One of the main concerns for potted plants is that they lose moisture very quickly as the soil dries up in the indoor climate. To help alleviate that problem, many gardeners turn to the trusty sphagnum moss for help. For certain plants, they can even grow in a potting mix made up primarily of sphagnum moss! So that is why today I have sought out the market to find the 10 best sphagnum moss for plants and reviewed them in what I think suits them in their respective category accordingly. So if you are looking to buy some, you might find the one you are looking for on this list!
- Top 10 Best Sphagnum Moss For Plants In 2023
- 1. Best Overall – Kapecute Sphagnum Moss 34QT
- 2. Best Value for Money – Legigo Natural Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix
- 3. Best Safe & Natural – Yunvi Sphagnum Moss for Plants
- 4. Best Lightweight – Halatool 1.1lbs Compressed Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix
- 5. Best Water Absorption Sphagnum Moss – Stingmon High-Quality Sphagnum Moss
- 6. Best Multi-Use – Gardenera Premium New Zealand Sphagnum Moss
- 7. Best Easy to Use – SuperMoss (22325) Orchid Sphagnum Moss Dried
- 8. Best Long-Term Use – Sukh Sphagnum Moss for Plants
- 9. Best Premium Material – O-FarFarm Sphagnum Moss for Potted Plants
- 10. Best for Adding Fertilizer – Sun Bulb Company Inc 50430 Better-Gro Sphagnum Moss
- What Should I Look For When Buying Sphagnum Moss For Plants?
- FAQs
- Final Thoughts
Top 10 Best Sphagnum Moss For Plants In 2023
| Image | Product Name | Price On Amazon |
|---|---|---|
 | Best Overall Kapecute Sphagnum Moss | Check Price |
 | Best Value for Money Legigo Natural Sphagnum Moss | Check Price |
 | Best Safe & Natural Yunvi Sphagnum Moss | Check Price |
 | Best Lightweight Halatool Sphagnum Moss | Check Price |
 | Best Water Absorption Sphagnum Moss Stingmon High-Quality Sphagnum Moss | Check Price |
 | Best Multi-Use Gardenera Premium Sphagnum Moss | Check Price |
 | Best Easy to Use SuperMoss Sphagnum Moss Dried | Check Price |
 | Best Long-Term Use Sukh Sphagnum Moss | Check Price |
 | Best Premium Material O-FarFarm Sphagnum Moss | Check Price |
 | Best for Adding Fertilizer Sun Bulb Company Inc Sphagnum Moss | Check Price |
1. Best Overall – Kapecute Sphagnum Moss 34QT
Specification
- Brand: Kapecute
- Style: Potting mix
- Item Weight: 10 ounces
- Item Volume: 34 quarts
Description
Get one of the best overall sphagnum moss out there for your plants with the Kapecute Sphagnum Moss 34QT!
Features
- Handpicked: picked up from managed swamp areas and then air dried to retain quality.
- Natural: no additives added to the moss.
- Compressed: for easier packaging and easier to cut off.
How to use
Here is how you will be using the Kapecute Sphagnum Moss 34QT for your potted plants:
- Cut off how much sphagnum moss you need for your plant.
- Completely submerged it in a container with water and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- For existing plants, you can take them out and then wash the roots, cut out rotting roots with a sterilized blade.
- Plant them in the soaked moss mixed with soil appropriate for the plant after squeezing out the excess water from the sphagnum moss.
- Finish off the potting mix by adding a dry sphagnum moss as topsoil and then water the plant according to its needs.
Expert Verdict
The Kapecute Sphagnum Moss 34QT is a great sphagnum moss that you can get for various plants in your house! It retains moisture very well to keep the topsoil humid, which is great for plants like orchids that need such an environment to grow. Not only that but it also works well as a sphagnum moss pole which gives the plant you are growing the perfect structure to grow around while also providing with micronutrients throughout. It is also very easy to use even for beginners or those that want to grow in a kokedama potting mix which is why I considered this to be the best overall product in this list!
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for humidity for plants like orchids | |
| Easy to use for both moss poles and kokedama | |
| Retains moisture for plants very well |
2. Best Value for Money – Legigo Natural Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix
Specification
- Brand: Legigo
- Style: Peat moss, Soil mix
- Item Weight: 3 ounces
- Item Volume: 2 quarts
Description
Get value for your money when you buy the Legigo Natural Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix for your indoor plants!
Features
- Ventilation: covers the soil while still having great ventilation for plant roots to absorb oxygen.
- Nutrient retention: helps to retain nutrients for your plants.
