author Gorlacheva M. A., photo by the author

Sphagnum(Sphagnum), a genus of sphagnum or peat (white) mosses. Includes 320 species. Mainly bog mosses, growing in dense dense clusters forming large cushions or continuous carpets on sphagnum bogs. Sphagnum is less common in humid forests. The erect soft stem 10-20 cm high with fascicle-shaped branches and single-layer leaves of sphagnum contain a large number of dead aquifer cells with pores that easily absorb water, which determines the high moisture capacity of sphagnum and contributes to the rapid development of raised bogs in places where these mosses appear. The stems of sphagnum die off annually in the lower part, forming peat. The growth of the stem is continued by the apical branches.
(Big Soviet encyclopedia)

Thanks to your unique properties sphagnum is widely used in indoor floriculture.

Sphagnum does not contain nutrients and is acidic (pH about 3.0). The ability of moss to absorb and retain water (some types of sphagnum absorb 20 times more moisture than their own weight) allows required humidity soil. Chopped sphagnum is used as a component of the earthen substrate and to cover the soil surface (thus further increasing the air humidity around the plants). Moss also absorbs excess salts and can easily be replaced with fresh moss as it becomes salty.

Earth mixtures including sphagnum have high air and moisture permeability. The earthen lump is moistened evenly, and water stagnation does not form. The substrate remains loose and light for a long time. Excellent for the formation of new roots in young plants. Sphagnum moss helps create a slightly acidic environment in the soil, which is especially important for growing Gesneriaceae (Saintpaulias). Both live and dry sphagnum can be used as a substrate component.

The excellent bactericidal properties of sphagnum are known. Thanks to the content it contains sphagnola, a special anti-rot substance, sphagnum prevents the rotting of the root system of plants and the development of pathogenic microbes in the soil and on its surface.

For some plants, for example, for a number of epiphytes (in particular, orchids), sphagnum itself serves as an ideal substrate. Moss is used for rooting cuttings and young plants (finely chopped or rubbed through a sieve, without adding soil), as well as for germinating seeds. The aerial roots of various aroid vines can be wrapped in moss and sprayed, maintaining the moisture they need.

To sterilize sphagnum, pour boiling water over it for 3-5 minutes, then lay it out, slightly wrung out, to dry on the windowsill. Dry sphagnum has many advantages - it retains moisture well and is breathable, and is also stored for a long time.

However, in my opinion, living moss is much more useful and looks more aesthetically pleasing. To preserve living sphagnum, I keep it in water at a temperature of 45 degrees for 30 minutes (you can also treat it with Ronilon), put it in plastic bags and store it in a cool place. The moss remains alive for three to four months. To increase its shelf life, moss can be frozen without any harm to it. An invaluable advantage of living moss is its antiseptic properties. According to my personal observations, everything grows better in living sphagnum.

There are a huge number of recipes for earthen substrates using sphagnum. Here are some of them - personally tested and proven to be very good:

- FOR SAINTPAULIA:

Earth mixture from Canadian flower growers
Leaf soil - 1 part, fertile garden soil - 1 part, river sand - 1 part, chopped sphagnum moss - 1 part.

Earth mixture from B.M. and T.N. Makuni
For a bucket of mixture: coarse-fibered red peat - 2 parts, turf soil - 1 part, chopped sphagnum moss - 1 part, river sand - 0.5 parts, half a packet of Saintpaulia soil (2-2.5 liters), 1 tablespoon simple superphosphate, 1 tablespoon dolomite flour, 0.5 liters of crushed charcoal.
(Based on materials from the book “Saintpaulias - Uzambar violets”, authors: B.M. Makuni, T.M. Klevenskaya)

- FOR GLOXINIA:

Take the land "Vermion" or the land "Garden of Miracles": "Begonia", "Saintpaulia" or "Rose". To a bag of such soil add a glass of sand, a handful of chopped sphagnum, a teaspoon of fine charcoal, 1/2 teaspoon of dolomite flour and 1 teaspoon of "Flower" fertilizer. If desired, you can add perlite, vermiculite, or simply foam chips “to taste” to the mixture for greater looseness.

