Can't Get Moss Spores To Grow

illbixby

I've bought the Joshua Roth Kyoto moss spores several times and had no success in getting them to grow anywhere. I've even tried growing them in a terrarium, using only distilled water as suggested in the instructions. Are they that tough to grow? Any suggestions?

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Will_Heath

I have no prior experience with that moss, however I have had great success with other mosses.

I usually take actively growing moss and put in into a blender with a couple shots of buttermilk, a drop or two of fish emulsion, and some water (just enough to make a running paste) and mix it up.

I then pour (spread) this over the rock, log, or area I want the moss to grow and then keep it damp for 3 weeks or more...they obtain all their nutrients from the air (moss has no true roots).

I find that by doing this, the moss grows with the surface and looks much better than transplanting.

good luck

Will_Heath

You may want to also check this link out here at bonsai talk....it covers your question better than mylimited experience could

http://www.bonsaitalk.com/links/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?ID=593

illbixby

Wow, you rock! Your blender trick sounds wild. how did you come by that trick. And thanks for the moss trick. I live in brooklyn and by all my bonsai supplies from paul at bonsai of brooklyn, can't believe I didn't see that he had a tip on his site.

Will_Heath

LOL, no problem. I actually read the blender trick in a long forgotten book and have used it to grow moss on select rocks in the rock gardens where transplanting just wouldn't work for me.
Good luck with your next batch of spores.

BonsaiBen

I have read before that moss is easily killed by fertilizer. Is this true for both organic and inorganic fertilizers and if one plans to grow moss on their tree, how do you feed your tree and have a bit of nice moss growing on it at the same time?

Ryan

I have kyoto moss on my finished bonsai and I use organics on them. My moss thrives and I haven't killed a patch yet.

To germinate the dry moss I just take one of the disposable tupperware dishes (I used to use my real tupperware) and place some moist bonsai soil in it. I sprinkle the spores over it, close the lid, and place it on my propagation mat. Works every time.

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illbixby

I like the tupperware trick. What is the propogation matt? is that one of those flat heating pads they use for seeds.


badbyte, what is fish emulsion?

|Great Sage|

Thanks for the link guys, think the tenderising thing is what I was missing just seemed to sit on the surface of the soil. Good job guys.

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