How to Grow Moss – Moss Gardens

Moss Gardens

Growing a moss garden is a fascinating idea that I’ve come across recently. Interestingly moss gardening has been around since ancient times—it can provide a calming and meditative atmosphere in your garden or indoors. One can’t be too surprised about this once you see it’s beauty in nature or a terrarium, as seen in the photo above.

This summer, I noticed some moss growing in a pot of soil in my backyard. The moss had an amazing, vibrant green colour, and I didn’t want to get rid of it, so I left it there. By the end of summer, the moss eventually filled the whole pot, and it looked quite attractive; it got me thinking, what other types of moss can I grow? And where else should I grow it?

How to Grow Moss

Moss prefers to live in shady areas on top of moist, acidic soil. If you look hard enough, you will probably find some growing outside around your house. It’s a fun experiment to see how many different kinds of mosses you can find in your area. Keep an eye out for any rocks or objects that have even a hint of green on them, and move it to an area with more shade. Keep that area moist, and over time you will see it start to thrive. Moss will grow fine in deep shade or indirect light—avoid direct sunlight, and the moss should do well.

Make a Moss Slurry

Add some moss into a blender with acidic liquids such as beer, yogurt, or powdered milk, and then blend for up to two minutes. You will then have a moss slurry that you can spread onto surfaces outside where you’d like it to grow. It’s best to choose a sheltered location if growing outdoors since the rain can wash it quickly.

Where to Buy Moss

You can find sources for moss is on eBay or Amazon. Various varieties of water mosses can be found at pet shops. For land mosses, the best place is probably your backyard. Wherever you source the moss, it’s essential to avoid negatively impacting the environment wherever you find it. It’s important to note that some mosses grow slowly and may take a long time to recover, so please be respectful of them.

Conclusion

Do you have any tips on how to grow moss, or have you had a moss garden? We’d love to hear from you in the comment section!

Recommended Books:
Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses.

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