How Do You Moss Yours? If you do.

This is a lightly debated topic and I understand everyone's view. Some believe moss is only for shows, others believe it is part of the art, and some find it a nuisance all together. The one thing I want to know is what is your method to adding moss to your bonsai. The ways I have found are as follows:

• Kyoto Bonsai Moss Spores from Japan
• Collecting, cleaning, and adding to tree
• Making a Moss Milkshake
• Shredding some over dried sphagnum moss

What works for you? Which method have you had the best results from? What looks the best? Is it true that if you collect from a shaded area the moss cannot grow in a full/partial sun area? Thank you for your input and knowledge.

Bonsai Bender wrote: What works for you? Which method have you had the best results from? What looks the best?

What works for me is leaving the pots outside. The moss appears all by itself.

It seems to grow best once the full surface is covered. 1I have pot without a tree, but with only moss. In summer, even without watering, it can turn brown, but it comes back when it gets some water.

It looks best - imho - if there are patches of moss, but the surface in between stays visible.
I do not want moss on the roots or trunk of the tree.

Thanks Auk, that is what I was looking for. To clarify the moss on your trees appear there without you doing anything. I assume this is because you have a pot without a tree and only moss and spores from that get carried over to your bonsai?

Bonsai Bender wrote: To clarify the moss on your trees appear there without you doing anything.

If you mean the moss on the soil: Yes, exactly. It doesn't grow on the trees alone, but when it's in the soil, it will crawl up on the tree trunks. I do remove that.

I assume this is because you have a pot without a tree and only moss and spores from that get carried over to your bonsai?

I don't think so. Without that (little) pot I'll get moss too.

I get moss everywhere I do not want it. I use lots of vinigar on the paths to keep the moss off. In some countries moss is just like weed.