- Carnivorous plants: great potting mix for carnivorous plants like Venus Flytrap.
How to use
Here is how you will be using the Legigo Natural Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix for your potted plants:
- Cut off how much sphagnum moss you need for your plant.
- Completely submerged it in a container with water and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- For existing plants, you can take them out and then wash the roots, cut out rotting roots with a sterilized blade.
- Plant them in the soaked moss mixed with soil appropriate for the plant after squeezing out the excess water from the sphagnum moss.
- Finish off the potting mix by adding a dry sphagnum moss as topsoil and then water the plant according to its needs.
Expert Verdict
At first glance, the Legigo Natural Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix might seem like it’s not value for money but when you slowly break it off you will notice that there is more moss than before! This moss works great for topsoil and spraying water on it will ensure that your plant has an optimal growing condition as well. It even has a good smell to it once you squeeze out the excess water and is rot-resistant. However, you might notice that you got a lot of little bits of twig in the moss which is unavoidable.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Value for money | A lot of twigs in the moss |
| Optimal growing conditions | |
| Rot-resistant |
3. Best Safe & Natural – Yunvi Sphagnum Moss for Plants
Specification
- Brand: Yunvi
- Style: Natural potting mix
- Item Weight: 1.1 lbs.
- Item Volume: 50 quarts
Description
Get a long-fibered moss that is safe and natural with the Yunvi Sphagnum Moss for Plants and its additive-free moss!
Features
- Safe: no extra chemicals added to the moss, naturally dried
- Quick soak: retains water very easily and is very easy to wring out
- Dried brick: comes in the form of a brick
How to use
Here is how you will be using the Yunvi Sphagnum Moss for Plants for your potted plants:
- Cut off how much sphagnum moss you need for your plant.
- Completely submerged it in a container with water and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- For existing plants, you can take them out and then wash the roots, cut out rotting roots with a sterilized blade.
- Plant them in the soaked moss mixed with soil appropriate for the plant after squeezing out the excess water from the sphagnum moss.
- Finish off the potting mix by adding a dry sphagnum moss as topsoil and then water the plant according to its needs.
Expert Verdict
The Yunvi Sphagnum Moss for Plants is a great sphagnum moss brick for all your indoor gardening needs! You will be needing a lot of water to get all of the sphagnum moss ready for potting but trust me, it is so worth it once you do so! There are no added chemicals or a weird smell to it once it has been wrung out and it grows to become really fluffy. That is really good because you have moss that has lots of space to allow air to get in for the roots of the plant to be ventilated. There are also very few twigs and roots in the moss which I was really happy with.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| A lot of moss once wet | Needs a lot of water for it |
| No chemicals or weird smells to it | |
| Perfect air ventilation for the succulent plants |
4. Best Lightweight – Halatool 1.1lbs Compressed Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix
Specification
- Brand: Halatool
- Style: Compressed brick potting mix
- Item Weight: 1.1 lbs.
- Item Volume: 25 quarts
Description
Get one of the lightest compressed bricks of sphagnum moss with the Halatool 1.1LBS Compressed Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix!
Features
Lightweight: a lot of moss for how lightweight it is!
Great potting mix: increase soil moisture, porosity, acidity and reduce corrosion
How to use
Here is how you will be using the Halatool 1.1LBS Compressed Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix for your potted plants:
- Cut off how much sphagnum moss you need for your plant.
- Completely submerged it in a container with water and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- For existing plants, you can take them out and then wash the roots, cut out rotting roots with a sterilized blade.
- Plant them in the soaked moss mixed with soil appropriate for the plant after squeezing out the excess water from the sphagnum moss.
- Finish off the potting mix by adding a dry sphagnum moss as topsoil and then water the plant according to its needs.
Expert Verdict
The Halatool 1.1LBS Compressed Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix might seem lightweight but don’t be shocked by how much moss you are getting from this product! This moss has the perfect water retention needed to help carnivorous and succulent plants grow and is very good at not compromising the soil conditions either. The only thing that you need to worry about with this one is that there are lots of loose bits of moss in the brick which is not great for potting purposes so you lose out on a bit. But for moss poles, it is absolutely perfect and you can fill out a lot of them for your plants!
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for filling out many moss poles | A lot of loose bits of moss and twigs which are unusable |
| Good water retention | |
| Lightweight but contains a lot of moss |
5. Best Water Absorption Sphagnum Moss – Stingmon High-Quality Sphagnum Moss
Specification
- Brand: Stingmon
- Style: Soil mix
- Item Weight: 9.1 ounces
- Item Volume: 25 quarts
Description
Get one of the best water absorption rates for sphagnum moss with the Stingmon High-Quality Sphagnum Moss!
