Moss Collecting advice.....

JBMorrey

Found some moss growing in an alley behind my house, would like to utilize this in one of my pots, How do I collect it properly, and what conditions are necessary to insure it thrives in my pot. Can moss be put in an indoor Fukien Tea pot? Thanks in advance for your help!!
James

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soonami

You probably don't want moss on your bonsai all the time. I little bit for a decorative touch is okay, but don't completely cover the surface of the soil with moss.

As for collecting. You can just use a dull knive to scrape it up and then after you have collected it, let it dry out. After it is dry, you can rub it against hardware clothe to break it up. From here you can just sprinkle the moss powder directly on the soil, you can sprinkle it in a tray with a little bit of soil fines and mist it to grow a sheet of it, or you can take the moss and blend it with some water and then take the paste and spread it over a wet brick that is sitting in a tray of water.

Take a look at Will's Article for more precise instructions:
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=12866

TreeBay

The best thing for lifting moss is a spackling knife or trowel. It won't grow well indoors.

Regards,

Matt

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zen

I have found that for collecting moss a great tool is an artist's (painting) palette knife,(the metal blade,wooden or plastic handle kind)they are very thin,flexible and they come in differing shapes and sizes.I personally haven't had goos experience with trying to grow moss from spores, as I water from above before it can start, or it rains on it. So long as you leave some bare spaces and do not place the moss right up against the trunk it's actually beneficial to the moisture levels and how quickly these change, for most trees, some trees like to dry out a bit between waterings for these I would not suggest using moss all the time or using very much of it in equation to the soil surface.

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bonsaial1

I have found this method to work extremely well. Walk thru the moss patch with some good lug boots. Then, non-chalantly walk thru your wifes kitchen floor. Trust me every moss granule will fall off of your boots and on to her freshly mopped floor. Seek broom fast and collect your valuable moss before she sees you sweeping it up, or you will be forever sweeping the floor because now she knows you know how to do it.

This is not from a book, I speak from experience, Dusty.

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Dale Cochoy

I use an old tablespoon I keep in my tool box for tamping soil around container edges.
Of course, I got this spoon at an ancient budhist temple while I was meditating there.....

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WildChild

I scrape with a common kitchen knife. Most of the moss I gather is from creek beds near my place, the humidity is a killer, so theres moss for all! Then depending on weather or not I can be bothered, I either use the dry and crush method, or cut it as close to the top as I can, soak the hell out of it and the soil and work it in. I also have 2 trees, where ALL the soil around the Nebari is covered in moss. No roots are covered, just the soil. I did this myself and water drains through it perfectly, and it is very pleasing to look at.

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