The star moss (Sagina subulata) is also popularly known as fattening herb and can serve as an attractive lawn replacement in shady locations. Since a lot of specimens are needed to plant large areas, sowing can make sense despite the slightly longer time until the areas become green.
When and how is it best to sow star moss seeds?
Star moss seeds can be sown in seed trays in March or April or directly outdoors from May. As light germinators, they do not need soil, just consistent moisture and a reduced temperature after germination for optimal growth.
What you need to know about star moss seeds
With star moss, the seeds are tiny. This means that a seed quantity of just 0.10 grams corresponds to around 5,000 individual seeds. Sowing can be done in March or April in seed trays or directly outdoors from May onwards. In the initial period after germination, the star moss should not be placed directly in the sun. When planting early young plants in July and August, you should “harden off” them against direct sunlight every hour.
The perfect conditions for sowing seeds
The star moss thrives particularly well when grown from seeds under the following conditions:
- Do not cover seeds with soil (light germinators), but press them well into the substrate
- keep evenly moist during the germination phase
- Lower the temperature after germination (when growing in a greenhouse or cold frame
The seeds of the star moss usually germinate within a period of about a week. If it is sown directly at its location in the garden, any “weeds” that sprout next to it should be weeded regularly. In principle, star moss thrives not only on flat surfaces, but also in paving joints, cracks in walls and in rock gardens. However, since it tolerates waterlogging very poorly, heavy and clayey soils should be loosened with a little sand or fine gravel and a layer of seasoned compost before sowing.
Propagate the star moss yourself
Since the seeds of star moss are particularly small, harvesting them is extremely difficult and laborious for hobby gardeners. However, the seeds often sprout well when self-sown at the location and ensure that the crop is compacted. The hardy star moss also spreads through runners and often forms wide cushions and carpets within a year.
Tip
To make sowing easier, the dusty seeds of star moss can be mixed with quartz sand or uncooked semolina before sowing. If joints between stone slabs are to be covered with star moss, it is a good idea to sweep the mixture of sand and star moss seeds with a broom.