AusBonsai

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?

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.

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.

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 ...

cre8ivbonsai 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 ...

+1
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

Got it, cheers for the explanations gents

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.

Jarad wrote:Any idea of what kind of weeds they are then?

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!
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!

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.

And that's why it all went in the bin.