Sphragnum Moss and Peat Moss
Sphragum moss/ Peat Moss- Using These Mosses to Maximize Your Garden
For those that are wondering what the difference between peat moss and Sphragum moss is, the answer is that Sphragum is the genus. The different species of Sphragum moss are called peat mosses. Currently there are numerous species of these plants and each country has their own individual uses. For gardeners on a budget they can be gathered wild, however this is not recommended as they may harbor Sporotrichosis fungi which can cause skin upsets or even lung problems! For this reason a trip to the garden center seems more appealing!
These plants are fantastic aids to most gardens, but are particularly useful in gardens that have sandy soil. As the green tea herb Camellia sinensis grows best in sandy soils, most gardeners know it best as an aid to growing this herb. The other use is for plants that need a lot of moisture to grow such as the carnivorous plants.
Sphragnum moss has the huge advantage of storing vast amounts of water. Some species are known to be made up of one part organic material and 20 parts water! Therefore soils that get very little water benefit a lot from the use of this plant.
In addition peat moss can be especially useful as it increases the Cation Exchange Capacity of the soil (The capacity of the soil to exchange ions such as magnesium). This is useful as it increases the ability for the soil to conserve certain nutrients. This allows your plant to grow more efficiently. On top of that it releases a lot of hydrogen which makes the soil more acidic. This can be useful as there are many plants that grow well in acidic soils. It is also one of the reasons why peat moss is not recommended for all gardens as it can make the soil too acidic for some species causing them to have poor growth.
When dried it also has the ability to act as insulation during cold spells, most gardeners are unlikely to use it for this purpose unless they live in a very cold part of the world.
The species Sphragum cristatum and S. subnitens are often used for hanging baskets and for small gardens such as potted herb gardens and windowsill herb gardens. These kinds of peat moss are especially useful at enhancing the ability of the plants to retain water.
The number of different species of peat moss is vast. Usually individual countries have different species and most of them have distinct colors. They all have similar uses, however the temperatures in which they grow best can vary considerably. Some Sphragnum moss grow in warm and tropical environments such as New Caledonia (S. novo-calodoniae), Latin America and Asia (S. girgensohnii). On the other side numerous species have been recorded in places such as Arctic areas as far north as Norway!
One of the most common for gardeners to encounter is Sphragnum affine, which grows in many different places and has a wide range of uses. This is often one of the most commercial kinds of peat moss and is often farmed specifically for use in gardens.
