Got My Hands on Some Moss
- Jarad
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1232
- Joined: November 27th, 2014, 1:04 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniperus, Melaleuca, Taxodium
- Bonsai Age: 9
- Location: Perth, WA
- Has thanked: 22 times
- Been thanked: 13 times
Got My Hands on Some Moss
Turns out I didn't have to travel too far to acquire some moss, all I had to do was dig a patch out of my folks yard.
This one contains a mix of two types (One is like grass). The other looks like this: Does anyone have an idea of what type they are and their suitability for use in bonsai display?
This one contains a mix of two types (One is like grass). The other looks like this: Does anyone have an idea of what type they are and their suitability for use in bonsai display?
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-Jarad
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
- Rory
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2812
- Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
- Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
- Bonsai Age: 24
- Location: Central Coast, NSW
- Has thanked: 22 times
- Been thanked: 460 times
Re: Got My Hands on Some Moss
Mate, that is an assortment of weeds. I would not be placing that onto the soil.
But why exactly do you want moss and what trees are you placing moss onto?
If you really want to use moss, it is the very, very fine emerald coloured green moss, like what you can usually find inside continually damp gutters or drains.
Fine, as in FINE. Like you can crush it into a powder when it is dry.
But why exactly do you want moss and what trees are you placing moss onto?
If you really want to use moss, it is the very, very fine emerald coloured green moss, like what you can usually find inside continually damp gutters or drains.
Fine, as in FINE. Like you can crush it into a powder when it is dry.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
- Jarad
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1232
- Joined: November 27th, 2014, 1:04 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniperus, Melaleuca, Taxodium
- Bonsai Age: 9
- Location: Perth, WA
- Has thanked: 22 times
- Been thanked: 13 times
Re: Got My Hands on Some Moss
Any idea of what kind of weeds they are then?
I was under the impression that you can use any type of moss you want for bonsai purposes... Or is the use of the fine moss another "rule" (note the inverted commas) of bonsai.
Growing it because I would like to have some on hand for when I might need it in the future without having to go dig it.
I was under the impression that you can use any type of moss you want for bonsai purposes... Or is the use of the fine moss another "rule" (note the inverted commas) of bonsai.
Growing it because I would like to have some on hand for when I might need it in the future without having to go dig it.
-Jarad
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
- cre8ivbonsai
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1154
- Joined: February 5th, 2010, 5:31 pm
- Favorite Species: :-)
- Bonsai Age: 9
- Bonsai Club: Waverley
- Location: Sth East burbs, Melbourne (VIC)
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 2 times
Re: Got My Hands on Some Moss
Jarad wrote:I was under the impression that you can use any type of moss you want for bonsai purposes... Or is the use of the fine moss another "rule" (note the inverted commas) of bonsai.
photo #1 is a invasive weed (not moss), once in your pot you will struggle to eradicate and it will spread to your other pots, if left to grow it will smother and embed in the trees roots starving it of water and nutrients. so not a rule, just common sense
photo #2 is not what you want accompanying your bonsai anyway. doesn't look nice, poor scale ratio ...
plenty of real moss out there! much more in winter, but just look in shady, moist areas ... paths, gutters, fence lines, stone walls ...
Last edited by cre8ivbonsai on November 9th, 2015, 12:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cheers, Ryan
Today I know more than I did yesterday, but less than I will tomorrow
Today I know more than I did yesterday, but less than I will tomorrow
- MoGanic
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1250
- Joined: May 3rd, 2012, 7:15 pm
- Favorite Species: Shimpaku
- Bonsai Age: 0
- Location: Victoria
Re: Got My Hands on Some Moss
+1cre8ivbonsai wrote:Jarad wrote:I was under the impression that you can use any type of moss you want for bonsai purposes... Or is the use of the fine moss another "rule" (note the inverted commas) of bonsai.
photo #1 is a invasive weed (not moss), once in your pot you will struggle to eradicate and it will spread to your other pots, if left to grow it will smother and embed in the trees roots starving it of water and nutrients. so not a rule, just common sense
photo #2 is not what you want accompanying your bonsai anyway. doesn't look nice, poor scale ratio ...
plenty of real moss out there! much more in winter, but just look in shady, moist areas ... paths, gutters, fence lines, stone walls ...
First pic is of a weed that I find in my pots regularly, and kill it every chance I get. The roots go deep and spread far and it's very difficult to get rid of without re-potting and bare rooting.
Definitely DO NOT place the stuff in Pic 1 on your trees.
Pic 2, as has been said, is not the best condition moss out there - during a wetter season you can find the perfect moss all up in your gutters or in any other damp areas. Go out foraging in a forest with some degree of humidity and moisture and you'll find various species of lichen and moss which complement your tree's much better.
Having said that, you can still use the moss you've collected, just be mindful that it will likely dry up after a while. Moss is generally used only when displaying tree's not for year round and as such it is collected or grown specifically for this purpose.
Cheers mate,
Mo
There are many ways to do things, but only one "best" way.
- Jarad
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1232
- Joined: November 27th, 2014, 1:04 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniperus, Melaleuca, Taxodium
- Bonsai Age: 9
- Location: Perth, WA
- Has thanked: 22 times
- Been thanked: 13 times
Re: Got My Hands on Some Moss
Got it, cheers for the explanations gents
-Jarad
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
- Andrew F
- Crafty Tanuki
- Posts: 1898
- Joined: December 19th, 2010, 6:06 pm
- Favorite Species: Pest species.
- Bonsai Age: 5
- Bonsai Club: N/A
- Location: Raiding a hedgerow.
Re: Got My Hands on Some Moss
Rory's on the money, the amount of errant seed that accumulates in moss and is just waiting for water is crazy.
Oxalis, richardiia you name it, it will spring up and you'll be hard pressed to get rid of it.
Oxalis, richardiia you name it, it will spring up and you'll be hard pressed to get rid of it.
- Ryceman3
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2617
- Joined: October 19th, 2014, 10:39 am
- Favorite Species: Pines & Mels
- Bonsai Age: 7
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 1067 times
- Been thanked: 1602 times
Re: Got My Hands on Some Moss
I get you get it, so don't wanna harp on it but just FYI I think pic 1 is a pretty established mat of "starweed", something that nurserymen spend their lives trying to avoid... or eradicate depending on whether it has infiltrated their patch. It is insidious!Jarad wrote:Any idea of what kind of weeds they are then?
Having said that, I like moss on certain trees (particularly non-natives) so don't wanna discourage, it's "horses for courses"
... But this ain't moss!
"NO CUTS, NO GLORY"
https://www.instagram.com/r3_bonsai/
https://www.instagram.com/r3_bonsai/
- Ryozo
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 25
- Joined: August 15th, 2015, 10:55 am
- Bonsai Age: 1
- Location: central coast
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Got My Hands on Some Moss
I stopped thinking about looking for moss to put on plants after a friend of mine put what looked like pic 2 on their trident and it died within a week. Even with regular watering. Although i did get a Rosaceae for xmas with moss on the base. Anyways listen to these guys and stay away from what looks like moss in the garden.
- Jarad
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1232
- Joined: November 27th, 2014, 1:04 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniperus, Melaleuca, Taxodium
- Bonsai Age: 9
- Location: Perth, WA
- Has thanked: 22 times
- Been thanked: 13 times
Re: Got My Hands on Some Moss
And that's why it all went in the bin.
-Jarad
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.