I think the reason more people are starting to leave the tree itself un-mossed is because they subconciously realize that that's the way mother nature does it. Moss is supposed to look like grass. Ask anyone (like me) who has large trees growing in their lawn how well grass grows underneath trees. It doesn't. The trees soak up all the water, and there is a ring of dirt around trees of any size.

The primary exception to this image is trees that are in conditions where the moss we use on bonsai actually represents moss. When conditions are such that grass won't grow, but moss will grow where the grass won't. This occurs in areas of high humidity, but low precipitation, such as near bodies of water. That is also the main reason that rocks in saikei that have no moss growing on them look unfinished. Saikei usually involve a contrast between land and water, so the rocks involved need moss.

Look around you at trees that have stood for decades. If they are not landscaped trees with layers of mulch around them, they will be surrounded by dirt.

Just to drive the point home, try planting grass seed right up to the trunk of a tree in the early spring. The grass springs up rather quickly and looks good for several weeks. However, as the trees break dormancy and put on leaves, they get very thirsty. No matter how much water you provide, the ground cannot absorb past saturation, and every bit of that will be taken in by the tree. The grass will not make it through the summer.

I don't really understand what you're talkin about here. Where I live, all decidious trees have thriving grass groving around the base. The only exception I can think of are conifers. Maybe in very dry areas where the soil is not moist enough to support both tree and grass but in middle/north Europe, north America, north Russia i can ensure you theres moore than enough water for both!!
Cheers!

Ive been curious about moss thus far and this thread has answered MANY questions. I cant wait to find some moss on the side of the road!

-Evan

Yes, yes, full-sun. But full-sun in Central Texas can be 100-116F in August. Not much will grow in full sun in our environment. Even the mosses that grow in full-sun will be black and shriveled by August. What I've notice is that our local mosses go through seasons. It's for this reason that I try to have multiple types of moss on hand. I personally don't keep moss on my trees for long (one month at the most), but maintaining different varieties allows me to choose seasonal mosses at any point in the year.

I also strongly advise washing the soil of the collected moss to remove unwelcome critters. It's amazing how many critters live, invisibly, in a small square of moss. I invert the collected moss in a mesh colander and apply a strong spray to remove fine soil and pesties.

--malhomme

FWIW, and I'm not at all sure what it IS worth, some of the best moss I've found growing on my bonsai is on pines. When I peel it off, there's a white film of mycorrhiza on the soil. Does this indicate a symbiotic relationship between moss and mycorrhiza? Anyone else noticed this?

Mike

Mike--I did a presentation on moss for a local bonsai club and did some research in a college botany text for the presentation. In the section on moss and other bryophytes, it mentioned there has been observed an association between moss and mycorrhizae. I have noticed an increase of surface roots directly below moss I have grown with bonsai when I lift it to re-pot the tree. It definitely has a positive effect on my trees and I place moss on the soil surface around the trunk of a newly collected tree to encourage the growth of fine feeder roots close to the surface and near the trunk of the tree--just where you want them

Al, that was a fantastic article! One thing I didn't understand was the jin stuff in the bottle. What did you use it for? Is it necessary?

How do you get the moss to stay on the rocks? Do you put a little fine soil there first?

Thank you SO much!

Joanie

When it comes to moss i use it on my shohin outdoor trees to try and reduce water lost in summer on the smaller pots. On my larger bonsai i find that moss grows naturally and gives a great looking cover if you leave it to grow on it's own for a year. I've noticed it helps if you introduce a few small fragments of moss dotted around the soil surface; the spores in these settle and allow more to grow.

Alasdair.

Joanie, The jin fluid is part of the tools I take out of my bonsai cabinet when I dress trees. It had nothing to do with the article about moss, I just explained what the bottle on the tables was while going over my supplies.
The jin fluid is used to tidy up the shari and jins on my trees while I am preparing them for a show. After a show I take the moss off or it dies in a few weeks anyway.

The rocks in this case was lava, and yes the moss is woven between the lava and held in place with smaller dust size akadama that acts as glue.

Thank you! I wondered whether the jin fluid had some application, perhaps in a part of the article that didn't get presented for some reason.

Or maybe everyone in the world knew that jin fluid was the glue that held moss together, except me.

Joanie