AusBonsai

Good evening all,

I have attched some pictures of my Mock Orange. I am wondering if the extensive amount of moss growing over the nabari is a bad thing? Although it looks natural and has taken time to grow to it's current stage, is there any danger having the roots stay wet, covered, blocked from the sunlight etc?

Do you guys use moss much?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Matt

Beautiful tree mate! Moss looks good. Doesnt seem like overkill.

Clear the moss away from the parts of the nebari you wish to expose and don't let it grow up the trunk. For shows in Japan they cover the whole soil surface with moss but this is then removed back at the nursery.
It does help to retain moisture in the pot, but does have a different moisture requirement to the tree.
Certainly doesn't seem like it is too much though in the photo.
It is nice when it grows naturally in the soil rather than placed on.
Andrew

That amount of moss should not cause the plant any trouble, but make sure it does not get on the trunk or exposed roots as it may course some problems with rot. A damp toothbrush usually makes short work of any wayward moss, As Andrew said, don't let the moss cover the entire top of the soil either. A good rule of thumb to remember is that a pot full of healthy moss means a sick tree as moss likes it a bit more moist than most trees.

I would pick away some of the moss around the roots,they can cause the roots to rot
you can re plant the moss around the edge of the pot if you want
it may take a year but it will grow

mmjust reading your thread i a cquired a maple treet that has teh whole base covered in moss i discovered this week that event ho the moss was damp the underneath was dry as a bone and had to make holes int eh moss for water to seep through would it be wise then to remove someof moss and it covers the whole pot..

the moss on OP tree looks fine but I wodu not let it get any more up the tree or over the root

@sahara, that is way too much on the soil. You will have much trouble with root rot thru winter assuming that the water actually gets thru it all.
Remove most of it and put it on a week 2 before showing the tree if you do

Ken

thnkas ken would it best to remove from the roots as well or take the whole lot off or just half for the minute sorry a newb lol

mat,
i think the amount of moss on your tree is ok maybe remove it from the bottom of the trunk alittle, dont let it go to high, and sahara i would remove all your moss and give your root system a nice clean when time comes, guys you need to remember that moss is for show only not for helping your tree to improve. any way if you like moss you should use it, mist your moss and water your trees. hope this can help.