Moss is a familiar sight in shady beds, on lawns and sidewalks. A green layer of moss on potting soil, on the other hand, raises the question of possible causes. What can you do if moss grows in potting soil? Read the answers here.
Why does moss grow on potting soil and what can you do about it?
When moss grows on potting soil, cool shade, compacted substrate, waterlogging, lack of nutrients and an acidic pH value are often the causes. This can be remedied by changing location, repotting in fresh substrate and improving the supply of water and nutrients. Moss is not harmful to plants and can even keep snails away.
Why does moss grow on potting soil?
The most common causes of moss growth on potting soil are cool shade, compacted substrate, waterlogging, acute nutrient deficiency and extremely acidic pH value.
Ingenious Moss Survival Strategy
The profile shows that moss, as a rootless spore plant, has specialized for 400 million years in conditions that are conceivable for most plantsunfavorable. Under these conditions, potting soil in balcony boxes and pots is not spared from moss growth:
- Shady, cool location with high humidity.
- Substrate quality: compacted, wet, lean to leached.
- Acidity level: acidic pH value less than 5.0.
Is moss in potting soil harmful to plants?
Moss growth on potting soil is for plantsnot harmful On the contrary, moss, as an indicator plant, indicates that unfavorable conditions exist for planting in flower boxes or pots. The faster you improve location and care, the less damage your plants will suffer. The moss on the potting soil disappears by itself.
What to do about moss on potting soil?
The best methods against moss on potting soil areChange locationandRepotting In the early stages you can try removing the moss layer. The water and nutrient supply is then optimized. This is what you can do against moss on potting soil:
- Change location to a sunny to partially shaded, warm location.
- In the early stages, remove the moss layer and fill the planter with fresh substrate.
- Repot plants from balcony boxes or pots in a mix of peat-free substrate with Perlite breathing flakes (€5.00 on Amazon) or expanded clay.
- From now on, water more sparingly according to a finger test and fertilize regularly organically.
Tip
Moss on potting soil scares away snails
Are you struggling with snails in potting soil? Then let moss grow on the substrate. Scientists have discovered ingredients in mosses that have an anti-feeding effect on slugs, the so-called oxylipins. Liverwort extract from specialist retailers contains a high concentration of oxylipins. Potting soil covered with moss and repeated spraying of plants with liverwort extract fights snails in beds, containers and flower boxes without poison.
