Moss - covered careen add an earthy , give feel to garden , but if you ’re waiting for moss to grow by nature , you may have to wait for years . Fortunately , you could stimulate the summons by colonize and growing moss on stone using a few unproblematic ingredients that are uncommitted at garden store and in your own icebox .
The process of growing moss on rocks is fairly square , but it ’s not suitable for every landscape . Moss needs cool , moist and shady atmospheric condition to grow well , so gardeners with a hot garden exposed to full sun may find the process unmanageable and frustrating , if not impossible .
All About Moss
The two family of moss are acrocarpous moss and pleurocarpous moss . Acrocarpous moss grows slowly and has an upright growth habit , while pleurocarpous moss has a down - growth , mat - like increase habit and spreads more quickly .
Both types are grown in moss gardens , but pleurocarpous moss is a better choice for growing on rocks in a garden because it produces more rhizoid , which are the structures that moss bring forth to diffuse and cling to rocks and other substrate .
When choosing mintage of moss to grow on rocks , select a premix of those that tolerate Sunday and shade to increase the betting odds of successful coverage . Some suitable types of moss admit the sun - tolerant sidewalk moss ( Bryum caespiticium ) , drought - broad shock moss ( Leucobryum glaucum ) and feather moss ( Hypnum imponens ) .
Preparing to Grow Moss on Rocks
Moss is one of the most low - maintenance industrial plant to mature , but only if you choose a planting land site with the right uprise conditions , as well as rocks that will provide good structure for moss maturation .
liquid rock-and-roll does n’t render the correct structure for growing moss , so look for harsh stones with hatful of nook and crannies on which the moss rhizoids can take custody . Lava rock works well for produce moss , but any porous , rough - textured stone will do — even chunks of concrete .
Tip
Coniferous tree diagram provide good uprise circumstance for moss beneath their boughs .
Growing Moss on Rocks
Growing moss on rocks differs from grow other plant , which are typically started in soil using seeds or cuttings . Moss can be planted as big sheets or as plugs , alike to planting a lawn but with a dissimilar technique .
You need a slurry of moss commingle with an acidulous , nutrient - rich additive to cake the rocks so that the rhizoids will spread and adhere to the surface . This " moss milkshake " must contain minute of live moss and rhizoid , preferably deduct from several different varieties of moss .
1 . Put pieces of moss into a coffee grinder or liquidizer and blitz until it form a ok pulverisation . Use a java grinder or blender that is dedicated to this purpose rather than one used to ready nutrient . 2 . flux 2 parts moss , 1 part H2O , and 1 part buttermilk or plain yogurt . The University of Oregon advocate a different DIY slurry recipe : 1 cup of moss powder , 1 pint or 2 cups of buttermilk and 2 large eggs , which creates a slurry with greater adherence . 3 . go for the solution to moist rocks using a large paintbrush , making an even bed over the integral surface .
apply the moss slurry to the rocks is only the beginning of the procedure . You must also keep the moss slurry , rocks and surrounding country moist while the moss becomes established .
Mist immature patches of moss with a spray bottle filled with water , while found moss on rock ‘n’ roll can be watered with a sprinkler . The joke is to keep the orbit moist without wash away the slurry .
Mold growth is usual when growing moss from a slurry . If the moulding growth is wide , you may need to make clean your rocks and start again !