- FOR ORCHIDS AND CATTLEAS:

Pine bark, charcoal, a little sphagnum, finely chopped fern roots are also recommended. Large, coarse bark is placed down, and medium bark is placed on top. The substrate should fit under the base of the rhizome, but not cover it.

- Sphagnum for young orchids according to V.A.’s recipe. Bogdanova:

Sphagnum scald, cool, squeeze out, pour in full mineral fertilizer"Kemira Lux" (a twenty-gram bag is required - the required chemical composition is there) with a concentration of 0.5 g/l, squeeze lightly, keep in a closed plastic bag for 3-4 days. Replant the orchid every 2 months in freshly prepared sphagnum until roots grow 5-7 cm long. After this, replant the plant in pieces of pine bark.

Tips for using sphagnum from my gardening friends:

1. ... Moss can be placed in the soil mixture, it can be placed on top to retain moisture longer, or it can be placed at the bottom of the pot when replanting. Moss serves both for disinfection and as a leavening agent. I also root cuttings in it; they do not rot in sphagnum.
Demina Natalya, Saratov

2. ...I use moss for orchid babies according to A.V. Bogdanov. Yes, also - in a terrarium with tillandsias: there is living green moss growing at the bottom, more for beauty.
Kudryashova Anna, Moscow

3. ... I use moss very simply - I add it to the substrate for orchids, and also lay it on top of the bark; I also fill the holes between the sticks of wooden baskets with moss.
Svetlana Glushkova, St. Petersburg

4. ...How delighted are the anthuriums with moss!!! Within a week, new aerial roots appeared. Living and clean sphagnum does not crumble and forms a loose, moisture-absorbing cushion.
Tvabelova Olga, Podolsk

5. ...I used moss for a different purpose: I put it at the bottom of the cellar under potatoes. I read on the Internet that vegetables are preserved better this way. The cellar is made on the balcony. Moss was needed so that if the vegetables do not have enough moisture, then the moss gives up moisture, and if there is a lot of moisture in the cellar, then the moss takes it into itself. Like this. The experiment was a success, the vegetables were fine.
Vasilyeva Natalya, Moscow

6. …Scary tale: my husband gave it to me last year New Year large Dutch zamioculcas, bought in a store. I was incredibly happy for the first two weeks - I had long wanted to get this flower. And new buds sprouted from the gift, and everything seemed to be fine. Then I noticed that someone was crawling briskly along the surface of the soil in the pot! I started looking, and there was no one there. By that time, I was already planning to replant the flower; it seemed like I should have acclimatized by now. I dug the ground - and there was the whole menagerie!!! I was simply shocked: all the possible creeping and gnawing infection plus a couple of fattened earthworms!
Zamioculcas has underground tubers, and while my specimen was being transported and sold, some of the tubers rotted, and in a Dutch greenhouse, all the larvae quickly turned into elephants due to this rot. Wearing rubber gloves and with a feeling of deep disgust for the continuous digging of something in the ground, I washed the roots and tubers of my flower, which had not yet been eaten. In order to save the gift, the bush had to be divided into pieces and started breeding four new Zamioculcas instead of one. Then I thought that the plant was dirty, that it would rot constantly... Nothing of the kind! I read in a smart book that Zamioculcas is added to the soil with quite a lot of chopped sphagnum and decided that this was the solution: it is an excellent antiseptic. In short, I thoroughly mixed the soil with moss, and now I have four new and clean zamioculcas - they have all sprouted and make me incredibly happy.
Vika Komarova, Moscow

Thus, sphagnum and pine bark High Quality, collected in an environmentally friendly place, promote the growth of healthy and beautiful plants.

Gorlacheva Margarita Arkadyevna
www.moxsfagnum.narod.ru

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Over 10 years of working with violets, we tried to root them in different ways - in the ground, in a soil mixture, in a soilless substrate, in water... But the most better results We succeeded by rooting leafy cuttings of violets in clean living sphagnum with wick watering. Now we only use this type of rooting.

So what is this mysterious sphagnum moss?

