I wouldn't use straight peat as a substrate. I used normal potting soil at first, but recently I replaced it all with shredded cedar bark, and I like that much better. It looks nicer, is a more aerated substrate (important for plants), and will decompose much more slowly. It also smells nicer. Soil that stays constantly moist can get really smelly, and the charcoal will only absorb so much! Wild-collected moss is what you have. Moss that you are collecting from the wild. =) You shouldn't be harvesting wild sphagnum, because it is already vastly over-harvested. Just let the stuff that you have grow, and then snip it when you need more for another plant. The reason I asked is that we don't know how long wild-collected moss lives in terrariums. You may be okay, living in zone 9, but most wild moss requires that cold winter dormancy that it gets naturally outside, but it won't get that in your terrarium. As a result, it may die after two years, because it will just get too 'tired' from growing all the time without a break. But, since you live in a much warmer climate than I do, and your moss would be adapted to that climate, it might do just fine for years and years. Only time will tell. I have some wild mosses in my terrarium as well, but they haven't been in there for very long (just since this spring), so it's too early to tell how they do long term. If your moss does eventually die, I would replace it with a tropical moss like java moss (sold in aquarium stores). As for cleaning it, I'd do more than just hose it off. I soak my pieces of wild moss in RO water (which you should also be using) for an hour or so to drown bugs. It also helps to loosen any debris, like pine needles. Then inspect it for snails and the like. I have some snails in my tank now, and i strongly suspect that they came from some wild moss. They can be really hard to see, so check carefully!

I snuck out to the computer while our oldest son is visiting. I even bought a cappichino (sp?) and found a fountain outside and just sat and listened to the sound of the water until a storm with lightening ran me back inside!! 22 days here today. He is grumpy so I guess that means he is better THANK GOD!!!! Love y'all. Betty

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!! I had a good birthday and the Drs finally said the H word. If his gall bladder passes the cat scan Friday and he has a good weekend we may be able to go home sometime next week!!!!!!! He will have to have home health nurses come at least 3 days a week and physical therapists coming in working with him to get his strength back, but HOME!! What a wonderful word. I can never thank all of you enough for your prayers and messages of encouragement every time I could get a chance to check in. Can't wait to get home and post some pics of something or anything!!! His birthday is Thursday, maybe I can take a picture and post it when I get home. He has lost so much weight he reminds me of those news pictures of all of the war refugees who had to flee their homes and looked like thay were starving. And he is as weak as a newborn kitten. But he is alive and I thank God for that. Love Y'all, Betty and Alfred

Betty, it must have been horrid for you but sounds as if you have your sense of humor back a bit. Take it easy, that table will wait, as will shopping. Sending prayers for you and your family for good health. Neither DH or I are in the high priority groups they are vaccinating first so we're just avoiding crowds as much as possible. Can't stay home all the time tho so hope our resistance is good. I've read that "Seniors, who have some immunity from H1N1 due to their exposure to a similar strain that circulated in the late 1950s, are considered at lower risk and a lower priority group" and I hope that's true. Can't remember that far back if I had the flu then. We take extra Vit D which is supposed to help immunity. I have a mild egg allergy and have become very ill from other vaccinations so am not in a hurry to get one now. DH almost never gets sick so doesn't want one either. I use essential oils and have extra tea tree and ravensara (anti-viral oils) on hand so am depending on that to a certain extent.