Features
Root permeability: gives roots easy access to water and nutrients
Strong water absorption: able to hold a lot of water for plants
Easy to store: compressed moss for easy storage
How to use
Here is how you will be using the Stingmon High-Quality Sphagnum Moss for your potted plants:
- Cut off how much sphagnum moss you need for your plant.
- Completely submerged it in a container with water and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- For existing plants, you can take them out and then wash the roots, cut out rotting roots with a sterilized blade.
- Plant them in the soaked moss mixed with soil appropriate for the plant after squeezing out the excess water from the sphagnum moss.
- Finish off the potting mix by adding a dry sphagnum moss as topsoil and then water the plant according to its needs.
Expert Verdict
With the Stingmon High-Quality Sphagnum Moss, you get a potting and soil mix that works great for almost all plants! It has high water retention which is great for water-hungry plants like elephant ears and succulents that need it. Not only that, but the roots are taken care of as well with easy access to water and nutrients due to how permeable the sphagnum moss is. But you have a bit of a hard time breaking it apart even when it is wet which is rather an inconvenience for such a great product.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Permeable moss for nutrients and water access for roots | Hard to break apart even when wet |
| Good water retention for water-hungry plants | |
| Works for most plants |
6. Best Multi-Use – Gardenera Premium New Zealand Sphagnum Moss
Specification
- Brand: Gardenera
- Style: Organic hand mixed long fibered sphagnum moss
- Item Weight: 0.634 ounces
- Item Volume: 1 quart (other volume options also available)
Description
Use the Gardenera Premium New Zealand Sphagnum Moss for more than just your plants with its multi-use functionality!
Features
Shock reduction: reduces the chances of plants dying when repotting
Multiuse: can be used for reptiles, terrariums, and decoration purposes
How to use
Here is how you will be using the Gardenera Premium New Zealand Sphagnum Moss for your potted plants:
- Cut off how much sphagnum moss you need for your plant.
- Completely submerged it in a container with water and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- For existing plants, you can take them out and then wash the roots, cut out rotting roots with a sterilized blade.
- Plant them in the soaked moss mixed with soil appropriate for the plant after squeezing out the excess water from the sphagnum moss.
- Finish off the potting mix by adding a dry sphagnum moss as topsoil and then water the plant according to its needs.
Expert Verdict
The fact that you can use the Gardenera Premium New Zealand Sphagnum Moss for more than just potting is amazing! Sure, you can use the other sphagnum moss for the same things as this one, but the quality that this one provides is nothing like the others! It is great for multipurpose uses such as bedding for reptiles and terrariums as well as potting mix for sensitive plants like carnivorous plants and orchids as well. Especially when it comes to repotting plants, this product is unlike any other I have tried! It reduces the shock that plants get when you introduce them to a new environment and ensures that they will be able to grow. However, the problem I faced when with this one is that I bought 3 different bags of the same size and the quality was not consistent throughout. Some had more twigs and sticks than others and less quantity of moss overall. So you better watch out for that when buying this one.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for repotting | Inconsistent quality of moss |
| Can be used for more than just potting | |
| Good for sensitive plants like orchids |
7. Best Easy to Use – SuperMoss (22325) Orchid Sphagnum Moss Dried
Specification
- Brand: SuperMoss
- Style: Mini bale
- Item Weight: 1 pound
- Item Volume: 1.05 quarts
Description
Get a sphagnum moss mini-bale that is very easy to use tear off and use with the SuperMoss (22325) Orchid Sphagnum Moss Dried!
Features
18x water absorption: able to absorb 18 times its own weight in water
Sustainably sourced: to ensure that the moss is sustainable and free from toxic chemicals
How to use
Here is how you will be using the SuperMoss (22325) Orchid Sphagnum Moss Dried for your potted plants:
- Cut off how much sphagnum moss you need for your plant.
- Completely submerged it in a container with water and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- For existing plants, you can take them out and then wash the roots, cut out rotting roots with a sterilized blade.
- Plant them in the soaked moss mixed with soil appropriate for the plant after squeezing out the excess water from the sphagnum moss.
- Finish off the potting mix by adding a dry sphagnum moss as topsoil and then water the plant according to its needs.
