Moss use in Kusamono/Bonsai

[Gonzoe]

So I’m just wondering how yall go about it. I’ve mostly used moss bought online, which doesn’t have much dirt if any as a medium, so I’m curious what you guys do to prep it? I just bought Scottish moss from a nursery which can handle full sun but it’s got a lot of ants, etc.. I’m also experimenting with a technique I got from a well experienced growers and chopped up dry sphagnum along with some local moss and spread a thin layer under the bonsai

 

[Wulfskaar]

So I’m just wondering how yall go about it. I’ve mostly used moss bought online, which doesn’t have much dirt if any as a medium, so I’m curious what you guys do to prep it? I just bought Scottish moss from a nursery which can handle full sun but it’s got a lot of ants, etc.. I’m also experimenting with a technique I got from a well experienced growers and chopped up dry sphagnum along with some local moss and spread a thin layer under the bonsai

I've asked the same question. Local moss is the way to go since it grows naturally in your area, or so I've been told.

Since you're in LA, I understand it's way harder to find moss and to get it to spread. I've had very little luck with moss. I have no idea how people in SoCal manage to get moss growing in a pot.

I literally have moss growing in my yard, but I can't get it to grow in a pot.

 

[Gonzoe]

I've asked the same question. Local moss is the way to go since it grows naturally in your area, or so I've been told.

Since you're in LA, I understand it's way harder to find moss and to get it to spread. I've had very little luck with moss. I have no idea how people in SoCal manage to get moss growing in a pot.

I literally have moss growing in my yard, but I can't get it to grow in a pot.

lol yea man, I guess it’s patience. I’ll be honest it’s really hard in general to get moss going from what I can tell unless you’re plant is constantly shaded.

 

[ZombieNick]

I think it is really about finding the right type. I have tried a bunch that has grown around my house and it has all died. Most of what I have today was sort of a fluke, I found it in front of the venue of one of our club shows to use in a pinch. It has grown so well I have propagated several pots with it, I've had this accent plant of pure moss for over a year now:


Other people from the club did the same and reported the same success, so one of our club members collected it all the next show:

 

[Wulfskaar]

I think it is really about finding the right type. I have tried a bunch that has grown around my house and it has all died. Most of what I have today was sort of a fluke, I found it in front of the venue of one of our club shows to use in a pinch. It has grown so well I have propagated several pots with it, I've had this accent plant of pure moss for over a year now:
View attachment 592887

Other people from the club did the same and reported the same success, so one of our club members collected it all the next show:

View attachment 592888

Wow! Ok, I will be on the lookout for moss that looks like that!

 

[Colorado]

I think it is really about finding the right type.

Agree with this. I have tried many types of moss, collected from different areas and some just do better for bonsai than others. It doesn’t need to be in the shade if you have a good type.

I collected mine from the mountains. But now I have it on pretty much all my trees, so when I repot I can just “recycle” it. I just shred it up into pieces and then mix it with a bit of spaghnum. It takes several months/over a year to really populate the soil surface. Here’s a pic from a recent repot:

 

[Gonzoe]

I think it is really about finding the right type. I have tried a bunch that has grown around my house and it has all died. Most of what I have today was sort of a fluke, I found it in front of the venue of one of our club shows to use in a pinch. It has grown so well I have propagated several pots with it, I've had this accent plant of pure moss for over a year now:
View attachment 592887

Other people from the club did the same and reported the same success, so one of our club members collected it all the next show:

View attachment 592888

That looks awesome man. I was just out in chino this weekend at Bonsai Jidai for an event. So hot

 

[Gonzoe]

Agree with this. I have tried many types of moss, collected from different areas and some just do better for bonsai than others. It doesn’t need to be in the shade if you have a good type.

I collected mine from the mountains. But now I have it on pretty much all my trees, so when I repot I can just “recycle” it. I just shred it up into pieces and then mix it with a bit of spaghnum. It takes several months/over a year to really populate the soil surface. Here’s a pic from a recent repot:

View attachment 592942View attachment 592943

That coverage is really nice, it’s got a smooth flow to it

 

[ZombieNick]

That looks awesome man. I was just out in chino this weekend at Bonsai Jidai for an event. So hot

I was there helping out with the other members, hope you had a good time! If you happened to notice, a lot of Sensei Nguy's trees have brown dried moss. Right before a show, he will put wet towels over the moss for a week or so to rehydrate it and turn it green again. After the show, he just puts them back and doesn't really bother trying to keep it green. This is another way to go, although not my personal preference.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I think it is really about finding the right type. I have tried a bunch that has grown around my house and it has all died. Most of what I have today was sort of a fluke, I found it in front of the venue of one of our club shows to use in a pinch. It has grown so well I have propagated several pots with it, I've had this accent plant of pure moss for over a year now:
View attachment 592887

Other people from the club did the same and reported the same success, so one of our club members collected it all the next show:

View attachment 592888

I absolutely love that accent of the hand!

