While star moss is downright hated by many gardeners, others grow this very pretty plant in the garden. Star moss is also becoming increasingly popular as a grave plant. However, if care is not taken correctly or the weather is unfavorable, the star moss will turn brown. What can you do about it?
Why is my star moss turning brown and how can I prevent it?
Star moss turns brown due to poor care, unfavorable weather, frost damage, changes in weather, waterlogging, drought, dense foliage or long blankets of snow. To avoid this, water in dry conditions, avoid waterlogging and fertilize until August.
Why does star moss turn brown?
Star moss impresses with its pretty green color and decorative star-shaped appearance. It is considered robust and hardy. However, this is only partially correct. This plant, which is not strictly speaking a moss in the traditional sense, does not like strong changes in the weather.
If star moss turns brown, it is almost always due to poor care or unfavorable weather. Possible causes include:
- Frost damage after winter
- frequent weather changes
- Waterlogging
- drought
- dense mulch
- long lasting snow cover
If the star moss has been covered with snow for a long time in winter, it often turns yellow or brown because it did not get enough air under the snow cover and therefore rotted.
Treating star moss after it turns brown
If the star moss is only slightly brown or yellow, simply cut off affected parts of the plant. Loosen the soil under the star moss as much as possible so that no waterlogging can form.
Spray the remaining plants with a liquid fertilizer (€9.00 on Amazon). However, fertilization only makes sense until August, not later.
Tear out star moss plants that are too badly damaged and replace them with new plants.
How to prevent star moss from turning brown
You need to water star moss occasionally when it is dry. However, waterlogging must be avoided at all costs as it causes the roots to rot.
Fertilize star moss from spring to summer. You should no longer fertilize later in the year, as the new shoots stimulated by this will no longer mature before winter. They die in frost and then turn brown.
If there are leaves on the star moss in autumn, you should remove them. The leaf cover restricts the air supply and creates waterlogging in the ground. You should also shake off any long-standing blankets of snow in winter from the star moss.
Tip
Star moss is quite suitable as a lawn replacement. It tolerates partial and full shade better than lawn plants and is therefore an ideal replacement plant for shady areas.