Expert Verdict
When you need a sphagnum moss that is easy to use for your indoor planting needs, then look further than the SuperMoss (22325) Orchid Sphagnum Moss Dried! It can absorb a lot of water which is ideal when you want to line up your hanging baskets with plants and want none of the water to be wasted. Once wet, it is fluffy and has long strands of moss which is ideal for growing numerous plants in good conditions. Along with that, it is free from chemicals and is sustainable so it becomes very suitable for compost piles! However, do note that this is very tiny in size so expect to line up a few pots at most with it.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for hanging baskets | Tiny |
| Fluffy and long strands ideal for most plants | |
| Free from chemicals |
8. Best Long-Term Use – Sukh Sphagnum Moss for Plants
Specification
- Brand: Sukh
- Style: Dried moss potting
- Item Weight: 5 ounces
- Item Volume: 9 quarts
Description
Use the Sukh Sphagnum Moss for Plants for a long time for all your growing needs, especially long-term growing of orchids!
Features
Air breathability: helps the root be able to breathe
Moisturizing substrate: provides both water and nutrients for plants effectively
Not easy to perishable: able to last a long time
How to use
Here is how you will be using the Sukh Sphagnum Moss for Plants for your potted plants:
- Cut off how much sphagnum moss you need for your plant.
- Completely submerged it in a container with water and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- For existing plants, you can take them out and then wash the roots, cut out rotting roots with a sterilized blade.
- Plant them in the soaked moss mixed with soil appropriate for the plant after squeezing out the excess water from the sphagnum moss.
- Finish off the potting mix by adding a dry sphagnum moss as topsoil and then water the plant according to its needs.
Expert Verdict
The Sukh Sphagnum Moss for Plants might come in a flat package but you will be pleasantly surprised at how much moss is there in one! It has long strands and little to no hard bits of twigs or other materials in the moss itself. I used it to pot a small moth orchid and I was surprised at how it was still good with no rotting even after 2 weeks of being there. I didn’t have to replace it and my orchid was still growing well! However, I do have to complain about the amount of small strands that were in the package that was completely unusable when I went to soak it in the water. A shame really for a good sphagnum moss for orchids and other plants.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| No twigs and materials in the moss | Lots of debris of short-strand moss |
| A lot of moss in a small package | |
| Lasts quite a while |
9. Best Premium Material – O-FarFarm Sphagnum Moss for Potted Plants
Specification
- Brand: O-FarFarm
- Style: Natural
- Item Weight: 5.3 ounces
- Item Volume: 10 quarts
Description
Be worry free from low-quality material with the O-FarFarm Sphagnum Moss for Potted Plants and the premium quality that it is able to provide!
Features
Premium quality: free of debris and artificial colorants
Water drainage: able to hold and drain water effectively
Root growth: able to provide a suitable medium for roots
How to use
Here is how you will be using the O-FarFarm Sphagnum Moss for Potted Plants for your potted plants:
- Cut off how much sphagnum moss you need for your plant.
- Completely submerged it in a container with water and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- For existing plants, you can take them out and then wash the roots, cut out rotting roots with a sterilized blade.
- Plant them in the soaked moss mixed with soil appropriate for the plant after squeezing out the excess water from the sphagnum moss.
- Finish off the potting mix by adding a dry sphagnum moss as topsoil and then water the plant according to its needs.
Expert Verdict
Premium quality sphagnum moss is hard to find online but with the O-FarFarm Sphagnum Moss for Potted Plants, you are assured of the premium quality! It comes with no debris like twigs and roots and is properly cleaned before being sent to you. What comes with the premium quality is a great moss that is able to both hold water well and give proper nutrients to your plant. It is also a great medium for root growth for plants like orchids and especially carnivorous plants. However, do know that cutting into the moss is difficult by hand even after getting it wet so use sharp enough scissors for that.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for root growth | Difficult to cut the moss when it is compressed |
| No debris in the moss | |
| Holds water and nutrients for plants like orchids and carnivorous plants |
10. Best for Adding Fertilizer – Sun Bulb Company Inc 50430 Better-Gro Sphagnum Moss
Specification
- Brand: Sun Bulb Company Inc
- Style: Potting mix
- Item Weight: 8.47 ounces
- Item Volume: 20 quarts
Description
The Sun Bulb Company Inc 50430 Better-Gro Sphagnum Moss allows great absorption of fertilizer for your plants to grow healthy!
Features
Fertilizer absorption: great retention of fertilizer nutrients to give to plants over time.
Shock reduction: when you need to repot a plant and avoid shock.
How to use
Here is how you will be using the Sun Bulb Company Inc 50430 Better-Gro Sphagnum Moss for your potted plants:
- Cut off how much sphagnum moss you need for your plant.
- Completely submerged it in a container with water and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- For existing plants, you can take them out and then wash the roots, cut out rotting roots with a sterilized blade.
