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HELP Sphagnum Moss for Humidity

dklyzadklyza Posts: 8
edited January 2021 in Plants
Hi everyone. Joined a gardening forum for the first time 🙈 I’ve been looking for answers online but I’m a bit lost...
I have live sphagnum moss, my question is, can I put that directly on top of the soil of my plants that like humidity? I.e, wandering Jew, monstera, etc? I’m not talking about mixing it with soil.. rather create a ‘carpet’. Will this help with humidity? Is there other things I should know about sphagnum moss? I picked it up locally. Should I clean it etc? Thank you I’m advance. 

Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Your monstera would appreciate it best if you made it into a moss pole for it to climb. Loads of DIY instructions on-line but basically wrap it around some pipe and hold it in place with fishing line then mist daily to keep it moist. I'd keep it away from your tradescantia as it would probably cause stem rot. Wandering jew is an old non-PC name that's best left to die out by the way.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • dklyzadklyza Posts: 8
    Sorry still fairly new to this. When I bought the plant it was named ‘WA’, what should I call it? :) & ah, thank you, will look into making one of those :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited January 2021
    😊 If you want a common name for your Tradescantia, it’s often called Inch Plant nowadays. 
    But beware, I think there are other plants that also go by that name, so don’t forget its proper name as well. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    edited January 2021
    Agreed @wild edges a horrible anti semitic common name. One of the many times it pays to just go with the botanical name. My other half has one that come from a cutting from his secondary school teacher...our own name is the teacher's plant. No idea why this common name is still being used, seems all too obvious it perpetuates a negative attitude to a group of people.  

    Anyway, a nice exploration of the different varieties here: https://www.janeperrone.com/on-the-ledge/2018/1/12/episode-31-the-tradescantia-group
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    dklyza said:
    Sorry still fairly new to this. When I bought the plant it was named ‘WA’, what should I call it? :) & ah, thank you, will look into making one of those :)
    Some people have just changed to wandering jewel or inch plant as Dove suggested. I think zebrina is easy enough though so that's what I use.

    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • dklyzadklyza Posts: 8
    Dovefromabove said:
    😊 If you want a common name for your Tradescantia, it’s often called Inch Plant nowadays. 
    But beware, I think there are other plants that also go by that name, so don’t forget its proper name as well. 
    thank you! my parter has a tradescantia and it looks the same-ish, different colour. I'll stick to calling it that then :) 
  • dklyzadklyza Posts: 8
    philippasmith2 said:
    WA is a type of tradescantia I think ( happy to be corrected ) but don't know what common name is used these days. No need to apologise - times and senses change and common plant names are not immune to this.
    That aside, as @wild edges says, the sphagnum moss will not be beneficial to that particular plant but the pole idea for your Monstera is a good one.
    Thank you! :) definitely going to make a pole for my monstera. what's the best way to get my monstera to trail up it? also, the sphagnum moss.. are there any plants that it IS good for? what about my schefflera tree?
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    You might need to wire your monstera to the pole for a while but it will put out aerial roots eventually and hold on by itself. Have a look at terrariums for the moss. You can make really interesting little micro-climate jungles in a large jar or container of some kind. I'd wait and see how much the moss pole takes first though as you might be surprised how much it will take.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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