How to water traditional style.

[Wayne Nickerson]

Hi Folks, I have a question, What would be the best way to water a neo. Potted in the traditional style with a moss mound? Thank you Wayne

[shakkai]

Hi Wayne! I think it depends on your temps and humidity, but I have found that soaking by submerging the whole pot mine leaves them too moist for too long. I also found that repeatedly doing this seems to destroy the 'hole in the middle' that allows the air circulation so critical to the roots. So, I've stopped with the dunking and now I pour water through when they are completely dry, and otherwise just mist the outside of the moss regularly.

[kavanaru]

if you let the moss get completely dry, it can happens (not always!) that it become difficut to have it absorving the water again. What I have found usefull in this case, is to slightly pres it (like a sponge!) while pouring the water...

[gmaculata]

Wayne, I grow mine with the moss mound but instead of the hole in the middle I use packing peanuts. I wrap the roots over a couple of peanuts then wrap that with moss. When the moss is dry to the touch I drop them into a tub of water and let them soak for a few minutes. I remove them let them drip off blow the extra water from the crown and back to the light rack. Hope this helps.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by gmaculata

Wayne, I grow mine with the moss mound but instead of the hole in the middle I use packing peanuts. I wrap the roots over a couple of peanuts then wrap that with moss. When the moss is dry to the touch I drop them into a tub of water and let them soak for a few minutes. I remove them let them drip off blow the extra water from the crown and back to the light rack. Hope this helps.

Packing peanuts you say? I have ton of those....what kind of pots are you using with this method

[Brooke]

My lone Neo is potted traditional and I just water the top of the mound when it starts to dry out.

Brooke

[gmaculata]

I use the imported plastic neo pot

[Becca]

So do you wrap the moss completely around the packing peanuts .... kind of like a ball? Would it be a pain to provide a picture? Your method sounds interesting!

[gmaculata]

The next time I pot one up I will.

[TheEndPhase]

I've found pre-wetting sphagnum before you water makes it more receptive to, well, water. If you allow the moss to become dry, starting to become crunchy on the outside, and you find it doesn't readily absorb water so that a lot of the first part of your watering attempt goes on the floor, try misting the moss with a spray bottle.

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