- Plant them in the soaked moss mixed with soil appropriate for the plant after squeezing out the excess water from the sphagnum moss.
- Finish off the potting mix by adding a dry sphagnum moss as topsoil and then water the plant according to its needs.
Expert Verdict
I was quite surprised at how well the Sun Bulb Company Inc 50430 Better-Gro Sphagnum Moss is at retaining both moisture and fertilizer when added to it. With both, you have the perfect growing medium for all sorts of plants that you might want to grow, especially soil-sensitive plants like orchids and bonsai plants. Not only that but this moss is especially great for repotting seedlings to avoid shocking the plant in its new growing environment. However, you will need to work extra hard before you get to use it. The moss came with large chunks of roots and other debris that need to be carefully cleaned before you get to use it. The long strands are great, but you also get strands of roots and other materials that you don’t want in your potting mix for sensitive plants!
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Holds water and fertilizer really well | Requires careful cleanup of hard roots and twigs |
| Great for repotting plants | |
| Long strands of moss |
What Should I Look For When Buying Sphagnum Moss For Plants?
Sphagnum moss is a great medium for growing various succulents and flowering plants due to how much water it is able to retain even after its death. That is why many people look to buy sphagnum moss for certain plants to help grow healthy and beautiful plants! However, before you look to buy a boatload of sphagnum moss, here are some of the things that you need to look out for:
1. Source and sustainability
the source of the sphagnum moss is very important to ensure its quality. Probably the best sphagnum moss out there is made from sustainable growing conditions in New Zealand. The natural habitat there allows for the moss to grow well and in very good condition.
2. Types
There are over a 100 different species of only sphagnum moss available all around the world. However, the sheer number of different types also makes it difficult to figure out which ones are good for growing plants in. The type that you need to look out for is long-strand sphagnum mosses which are able to hold a lot of water and nutrients, making them ideal for growing plants in.
3. Purity and quality
A sphagnum moss is nothing without its purity and quality. Getting sphagnum moss that is filled with plant roots is what you want to avoid for growing plants as they will provide no benefits for growing and instead deter the growth of your plant. So make sure that the sphagnum moss is purely made from long-strand moss and is of good quality.
4. Moisture content
Some producers of dried and compressed sphagnum moss make sure to clean the moss before doing so. This means that they have used water to clean up the debris in the moss itself. This will make it so that the amount of water that the moss is able to soak up is lessened. So make sure to check out if the manufacturer has already pre-moistened the moss or not to ensure you are getting the best moss out there.
5. Packaging
Most sphagnum moss that you will find are made dried and compressed. This is to ensure that the moss is in good condition when it is being shipped. The great thing is that sphagnum moss works even better after its death because it is able to hold a lot more water! The bad news is that if the packaging doesn’t come in a sealed container, then you can get moss that might have absorbed moisture from the surrounding. So always try to get a compressed sphagnum moss that is sealed in an airtight bag when it is being shipped to you.
6. Color
You might not think that color matters for growing, but you will be surprised at how many manufacturers out there use color dyes to give you various colors of sphagnum moss! The dye can be made of toxic chemicals which is the last thing you want to introduce into your plants like orchids that are difficult to grow. Dried sphagnum moss will be golden brown to brown in color and become darker when it soaks in water. That is what you need to look out for. But if you are using colored sphagnum moss for decoration then by all means buy it, just not for growing your plants in!
FAQs
Succulents and water-hungry plants like orchids, ferns, and carnivorous plants like Venus flytraps are the best plants to grow in sphagnum moss.
You definitely can grow plants in sphagnum moss! Contrary to popular belief, sphagnum provides very good conditions for plants that need a lot of moisture and allows the roots to breathe properly.
The best quality sphagnum moss from New Zealand is the best moss for propagation due to its water retention and ability to not shock the plant when it is starting to develop roots.
No, they are not. The same plant that makes sphagnum moss also grows peat moss. They might look the same but have completely different properties that change how they are used for planting.
There are no specific grades to sphagnum moss like peat moss has from H0 to H10. However, the quality of sphagnum moss depends on how fluffy it is and the length of its strands.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, 10 of the best sphagnum moss that you can get for your plants! This type of moss is great for growing those oh-so-sensitive and difficult plants like bonsai and orchids, as well as carnivorous plants. There are some great sphagnum mosses on this list that even a beginner is able to use but I feel that the Gardenera Premium New Zealand Sphagnum Moss was my personal favorite one to use of the bunch! I hope that you also find the sphagnum moss that you are looking for in your plants from this list of amazing products!