Sphagnum (Sphagnum, sphagnum, peat moss, white moss) - this is perennial swamp moss, forming the so-called sphagnum bogs. More than 40 of its species are known in Russia, and more than 300 in the world. It is found mainly in the tundra and forest zones of the Northern Hemisphere; in the Southern Hemisphere it grows high in the mountains; less common on temperate plains. Its peculiarity is that it actually has no roots - its lower part gradually dies off and turns into peat, while the upper part continues to grow. Sphagnum moss is also called “white moss”, and the places where it grows are called “white moss”. On Wikipedia it is described as follows: “Sphagnum (lat. Sphagnum) is a marsh plant, a genus of moss (usually whitish in color).” That is, you should not worry when you receive not green, but yellowish-white moss in the mail. The main thing is that it is alive (and the color does not matter). When watered and warm, it will begin to grow and turn green (for example, when leaf cuttings root in it).

Properties of sphagnum

Perhaps it is worth highlighting 3 main properties of sphagnum:

1. amazing hygroscopicity
2. excellent breathability
3. antibacterial properties

Hygroscopicity- this is the property of sphagnum moss to absorb water in huge quantities: up to 20 parts by weight of water per one part by weight of sphagnum! And this is 6 times higher than the abilities of vata! Moreover, sphagnum evenly soaks in water, and only after that gives away excess moisture. That is, when used as part of soil mixtures, it will always maintain a sufficient level of moisture in the substrate without waterlogging the soil! This property is achieved by the structure of the moss itself - its stem and leaves contain hollow air-bearing reservoir cells, thanks to which sphagnum absorbs water over its entire surface and retains it for a long time!

Breathability caused by the same hollow cells. That is, the soil with the addition of sphagnum is sufficiently moist, but at the same time light and loose, which contributes to good health plant root system!

Antibacterial, disinfectant and antifungal properties are provided by substances that make up sphagnum: bactericidal phenol-like substance sphagnol, antibiotics (sphagnum acids), coumarins, triterpene compounds, etc. All these antiseptic properties are used even in medicine, and what can we say about plants! Percentage of cuttings rotting when propagated in sphagnum lowest compared to all other methods!

And according to available data, sphagnum itself not susceptible to any diseases!

In addition to these properties of sphagnum, it is also necessary to note its ability moderately acidify the soil due to the release of hydrogen ions. This again prevents the development of bacteria, and violets in acidified soil often produce a more saturated color and pronounced border, and in general they feel better in acidic soil! :)

And due to the fact that sphagnum retains water in the substrate and prevents the access of oxygen to organic deposits in it, the processes of decomposition of organic compounds (rotting) do not occur. This is also ensured due to the fact that the sphagnum itself contains extremely few nutrients, which slows down decomposition even more!

By the way, all parts of sphagnum(from roots to crown) have these properties.

Application of sphagnum

Sphagnum is used in many sectors of life (laying log houses, transporting root crops, floristry, medicine, detergents and disinfectants, etc.). But of course, it finds its main application in floriculture!

Sphagnum moss is suitable for many plants, such as:

• Saintpaulias (Usambara violets)
• gloxinia
• streptocarpus
• begonias, royal begonias
• orchids
• dracaenas
• Dieffenbachia
• monsters
• peperomia
• sedums
• ehveria
• Crassula
• sansevieria
• Cordyline
• Khirits
• and many others - those that love high humidity.

I’ll tell you how to use moss for violets in a separate article, “Using sphagnum moss in caring for violets.”

Harvesting sphagnum

Typically, sphagnum moss is harvested from late April to October. However, spring harvesting can be complicated high level melt water And in mid-June and early July, blood-sucking insects are most active, making it very difficult to collect moss in the swamp. We try to harvest moss in August, subject to dry and relatively warm weather. A rainy autumn can disrupt the harvest due to the impossibility of weathering in humid air, and collecting moss in the rain is not the most pleasant experience.

You can collect sphagnum two ways:

1. completely removing it along with the roots (this makes it larger in volume, but it requires a long, thorough cleaning);
2. cutting off the upper surface part with a knife - it turns out smaller, longer, but better;

For collecting sphagnum You will need:

• A swamp or damp forest with a lot of sphagnum, and preferably not far from where the car is parked (wet moss is difficult to carry).
• Rubber boots
• Plastic bags
• Plaster (the number of cuts can be large - I know from myself! And mostly not from a knife, but from sedge, which often grows through sphagnum).
• Gloves (they are not so convenient to work in, but they still protect your hands)

Moss should be harvested in “clearings” about 30 cm wide and at the same intervals - this will make it easier for it to recover and grow. According to the rules, repeated harvesting in such an area is possible no earlier than in 7-10 years!

