K.A. Rutledge

Shambhala,

Bonsainut wrote:
"Moss is a really fun part of the bonsai hobby. There are many approaches to it. The above advice is ok. But the problem with assembling moss just prior to showing is that it looks like a crazy quilt.
If you use the very low growing velvety, dark green moss you will not have any reason to take it off and put it back on. It has no invasive roots and can help to perserve moisture. And it look MMArvalous!!!!"
-------------

I must disagree because this is not good advice. The very first responsibility in growing bonsai is for the grower to keep them healthy. Keeping moss on your soil surface is a bad thing for the following reasons:

1. moss will not grow on good bonsai soil (granular, coarse soil). If moss is growing on your soil surface, you need to change the soil as it is not open enough for your tree.
2. If moss covers your soil surface, it does two bad things: one, it prevents the soil from drying out quickly enough, which keeps much needed oxygen from the roots and promotes root zone fungal attacks, and two, it misdirects water from the soil when the tree is watered, making the watering process a hit-or-miss prospect.
3. moss makes a hiding place for pests to lie unseen until they may have done significant damage to your tree.
4. moss attracts birds which dig into your soil, often exposing roots and causing damage to the tree and its health.

But the most important reason is the very first one. Bonsai soil must not be so fine nor mushy as to promote moss growth. If it is, you are not keeping your bonsai in very good conditions and it will begin to show the results of the poor conditions.

Bonsainut's bit about assembled moss looking like a crazy quilt is only true if the person assembling the moss has no skill at doing so. Every tree in the Kokufu-ten (Japan's largest and most prestigious show) has its moss assembled a day or so before the event. They look wonderful. As with many things, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it and it takes practice to get it right.

I realize that you are excited about having moss on your tree's soil - because it looks cool, but as you are a beginner, it is important that you take the good advice that is offered to you and when someone contradicts one bit of advice you've received, don't just take it at face value - at least ask why this person's advice differes from another's advice. Don't forget that your job is first to keep your trees healthy and that making them look cool (with accessories like moss) come in a distant second or third.

Bonsainut's advice on how to cultivate the moss was quite good. Use this and cultivate it on mushy soil in a flat for occasional use.

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
zone 8, Texas