I have a very healthy Bougainvillea that blooms like crazy every spring. I have always wanted to cover it with moss butt never seems to take on that thick rich moss look. I currently am trying 2 approaches at the same time. I have one side of the base covered with moss I transplanted form the backyard. The other is covered with moss I bought at a bonsai show. II am misting nightly. It is in the sun. Any ideas? I want that hard core jungle look. Thanks!

i currently have moss growing on the side in a very shallow pot. i keep in the shade under the patio and mist it every morning and evening after work.

be very careful with the bougainvillea because sometimes the moss will retain to much water when covering all the soil and bougainvilleas do not like wet feet and love lots of sun. might be a little tricky to keep green when the tree is in the sun.

Let me tell you what i've learned:
Moss is for showing the tree. Contests. Museums.
OK, there are very old japanese trees with moss at the base permanently; but 90% of the other trees need the soil open, free on its surface, even if it's just to check if the soil is dry or wet.
So, keep your moss growing in flats (pretty easy) and use them when you invite people to admire your bonsai, and then, take it off!

My opinion is different. I do keepmoss in my pots.

crataegus.com/2012/07/05/the-moss-myth/

Ryan Neil also states a very good case for moss. I think it's on the free to watch soils video.

Better roots near surface. Protection from frosts. And a bundle of other reasons I forgot.

Thanks all for the feedback. Any c Moments on the picture I posted? Is that what the moss in. A bag is supposed to look like?

Auk wrote: My opinion is different. I do keepmoss in my pots.

This is very interesting.
I have tried to keep moss on the surface of inorganic soil to keep the moisture, but it's been so hot that the moss dies.
And... I trust my eyes to keep the watering schedule, and without the moss it helps a lot.
Now I am trying the live sphagnum moss on my Caliandras, and so far it is working, but as they like "wet feet" it is safer.
Learning.

Here is the Calliandra with the Sphagnum on top of the soil.
The tree seems to be linking it.

Lovely tree that Calliandra of yours. The inflorescence is just beautiful and adds up to the entire tree´s design. Still has some years of growth to face in order to fully develop, but I see a nice looking tree in the no so far future.

Alain

From around 10 minutes in on this video if you are Interested.

I've heard lots of differing views but what he says really makes sense for me.