Wet sphagnum squeeze out to get rid of excess water.
For the same purpose you can weather moss, but do not dry it (if you need it alive): spread it in an even layer on a north/west window sill or even outside in the shade and wait until the wind dries the main part of the sphagnum. The main thing is not to overdo it! There must be moss moist but not wet.

Processing/sterilization of sphagnum

As for processing moss, you need to decide what kind of sphagnum you want to get - live or dry. We use only. Moreover, we don’t treat it with anything, since it itself has disinfectant properties, which are lost when scalded, completely dried and heated. And in all the years of working with him, we have never had a problem due to his fault.

Preservation of sphagnum

To keep sphagnum alive, it must be stored in closed plastic bags in frost or cold(refrigerator or freezer), we store it outside. When necessary, defrost it and it will come to life! Everything is as in natural conditions! You can still grow moss: cut off the green parts of the moss and place them in a tray with wet peat, remembering to water constantly. They say it looks beautiful! :)

Purchasing/purchasing sphagnum

And of course, the simplest thing is to buy moss, saving yourself from unnecessary worries, troubles and difficulties! When ordering on the website you will receive a parcel with live weathered (but not dry), hand-peeled sphagnum moss,packed in a zip bag. All you have to do is add approximately 200 ml of water (based on 2 liters of moss), and use live sphagnum as needed!

Plants growing in swamps differ from others in their structure and properties. Sphagnum moss is one of those grasses that, having adapted to terrestrial life, have retained some features of aquatic crops. A representative of bryophytes firmly takes its place in nature, sharing its beneficial properties with humans.

Many people are familiar with peat moss - sphagnum, having encountered it while walking through the forest. When walking on a beautiful carpet of moss, your feet gently sink into it. With every step, a person feels humidity, as climbing shoots absorb moisture from the soil and air, retaining it in their cells. But moss is the material from which peat masses and brown coal are formed over thousands of years. Sphagnum thickets play an important role in regulating the hydrological regime of territories.

Sphagnum moss is distributed throughout the globe, but unevenly. In the tropics, it prefers mountainous terrain, and in the northern regions, damp areas of pine and spruce forests. Sphagnum is less common in the steppes. The diversity of plant species, the colonization of vast territories by it - everything speaks of its great role in natural groups. It is sphagnum and other bryophytes that play an important role in regulating the processes of moisture evaporation from the earth.

The unusualness of sphagnum is not only in its structure, but also useful composition which a person skillfully uses.

Moss development occurs through a simultaneous process of growth and decomposition. While the upper part of the stems develops, stretching 1-3 centimeters, the lower part, located under the liquid layer of soil, dies, sinking over time to the bottom of the swamp.

Hence the variety of structure and color of moss bunches:

• The top layer of the plant has many shades from light green, yellowish to red.
• At a depth of five centimeters there are empty cells without chlorophyll, hence the presence of a pale yellow color.
• Below the water level, the moss stalks have a light brown tint.
• Dying parts of sphagnum move to the bottom of the swamp.

Interesting abundantly branching stem perennial plant. Small leaves consist of thin plates covering the stem in the form of scales. Between living cells there are transparent membranes of dead ones. They act as a reservoir for retaining moisture by drawing in evaporation from environment.

Useful properties and use in medicine

Medicine has long appreciated the property of moss as hygroscopicity. After all, it absorbs twenty times more moisture than ordinary cotton wool. This makes the wet piece of cotton ball impermeable to air. And sphagnum breathes well even when wet. It is not for nothing that moss was used during the war years as a dressing. And surgeons at field hospitals used it to clean wounds from blood and pus.

An important property of the plant is the disinfection of wounds.

Sphagnum actively fights pathogenic fungi and bacteria. The role of antibiotics is performed by the humic acids contained in it, substances from the coumarin class. Their pronounced bactericidal effect is destructive against staphylococci and streptococci.

