Adding Moss

ChineseCutieJing · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 1:10 am Post subject: Adding Moss

HiHi,

I have a Juniper and a Chinese Elm. I would like to add moss to them to grow (I just like the look of the moss, and thought it would help maintain moisture in the medium).

but, I understand moss can be poisonous to some trees. I want to know if growing moss on these two particular trees ok?

Assuming the answer is "yes" does one add the spores only to the trunk area, or can moss cover the majority of the soil surface, or or or?

confused == > Jing Smile

steve · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 1:16 am Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

Many advise against moss as it holds too much water in and causes the roots to rot. Dick will rail until his keyboard falls off against moss. The best thing to do is grow it seperately until you want to display the tree then put it on for a few days. Others will chime in I promise.

zzt6688 · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 3:38 am Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

HI jing,
I agree with Steve, about Dick typing until his finger grow tired. If you still want to grow moss on the tree, you can; No one will tell you how to grow your tree. There are a few things you have to keep in mind.
Like Steve said, some will not use moss since it will retain water. Moss is a plant that thrives mostly in very humid conditions. This means that if you want to grow moss you will need to keep the soil pretty darn wet. This seldomly happens with potted bonsai plants on good bonsai soil.
The reason for this is that bonsai soil is not designed for the water retention that moss needs to have in order to grow. Other things you should keep in mind are your climate. Do you see moss on trees around the area you live? If so then it will be easier to grow otherwise it will take a greater effort. In El Paso, TX, desert country I see fake plastic moss on plants and that is about it. In swamp-areas like New Orleans that have a high humidity and a lot of rain moss is seen more readily.
Hope this helps.

Dick · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

I don't like for anyone to try to grow moss if they are interested in growing healthy bonsai. Enough said about that!!!!!!!!!!

StaceyR · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

Dick THE ANTI-MOSS Very Happy

Quackstar84 · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:55 pm Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

I "had" moss on my elm but i pulled it all up then started to wonder if it was a good idea... but i guess it was Smile

thanks.

Darren.

ChineseCutieJing · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

Dick · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

And I didn't even have to say a whole lot about it. Wink

steve · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 4:31 am Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

We said it for you. In fact we saved her from a potential scarring like never before.

Stymie · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

With reservations, I must own up to having moss on the surface of many of my pots. Dick is aware of this but he hasn't sent his strong-arm boys round to sort me out yet. I find a modicum of moss to be attractive when displaying trees. It is not usually left there after the show season is over. I'm not trying to rekindle any argument but avow that it has never killed a tree for me. Wink

ChineseCutieJing · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:33 pm Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

It's ok. I think it is very good of Dick. It is not often people take a definite stance on an issue. Smile

I think I wll not add moss to my bonsai, but I will add little figurines to it lol.

Tomorrow I willl post photo of my two babies. Maybe you guys can give suggestions on how to make them look (especially my elm, which does not look right to me--for its design). Smile

Jing

Stymie · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

Good for you Cutie. You might get some stick over the figurines instead of the moss Rolling Eyes

steve · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 12:21 am Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

Figurines in a full landscape can be good. Don't personally care for them on single trees though.

Dick · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 3:50 am Post subject: Re: Adding Moss

Moss....NO...Figurines....OK if that's what you like!

PS: I accept (tolerate?)Stymie's use of moss because he is a seasoned veteran at this (like me) and knows what to watch for if there are problems. However, I don't condone or recommend its general use and don't use it myself even for shows. Too many chances for problems, IMHO.