Moss use in Kusamono/Bonsai

[Wulfskaar]

Saturday works better for me.

• I ground up some dry sphagnum. It was ground through a screen with a rock.
• Then I washed the dirt out of some moss growing in my yard 20 feet from where my trees are, and ground that through the screen.
• The ground mosses were then mixed together with water to create a slurry.
• I then spread it out over the soil on several deciduous trees, trying to place it in as purposefully as possible. I pressed it into the soil, trying to make good contact.
• Then I watered.

We'll see what happens!

The green stuff in the middle is leftover from my last experiment.

I'm starting to notice slight greening on several pots I tried this on. I hope it's the start of moss.

 

[OrenjiIroNoNeko]

Timing for me on moss and spaghnum is when I repot. I'll use live moss if I have it, if not, shred and mix in with the sphagnum.

Reminder to use a mask when shredding sphagnum, you don't want it in your lungs

 

[Ruddigger]

Idk, doesn’t sound at all like what you described earlier lol we’ll just have to agree to disagree on this one. Plus we’re in separate parts of the country so it can definitely look similar but not be the same cultivar. It’s moss after all..

They are correct. Keep that stuff away from your trees. You can grow real moss, even where we are. This moss all grew naturally and stays nice year round in full sun, as long as it doesn’t dry out.

 

[Time Wizard]

I'm starting to notice slight greening on several pots I tried this on. I hope it's the start of moss.

That looks like algae to me.

 

[Wulfskaar]

That looks like algae to me.

I was actually worried about that. It's spreading, so I guess I'll find out as it spreads. If it doesn't moss up and just turns green, I'll remove it.

Here it is today, much greener than just 2 days ago:

 

[OrenjiIroNoNeko]

The algae itself isn't a problem. It's a symptom. Potentially the mix is staying too wet from watering. Something keep an eye on.

I have algae on my top dressing right now, but it's rained for nearly the last 7 days, so it's just wet at the moment. Drier times and sun are coming, so other than not watering for a day or two until it dries again, nothing needs to be done.

 

[Wulfskaar]

The algae itself isn't a problem. It's a symptom. Potentially the mix is staying too wet from watering. Something keep an eye on.

I have algae on my top dressing right now, but it's rained for nearly the last 7 days, so it's just wet at the moment. Drier times and sun are coming, so other than not watering for a day or two until it dries again, nothing needs to be done.

Since I put the moss mix on top, I've been lightly misting almost daily so the moss mix doesn't dry up for too long. I'm doing full watering like I normally do, which right now, has been once every 2-3 days.

 

[OrenjiIroNoNeko]

Since I put the moss mix on top, I've been lightly misting almost daily so the moss mix doesn't dry up for too long. I'm doing full watering like I normally do, which right now, has been once every 2-3 days.

Letting the moss mix dry out is fine. It should get plenty of water from the full watering. Moss is a survivor. It can dry out and be brown and then come right back when watered. No need to treat it special.

 

[Gonzoe]

They are correct. Keep that stuff away from your trees. You can grow real moss, even where we are. This moss all grew naturally and stays nice year round in full sun, as long as it doesn’t dry out.

View attachment 596222

Yea once I confirmed that same day I tossed it and pulled it out of the 2 pots I mashed it in. Thats what my dumbass gets for trying to rush smh

 

[Gonzoe]

Since I put the moss mix on top, I've been lightly misting almost daily so the moss mix doesn't dry up for too long. I'm doing full watering like I normally do, which right now, has been once every 2-3 days.

You shouldn’t try and keep a schedule, all this has to be done “as needed”. I know it’s a bit annoying having to check but you should check before watering always if you can’t tell visually. Like mwkholer said, it’ll get moisture from the watering but if you see it’s dry you can mist it, lightly. Just be patient as moss can take months to grow

 

[Wulfskaar]

You shouldn’t try and keep a schedule, all this has to be done “as needed”. I know it’s a bit annoying having to check but you should check before watering always if you can’t tell visually. Like mwkholer said, it’ll get moisture from the watering but if you see it’s dry you can mist it, lightly. Just be patient as moss can take months to grow

Thank you Gonzoe. That's pretty much exactly what I'm trying to do.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I think I see some moss (maybe) growing. I'm hopeful.