There are many ways to use sphagnum in medical practice:

1. To heal wounds and burns, moss is wrapped in gauze and applied to the affected areas.
2. For arthrosis and arthritis, take baths to which an infusion of the plant is added. To prepare it, one hundred grams of dry grass is poured into three liters hot water. After infusion for twenty to thirty minutes, the solution is filtered and poured into the bath. Such procedures are carried out twice a week for twenty minutes. In addition to treatment, water therapy sessions increase sweating, cleansing the body of waste and toxins.
3. To prevent fungal diseases of the nails and feet, place a layer of sphagnum moss in shoes.

The plant from the Bryophyte family was known for its beneficial properties from a medical point of view ten centuries ago. And doctors still use it in the treatment and prevention of certain pathologies.

The benefits of sphagnum moss are also appreciated by those who grow flowers. The material is used in different ways:

• Germination of plant seeds goes well in damp peat moss.
• The plant is used to improve the composition of the soil when growing indoor flowers. It makes the soil loose, nutritious, and moist. In addition, you can be calm about the occurrence of diseases in planted crops. They will not be afraid of either fungi or bacteria. Moss will save plants from infection if you wrap the roots with it.
• For those flowers that require high humidity for full growth, wet moss is placed in a tray or placed between the walls of pots inserted into each other.
• Bulbs and tubers of garden flowers are simply preserved by placing them in sphagnum moss.
• Rooting of cuttings will be more successful if crushed moss stalks are added to the substrate.
• Dried stems are good as a covering material for those plants that are afraid of frost.
• Based on peat best fertilizer for gardening and garden crops, lies sphagnum moss. And for quality cultivation Orchids require a substrate that contains white moss in addition to fern leaves, pine bark, and charcoal.

The climbing stems of the plant are great for weaving baskets for hanging flowers. They serve as a support for cultures with aerial roots. The indispensability of sphagnum in growing garden, indoor plants appreciated by all flower growers.

Moss can be harvested at any time of the year. Take only the top living branches, carefully cutting them with scissors or a knife. You can also remove the grass completely by hand. The best place for collecting sphagnum there will be what is located next to the trees. After collection, the moss is squeezed out, removing browned parts from it, clearing it of debris and needles. Keep the plant moist, placing it in plastic bags and leaving it in the cold.

Dry the stems by hanging them on hangers or spreading them on fabric.

After this, the material is placed in paper bags, keeping at room temperature air. Raw materials must be used within a year. You can harvest sphagnum even in winter by digging it out from under the snow. It does not lose its beneficial properties due to frost.

More information can be found in the video:

Sphagnum moss is the collective name for the species Sphágnum, which is common in marshy areas. The reasons why this plant has become popular and in demand in medicine:

• the antiseptic properties of moss stop bacterial, fungal and viral infections;
• the ability to absorb a volume of water 20-25 times its own weight;
• ease of preparation and availability of raw materials, sphagnum moss grows everywhere.

For humanity, the Sphagnum species has brought invaluable benefits. Sphagnum moss grows from the bottom up, the lower part constantly dies, is compressed under pressure and forms useful fuel - peat. Pieces of peat served for many centuries for heating homes and for cooking. When dry, the plant is light in weight, so even women and children could harvest it. Peat is perfectly preserved throughout the winter, and fuel can be used as needed. In harsh climatic conditions, peat was used for capital insulation of homes. They closed the joints between window frames and adjacent walls, gaps in the floor and walls.

Description of the medicinal plant

Sphagnum moss has two generations, like other spore-bearing perennials. Appearance plants - carpet covering, having small rounded protrusions. Upon closer inspection, the plant looks like many small fluffy stems with branching side branches. Sphagnum varies in color and is found:

• a species with a silvery-green color;
• emerald, malachite appearance;
• yellowish and reddish appearance;
• snow-white, milky appearance.

To date, more than 320 species have been discovered. The color of a plant depends on many factors, on the acid-base balance of the environment, on the surface on which the species grows. The thickness of the cushion varies from 5 mm to 20 cm. The first generation is not able to reproduce by spores, but the second has this ability, so it actively spreads and takes over the territory. This plant contributes to waterlogging of the area and accumulates water. The structure of sphagnum has distinctive feature– the pillow uses the bottom layer of dead cells to store water. Such storage serves as a guarantee that the sphagnum will not die during the dry season. The death of the cells of the lower layer is a natural stage in the life of moss; only the upper part of the cushion remains alive. The pillow grows up tree trunks, over stones, right through swampy soil. Traditional medicine uses the living part of the plant as a medicinal raw material. The appearance of moss can vary depending on the region and growing conditions, so in order to collect it yourself, you need to open a botanical encyclopedia, consider and remember 320 amazing species of moss. Or take a book with you and read in nature, identifying the plants you see. The collection takes place in mid-summer in environmentally friendly places. There are 2 collection technologies:

• cut the entire pillow;
• cut off the top of the pillow.

