transplanting. It is finely chopped up and pressed on to the soil surface to avoid soil disruption, water erosion and add a bit of protection. It works great!
The best long-fibered sphagnum moss I have found is the fresh type obtained in Japan. That is no longer available to me, so I started to search elsewhere. The long-fibered sphagnum moss from garden stores and nurseries in the US is not too clean and has many small twigs. It's cheap, about $30 for a bale, but there is also a lot of dust in it.
What I have found is long-fibered sphagnum moss for orchid culture. It's beautiful! Very clean and no debris, a bit more expensive, but worth every penny. There are two types often available, one from New Zealand and the other from Chile. I prefer the one from New Zealand, but usually purchase the one from Chile. It's more easily available and a bit less expensive.
It's commonly available at Low's home improvement store where the house plants are, not the nursery stock. Small 190 cu.in. packages are about $4 each.
Bill
The best long-fibered sphagnum moss I have found is the fresh type obtained in Japan. That is no longer available to me, so I started to search elsewhere. The long-fibered sphagnum moss from garden stores and nurseries in the US is not too clean and has many small twigs. It's cheap, about $30 for a bale, but there is also a lot of dust in it.
What I have found is long-fibered sphagnum moss for orchid culture. It's beautiful! Very clean and no debris, a bit more expensive, but worth every penny. There are two types often available, one from New Zealand and the other from Chile. I prefer the one from New Zealand, but usually purchase the one from Chile. It's more easily available and a bit less expensive.
It's commonly available at Low's home improvement store where the house plants are, not the nursery stock. Small 190 cu.in. packages are about $4 each.
Bill
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Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Additionally, the domestic moss (mostly from Wisconsin) tends to be shorter fiber and has a lot of small twigs and sticks. It feels more wiry and fibrous to me. It is also darker in color.
The New Zealand moss tends to be really long fiber and very clean. It is very pale in color and very "fluffy".
I have never seen the Chile moss so I can't comment.
Hi Bill, thanks for chiming in. That's the same moss I saw at Home Depot. I'll have to try it out.
jquast
Chumono
I've used this same sphagnum from Lowes and was quite happy with it as well.
just my two cents.
jeff
yenling83
Omono
Thanks Bill, appriciate the info an response unfortunately I looked up the company that produces the moss which you attached a picture of and they don't sell at any locations near me. Must be an east coast thing, looks like they are out of Florida. I'm located on the central coast of CA.
Bill S
Masterpiece
Tom Brown from Northstar bonsai sells it - http://www.shop.northstarbonsai.com/product.sc?productId=3&categoryId=5
There is a description of the whys etc., and is $9.00 check him out at the link.
There is a description of the whys etc., and is $9.00 check him out at the link.
jquast
Chumono
Yenling,
This is available on the West coast, I purchased it at a Lowes in San Jose. If you come up north again you can also get the stuff that Peter purchases at the Rockery near his house.
jeff
treebeard55
Chumono
A professional peat digger in central Ireland told me that they refer to three colors of peat. At the bottom of the bog is "black peat," which is hardest(almost rock-like,) densest, and the best fuel. Next up is "brown peat," not as hard, not as dense, less fuel value. On top of that is "white peat," which includes what we're talking about in this thread; fibrous, still has its structure, laid down most recently.
For centuries the white peat was considered worthless. It was removed to get at the brown and black, then tossed back into the pit and left. Within the last decade or two, tho, Irish peat diggers have started selling the white peat to Dutch plant producers for use in their planting mixes. I got the impression it now accounts for more of their income than the brown or the black!
For centuries the white peat was considered worthless. It was removed to get at the brown and black, then tossed back into the pit and left. Within the last decade or two, tho, Irish peat diggers have started selling the white peat to Dutch plant producers for use in their planting mixes. I got the impression it now accounts for more of their income than the brown or the black!
yenling83
Omono
I ended up finding the best prices for the good stuff on ebay. I could not find that stuff on the central coast!
I appreciate all the responses, thanks!
I appreciate all the responses, thanks!
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Miners hardware in Morro Bay has it, as well as a small supply of bonsai tools. They also carried the nice long thin bonsai hand saw by Joshua Roth for $10.00.
What is that about 20 miles for you!
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yenling83
Omono
Really? hmm... that's kind of random and awesome. I go visit the miners in AG and Nipomo at least a few times/week and they don't carry the moss or any Bonsai tools. But thanks for the info.
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