Moss and other "Toppings"

Jabba The G · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 4:30 am Post subject: Moss and other "Toppings"

Where do you guys collect your moss and other toppings for soil. I've seen seeds for sail on ebay and that.
Gaz

jimothy · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:00 am Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

Generally, moss just "turns up" uninvited, but if you want to encourage it, you can do this one of two ways:

1 - sprinkle a layer of finer than usual potting medium on the surace of the soil and keep moist.

2. transplant moss from other places (look for areas of poured concrete in the shade - these often have a nice mat of short moss that can be scraped off in pieces with a knife or spade, then lay them on the soil and spray regularly until established.

(Sorry Dick)

other top dressings (like grit) can just be sprinkled on, and I would always advise you to top dress every pot with something as it cuts down on evaporation water losses tremendously.

petmcgratt · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:36 am Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

I went up to our local forest last weekend with a bag and found large areas under the tress where moss was growing. You did nor even have to use a knife to lift this up. It reminded me of layered turf. It lifted up very easily. I also went to a little stream in the forest where I knew it would be very humid. The moss was growing over the large rocks and there I was able to peel it back of the rocks. I used this to dress my bonsai to great effect.

peter

TB420 · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

You can also put moss in a blender with water and blend it. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray it where you want moss to grow. Not really necessary for a bonsai pot, but if you want a concrete or brick wall covered in moss then this is the best way. You have to keep it moist until the moss establishes. I guess ti would be a good way to get moss growing on the bark of a tree. Sorry Dick.

Tom

imholte · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

I love the "Sorry Dick" at the end of these posts. Very Happy

BonsaiGuru · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:44 pm Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

What is the sorry dick about?

jimothy · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

BonsaiGuru · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

Oh, I was missing something... Embarassed

imholte · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

A little foreshawdowing, ohm

steve · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:34 am Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

At least he's gotten past the:

AAAAAAHHHH MOSS!!!!

stage.

Hes really mellowed over the last few years.

BonsaiGuru · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:20 pm Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

Hi, I hope it isn't intruding to use someone elses topic, but I dont want to cluder up BH.

I was wondering, ther was this moss called scotch moss at a BRAND new (2 days old) nursey called scotch moss. It came in about 3" deep containers. Could I but it, cut off the to 1/3 inch and put that on my dirt? or does it porbably need the deep room?

TB420 · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:37 pm Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

If it is a true moss then you should be able to peel it off and put it where you want. Maybe you could graft it onto the soil. That is probably not necessary as moss roots very easily.

Tom

BonsaiGuru · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:41 pm Post subject: Re: Moss and other "Toppings"

What's true moss?

And I forgot to mention - I DO want moss (Dick)