Will_Heath

Excellent Al!

Exactly the type of information we could use more of.

I have some experience cultivating moss and I feel the need to offer a few words of warning and a few cultivation tips.

First, always be extremely careful when collecting moss for use on your bonsai. As the best moss to collect is that which is growing in full sun, some of the choicest places for collecting quality moss that can withstand the conditions in the typical bonsai environment are sidewalks, driveways and cobblestones. These are also the areas that get hit with herbicides, weed killers, oil, gas, salt and other chemicals. A good rinsing of the moss is always a good habit before placing on the soil of your bonsai.

Mosses do not have roots as we think of them. They get there nutrients from the air so chances are that the moss will not be contaminated with these chemicals per say but the soil that we lift with the moss may be and there may be particles lodged in the moss itself.

I cultivate moss for use on bonsai and for a moss garden that I keep. What I do is collect moss that strikes me as attractive and put it with some buttermilk or beer into a blender I keep just for this purpose. I blend it into a thick paste about the consistency of mortar and spread it on top of common red bricks. I place these bricks into 4” deep trays, fill the tray with water so it comes ½ way up the brick and place the tray under my growing benches. In about 2-3 weeks the moss is growing and as long as it is kept damp will continue to do so until I need it.

When I need moss I just lift a “sheet” off a brick and cut to size.

Be sure to label the blender “Garden Use Only.” To prevent serious mistakes with your next margarita, do not sneak it back into your wife’s cupboard.

Great article Al,

Will