Ribbed bog moss is a habitat generalist. Dry climate slows or stops ribbed bog moss growth. In the wettest areas of Bodmin Moor, sphagnum or bog moss can be found. Addition of phosphorus had no effect on ribbed bog moss growth. Ribbed bog moss anchors to the substrate with rhizoids. Chunks from ribbed bog moss lawns can be transplanted onto disturbed sites. Wind disperses ribbed bog moss spores long distances by shaking the capsule. In the laboratory, 12.5% of detached ribbed bog moss paraphyses developed into propagules. These include a cover of sphagnum moss, bird-wheat moss, bog moss and reindeer lichen. Ribbed bog moss is frequent in arctic to subboreal wetlands. Ribbed bog moss stems comprise most of ribbed bog moss's biomass and are easily visible. These areas also of bog moss ("Sphagnum"). Ribbed bog moss regenerates sexually and vegetatively. Ribbed bog moss occurs in poor and rich mires. Ribbed bog moss reproduces asexually from specialized gametophyte tissues and from plant breakage.