AusBonsai

I have a 20 y old white pine.
One of the nicest feature is moss covering half the trunk, all one side .
I know that in theory must be removed.
However I was wondering if someone managed to keep moss and a healthy tree.

Thanks

Carpul wrote:I have a 20 y old white pine.
One of the nicest feature is moss covering half the trunk, all one side .
I know that in theory must be removed.
However I was wondering if someone managed to keep moss and a healthy tree.

Thanks

I guess what you need to ask yourself is, 'would you keep a wet moist towel on the trunk of your bonsai all the time.'

I never keep nor let develop moss on any of my trunks, but you do see it a lot of the time in nature. With such a small trunk on a bonsai than on a massive tree in real life it can have devastating effects on the relatively small trunk of a bonsai by being kept moist all the time. I don't have any pines, so not sure how bad it can become in particular for them, but most of my bonsai trunks would eventually start the development of rot if I left moss on it all the time.

Is it moss or lichen? Lichen is ok, Moss will hold water and rot the bark.

The problem with moss on the bark, especially if it is extensive is that it holds moisture which some trees don't like. Any tree that comes from a dry climate or naturally lives in a dry area, e.g. on a cliff face, mountain side etc. will have rot issues if the moss is allowed to grow for an extended period.
Some trees are OK with moss on the trunk e.g. Scott's pine and the moss will actually change the type of bark that grows on that particular tree. Usually trees that come from very moist environment can often (though not always) cope with moss on the trunk.

I have a very aggressive moss that loves to grow on trunks and branches. Really hard to control it so many of my trees have moss on the trunks and I have not noticed any detrimental affect over 15-20 years. Certainly not the doom and gloom 'rotting bark' that many have predicted. During Hiro's last Melbourne workshops he made comments about moss on the trunk but it was not the health of the tree he seemed to be concerned about. He was talking about aesthetics and likened a bonsai with moss on the trunk to a man that has not washed.

shibui wrote: He was talking about aesthetics and likened a bonsai with moss on the trunk to a man that has not washed.

Yeah, I guess if I had moss on my trunk, my missus wouldn't have a bar of it.

Seriously though, once the bark becomes old and flakey, it is nearly impossible to remove by rubbing without detrimental aesthetics to the bark texture.
Is there anything that can safely be spayed on or applied gently to kill the moss off?

wrcmad wrote: Is there anything that can safely be spayed on or applied gently to kill the moss off?

Spayed you reckon??!? Mmmm - seems a bit harsh for moss on a trunk I would think?
Less water generally kills moss - can also kill trees though so not really a definitive answer!

Ryceman3 wrote:

wrcmad wrote: Is there anything that can safely be spayed on or applied gently to kill the moss off?

Spayed you reckon??!? Mmmm - seems a bit harsh for moss on a trunk I would think?
Less water generally kills moss - can also kill trees though so not really a definitive answer!

Not necessarily overwatering that causes moss to grow up here. In the warmer months, just the humidity here can make it just appear!

Dilute vinegar and water 50/50. Paint or spray on will kill moss and not harm the tree.

Josh

Josh wrote:Dilute vinegar and water 50/50. Paint or spray on will kill moss and not harm the tree.

Josh

I do the same

Ken

kcpoole wrote:

Josh wrote:Dilute vinegar and water 50/50. Paint or spray on will kill moss and not harm the tree.

Josh

I do the same

Ken

Thanks!

My old blow torch works wonders, carefully though good for weeds too.


Cheers Pup