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Story: Mosses

Sphagnum harvest

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Sphagnum harvest

Because sphagnum can hold up to 25 times its own weight of water while permitting air to circulate, it is an ideal growing medium for some pot plants. Much of New Zealand’s sphagnum is exported to Japan, where it is used for growing orchids. In New Zealand sphagnum moss is sustainably harvested from swamps in the South Island.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10036941

by Chris Pugsley

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Mosses – New Zealand mosses, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10649/sphagnum-harvest (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

megan
09 April 2014
This is amazing!!!! I am 11 and I love this site! they have so much about science on here!!!! thank you teara!!!!