Caring for moss requires a change in thinking from the gardener. All types of moss thrive as rootless spore plants, which significantly distinguishes them from classic vascular plants such as flowers, shrubs and vegetables. Do you still have questions about professional care? Then read practical answers here.
What is the best way to care for moss?
Proper care for moss includes daily spraying with water, ideally with collected rainwater or decalcified tap water. Moss should not be fertilized because in nature it thrives on poor soils and does not require additional nutrients. A moist environment and a shady location are also important.
Should moss be watered?
Moss is one of the most undemanding plants in Mother Nature's kingdom. The rootless land plant only depends on a constant supply of moisture. If moss comes under drought stress, it turns into a dried-out bush. Since all mosses absorb moisture through their tiny leaves, do it this way:
- Spray the moss in the room daily with water from the hand sprayer (€12.00 on Amazon)
- As a ground cover in the garden, sprinkle regularly with a gentle spray when it is dry
Since moss species mostly prefer an acidic substrate, please use collected rainwater or decalcified tap water for spraying. If a moss carpet does dry out, don't throw in the towel straight away. The survival artist regenerates even when he appears to have died. If you spray the moss daily, it will return to a rich green color within a short time.
Is moss fertilized?
In the wild, moss specifically seeks out locations with lean, moist soil in shady, cool locations. Mosses only appear in nutrient-rich places if conditions are otherwise difficult for vascular plants. It follows that the spore plants have no desire for additional nutrients. On the contrary, moss always loses out to mold on soils with a high organic content. Therefore, please do not give your moss any fertilizer.
Can moss get sick?
Over the course of its long evolution, moss has built up robust resistance to plant diseases. Rather, organic gardeners rely on the valuable ingredients of liverwort to naturally combat fungal infections on ornamental and crop plants.
Tip
Not every plant that retailers offer as moss is actually moss. Spanish moss is a bromeliad plant that presents itself as an epiphytic plant with long root threads. Irish moss is actually a red algae that thrives underwater on the rocks of the Atlantic coast.