 

[Cadillactaste]

I grow moss over weeds in my pots. I actually have to treat my composite deck or it grows there too. I'm lake front so a microclimate apparently that makes moss abundant.

Moss that grows in full sun is a tighter/denser moss. Most tend to use that.

But the biggest hurdle is location the moss ends up. If in full sun you need to collect it from same sun exposure. For it to thrive.

I have occasionally used the spaghum moss and moss spores to lightly cover newly repotted trees. If the roots are near the surface and seem young and tender.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Scotch moss is not a true moss and is more of an invasive weed that is extremely difficult to eradicate even from a bonsai pot—kill it now!

 

[shohin_branches]

There are two ways to apply moss to your tree.

Grow it: dry out some moss with sphagnum and grind it on your largest sifting screen then sift the fines out and sprinkle it over the surface of your soil and wet it into place. Then wait.

Apply living moss: wet your substrate and prep the moss pads. Don't use large sheets work with pieces no larger than two postage stamps at a time. Trim the bottom rhizoids off the moss so you mostly have green moss and no black dying stuff on the bottom. This will also remove any soil clinging to it. Soak the moss in a little pan of water. Some species tend to fall apart once you cut the bottom off so hold them together as best as you can. Apply wet moss to wet soil. Stretch the moss out as you apply it so it grows to fill in the space between the plantlets. Work the moss so it makes solid contact with the substrate.

What kind of moss you use is important. The best most drought tolerant moss I've found is the stuff that grows in the cracks of sidewalks or on vertical rock walls. You shouldn't have to water extra to keep your moss alive so collect moss that grows in sunny locations so that you can keep your bonsai trees in sunny locations and you don't risk rotting your bonsai tree trying to keep the moss alive.

 

[Gonzoe]

Yea man super fun, that’s really cool. I honestly liked how the moss looked brown too but yea I would go about keeping it the same way lol

 

[Gonzoe]

I was there helping out with the other members, hope you had a good time! If you happened to notice, a lot of Sensei Nguy's trees have brown dried moss. Right before a show, he will put wet towels over the moss for a week or so to rehydrate it and turn it green again. After the show, he just puts them back and doesn't really bother trying to keep it green. This is another way to go, although not my personal preference.

Yea it was a dope event, I had fun. I honestly liked how the moss looked dormant too but definitely would t keep it the same way lol

 

[Gonzoe]

I absolutely love that accent of the hand!

looks so cool. Awesome vibe

 

[Gonzoe]

Scotch moss is not a true moss and is more of an invasive weed that is extremely difficult to eradicate even from a bonsai pot—kill it now!

Idk dude, I got a whole square of it and it’s just like @Cadillactaste said, it’s full sun moss and it grows really tight like nice grass. Definitely not growing as fast as weeds either, taking its sweet time lol

 

[Gonzoe]

There are two ways to apply moss to your tree.

Grow it: dry out some moss with sphagnum and grind it on your largest sifting screen then sift the fines out and sprinkle it over the surface of your soil and wet it into place. Then wait.

Apply living moss: wet your substrate and prep the moss pads. Don't use large sheets work with pieces no larger than two postage stamps at a time. Trim the bottom rhizoids off the moss so you mostly have green moss and no black dying stuff on the bottom. This will also remove any soil clinging to it. Soak the moss in a little pan of water. Some species tend to fall apart once you cut the bottom off so hold them together as best as you can. Apply wet moss to wet soil. Stretch the moss out as you apply it so it grows to fill in the space between the plantlets. Work the moss so it makes solid contact with the substrate.

What kind of moss you use is important. The best most drought tolerant moss I've found is the stuff that grows in the cracks of sidewalks or on vertical rock walls. You shouldn't have to water extra to keep your moss alive so collect moss that grows in sunny locations so that you can keep your bonsai trees in sunny locations and you don't risk rotting your bonsai tree trying to keep the moss alive.

Yea I’ve been taking the moss and cutting off the very bottom roots and cleaning with water and my hands by keeping together and then applying it. Also trying to grow some more sparingly by chopping it up with dried sphagnum

 

[Cadillactaste]

Scotch moss is not a true moss and is more of an invasive weed that is extremely difficult to eradicate even from a bonsai pot—kill it now!

Proper head tilt. I've done bonsai since 2013...this seems a bit extreme. Sorry... I don't grow weeds ever in my pots. I grow moss. It's called life in a micro climate. I pretreat my composite decking to keep it free of moss. It grows in my pots. I do NOT stress it. I occasionally need to use white vinegar to clean trunks. But...your comment made me pause. I would much prefer this to weeds in my pots. As it at least looks pretty. Than a pot that needs weeding.

 

[rockm]

Scotch moss can be a real problem in a bonsai pot. It grows quickly and produces a mass of roots (real moss doesn’t have roots). Left on its own in a pot, I’ve found scotch moss to make a thick mostly impenetrable layer on top of soil. So much so it can clog drainage and sometimes prevent water from draining into the trees root mass.

It can be very difficult to keep under control and spreads to other pots quickly. I pull it as soon as I see it.