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Identifying Peat Moss vs. Long-Fiber Sphagnum for Sarracenia

Sphagnum moss vs peat moss

A grower found moss from an orchid pot and asks if it's peat moss. It's actually long-fiber sphagnum moss – the precursor to peat. Peat forms from partially decomposed sphagnum in bogs.

Can You Use It?

Yes, long-fiber sphagnum works fine for Sarracenia. It's just more expensive and harder to find than peat. For reference, peat moss looks like this product.

Carnivorous Plants: Sterilizing Peat Moss: Boiling Works, But Fungicide Still Needed for Cuttings; Storing Peat Moss Long-Term: Keep It Dry; Choosing the Right Peat Moss and Drainage Amendments for Carnivorous Plants; Managing Moss, Algae, and Mineral Buildup in Sarracenia Pots; Long-Term Storage of Dry Peat Moss: Does It Expire?; Finding Fertilizer-Free Peat Moss Alternatives in Brooklyn, NY; Whitney Farms Peat Moss: Safe for Carnivorous Plants?; Identifying Peat Moss in a Venus Flytrap Pot: No Surface Moss Needed; Do You Need to Worry About Nutrient Levels in Peat Moss?; Slow Spring Growth in Sarracenia: Peat Moss Purity and Weather

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