Drying moss and reusing it!!!

[mick]

Yea thanks Pup.

Thats what I wanted to know
I will dry some out this weekend and try it out. Moss in a bag sounds good too me.
Cheers
Mick

[kachmica]

We in Goulburn were taught by a very knowing chap that you can put the moss into a food processor (don't let the Bride catch you ) and whizz it for a bit. The one with the big blades seems to work best.
Then as others have said store it in an airtight container (old chinese food ones are good).
Lightly sprinkle on the desired spots and water lightly until the moss grows.

[mick]

I have some drying out at the moment. It was really fine smooth moss. Once it dries I will give it a go.
Great Idea
Cheers
Mick

I dont think I am game enough to use the food proceesor.

[Greth]

Despite our semiarid climate, our paddocks have a layer of moss nearly everywhere. Much of the year it is dry and brown, but I have seen it turn green in 10 minutes after a summer downpour, quite amazing to see. Unfortunately that variety is a bit coarse to use on bonsai, however we have plenty of the finer ones too, and lichen.
On the yogurt thingy, one of my friends keeps any milk which goes sour to feed moss and lichen on rocks, much to the annoyance of her husband, as she doesn't label the containers in the fridge appropriately..

rainbow.jpg

[Ron]

I dont think I am game enough to use the food proceesor.

I've been out early this morning collecting small chunks of local moss. I've got a small food processor that was really cheap and which the boss doesn't use so that might end up in the bonsai tool kit.

[Kelv]

Just a *little* bit slightly off topic (I hope) so my apologies

But it was mentioned earlier that a yoghurt+moss concoction was spread over a porous surface (e.g. a brick) and then the brick is soaked in water to keep it damp. And then we have a carpet of green that is irresistible to the touch...

Was wondering if anyone has heard of hebel? (fake stone) I believe it is an aerated product? Was wondering if the moss spread would be able to grow on it? Maybe a better alternative?

I'm just having all these radical ideas of carving out objects and growing moss on them (e.g. carving out a delicate tree and then growing some form of weeping moss as foliage)

[mashby]

This is probably an extremely stupid and dumb question and shows my inexperience, but where can I get moss from? I have none growing at my house or near my collection. I have noticed some form of light moss growing on pines at a local playing field - should I just collect it from places like that or can you actually buy spores. If I can collect it from the pines (and from the ground around the trees), what is the "best" method of doing so? Do members of ausBonsai collect all their moss? If I have to collect it I think a fairly long road trip will be required. Pup what do you think, since you are over here in WA as well?

[dayne]

is there any where near you like a large stormwater channel or a freshwater run off these places are great for it

[mashby]

Dayne
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll go for a wander around this week/weekend and see what I can find.