It is merciful to the plant not to destroy it completely, but only to take the top part. Sphagnum moss can quickly repair damage if at least 1/3 of the original volume remains, including the green top. Without the green top, the bottom half will not produce new shoots. Before drying, thoroughly shake off all soil and dirt. The plant serves as a nutritious raw material; experiments have been conducted on the production of confectionery products and crackers from moss. The species, especially rich in carbolic acid, served as material for primitive diapers among ancient peoples. Newborn children were wrapped in the collected layers of moss, and the structure exhibited its bactericidal properties, protected babies from infection and absorbed moisture. Several Yet interesting ways applications that have occurred in human history. Made from moss:

• vaginal tampons;
• pillows and mattresses;
• They still make deodorizing products with a pleasant, fresh smell.

When dried, sphagnum moss can be stored for decades; if dried properly, it does not decompose and preserves beneficial features. During the Great Patriotic War When there was not enough dressing material at the front, sphagnum cushions were used. The bactericidal properties of moss helped protect the wound from infection, and its absorbent properties quickly stopped bleeding. The pillow can absorb 20-35 times more liquid than its original weight. IN folk medicine The use of moss for healing wounds on the skin still occurs. The use of sphagnum is not limited only to medicine; its hygroscopic properties have found their place in agriculture. Layers are made from moss to dry the soil and line the bottom flower pots and flower beds.

Beneficial features

During wartime, scientists studied the bactericidal properties of moss and discovered a way to enhance them. For strengthening, impregnation was used:

• sodium chloride;
• boric acid;
• sublimate solution.

As a result of this action, divalent mercury ions attached to the membranes of plant cells and created a film that even water could not wash off. The ions had an additional inhibitory effect on pathogenic microorganisms.

Moss contains:

• mineral salts;
• cellulose;
• coumarins;
• organic sugars;
• pectin;
• phenol.

A sphagnum pillow is used as a compress on wounds, as an additive in medicinal baths. The antibacterial properties of sphagnum are especially effective against staphylococcal infections. Application of sphagnum:

• For a foot bath, fill a bucket 1/5 full with moss, pour warm water and dip the legs into the container.
• For a full body bath. Pour sphagnum moss into a large bucket, 1/5 or more of the volume, and boil over low heat for 10-15 minutes. After this it can be used as a bath additive.
• For a compress, take 1 handful of moss per 1 liter of water, heat to a boil, hold over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Soak the gauze or bandage directly in the resulting liquid without straining.

You do not need to use boiled, fried, or pickled sphagnum moss internally. Oral use is not beneficial for the digestive tract.

What does it treat?

Burns, cuts and skin damage, purulent wounds, abscesses, skin diseases: psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, urticaria.

Bone and joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis, gout.

Joint injuries, swelling, venous insufficiency, inflammatory processes, trophic ulcers and mucous edema.

Contraindications

The only time you should not use sphagnum is if you are allergic to any component of it. chemical composition. In all other respects, this external application is completely harmless. In order to medicine showed its best properties, it should be stored well-dried in a room with low humidity. The plant is not prone to decomposition, but its shelf life at room temperature should not exceed 2 years. To check the quality of the raw materials, you can smell the pillow; the normal smell is weak and pleasant, and does not resemble a swamp or putrid one. If the pillow begins to crumble, crumble or change color, it is better to throw away these raw materials and collect them again. Plant collected in winter time not suitable for medicinal use. For collection, it is best to choose dry and sunny weather so that the pillow does not become saturated with excess rainwater. Before drying, squeeze out the sphagnum moss, spread it on film or newspaper, wait until it dries completely, and only then use it. Careful and responsible procurement of raw materials is a guarantee of safe use.