Best method to grow moss?

Jasonb · Post by **Jasonb** » April 23rd, 2013, 6:07 pm

Hi all,

I know this is a bit of a tricky question as there are a million different species of moss, and don't know if there are varying methods for the different species. Growing mediums, water frequency, direct or indirect sunlight.

My winters are between -5C to around 15C and summers vary up to 35C.

Getting watered wont be a problem as an irrigation system is going in this year.

Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Jasonb

MoGanic · Post by **MoGanic** » April 23rd, 2013, 9:12 pm

Haha, I tried to grow moss for ages.. the moss I tried to grow died but all my trees were covered in the stuff...

Moss is best grown in a greenhouse. If you have a clear tub with a lid throw some soil at the bottom (something fine) and then just pick up some moss you already have and smish it up and sprinkle it over the surface of the soil. Within a week or two with a closed lid you'll see the moss starting to regrow. In a couple months you'll have a meadow of the stuff fit for a bonsai size cow. I actually use a bag to grow moss, you know them zip up pvc/plastic bag things that blankets and doonahs come in? If you have it in a green house you can throw them in full sun (also helps minimize fungus growth).

I've got open air moss set ups too but they don't grow nearly as fast.

In the tub you'll need to mow the lawn occasionally as when humidity is high moss can grow quite tall

.

The only other method I've heard of is mixing the crushed moss with stale milk or yoghurt in water and then spreading that over the surface of the soil. Personally have never tried it as any favorable results would be outweighed by the thought of having stale milk in the house.. or on my soil.. also it can lead to random mushrooms popping up which I'm not a fan of.

Good luck!

Mo

Jasonb · Post by **Jasonb** » April 23rd, 2013, 9:35 pm

I'll probably have an open air setup, it will be a bit easier for me to get that to work with the materials that I have.

Should I use the same or similar method in open air?

Andrew Legg · Post by **Andrew Legg** » April 23rd, 2013, 9:56 pm

I you want to grow moss, try not to grow it.

I found that watering by microjet makes my moss grow fantastically, whereas when I was watering by hand, it struggled along. It may have to do with a proper soaking of the moss as opposed to a quick dump of water that does not soak in properly. I may of coarse be wrong.

Brian · Post by **Brian** » April 23rd, 2013, 10:16 pm

don't try to grow moss. Just go and collect it from back street lane-ways with bluestone paving, is rich pickings.

Graeme · Post by **Graeme** » April 23rd, 2013, 10:29 pm

Brian wrote:don't try to grow moss. Just go and collect it from back street lane-ways with bluestone paving, is rich pickings.

You can always pick the Bonsai tragics while you are out for a drive can't you?

Jasonb · Post by **Jasonb** » April 23rd, 2013, 10:29 pm

I was thinking that with the irrigation I'm putting in that I would do the micro jets on a timer for when I'm not at home, depending on time of year of course.
I'm going to be making a shelf type arrangement where the top shelf acts as a sun guard and a bench I guess? Then have a few underneath as the moss shelves, where I can set up the jets for them. Good idea?

Jasonb · Post by **Jasonb** » April 23rd, 2013, 10:39 pm

I was thinking that with the irrigation I'm putting in that I would do the micro jets on a timer for when I'm not at home, depending on time of year of course.
I'm going to be making a shelf type arrangement where the top shelf acts as a sun guard and a bench I guess? Then have a few underneath as the moss shelves, where I can set up the jets for them. Good idea?

MoGanic · Post by **MoGanic** » April 23rd, 2013, 11:04 pm

Hmmm you could try that and it would definitely help the moss along.

Having a closed environment just means you dont have to use any water

. To each his own! See what you get best results with and go for it!!

Post by **kcpoole** » April 23rd, 2013, 11:20 pm

Chec the wiki page for moss and you will find some great ideas on growing it

Ken

lennard · Post by **lennard** » April 24th, 2013, 3:47 am

I collected moss from everywhere because I could not grow them. Now the collected mosses are spreading in my garden and I don't have to collect moss from outside anymore.

The only full sun moss I am able to grow is this one:

Jade on rock april 2013.jpg

moss.jpg

Here is a nice link on moss:

http://www.mossandstonegardens.com/

Lennard

Jasonb · Post by **Jasonb** » April 24th, 2013, 4:54 pm

Love the jade, Lenard.

Thanks for the link too. I'll have a good look at that when I get home. Can't wait to start growing my own.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » April 24th, 2013, 5:40 pm

Love moss, but would really only use it if I was showing a tree.... so won't be using it for a while

Moss shakes are the way to go though! You will get a lot more out of what you collect by using the moss shake method. Have seen it on a few different shows on TV, but the wiki has some very handy instructions too: https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Moss

and the thread on moss shakes (from the wiki): viewtopic.php?f=104&t=5893&hilit=moss+milkshakes

Jasonb · Post by **Jasonb** » April 25th, 2013, 3:39 pm

Cheers for that Jason.

I haven't read through all of them as I'm a slow reader but so far very interesting.
I'll be growing moss for my trees, and terrariums that I'm going to be making. So hopefully I can find some more uses beyond this as well.

But something along these lines is going to be the main use I think.

Jasonb

AusBonsai