How to grow sphagnum moss at home?

Forest sphagnum moss (from the Greek “sponge”) is a type of marshy plant that actively absorbs and retains water throughout its green mass. Dried sphagnum moss is an environmentally friendly material that is used in construction, floriculture, pharmacology, and veterinary medicine. Overheating, the lower layers eventually turn into peat, forming a natural nutritious sponge. It is this feature that is valued by flower growers.

Forest sphagnum moss is actively used when growing phalaenopsis, mixing the dried plant with the bark. Young plants and cuttings are rooted in it.

Requirements for caring for stabilized moss

Thanks to stabilization, the moss does not require any care and additionally acquires new properties that will be especially pleasant for allergy sufferers or pet owners.

It retains its aroma and appearance even for 5 to 15 years.
Moss does not require watering or fertilization - Deer Cladonia takes moisture from the air, necessary to maintain freshness in the living room. Optimal conditions are 40-60% humidity, the same as for humans.
Cladonia staghorn does not grow dormant and you do not need to prune it.
It does not need light - it prefers dark places where its color will not fade under the strong rays of the sun.
It does not attract dust - ideal for allergy sufferers.
Moss is not toxic to pets—they have no interest in eating it.
It is resistant to mold and fungi and has its own protective, but safe for humans, antiseptics.

Basic requirements for caring for bryophyte

Irrigation is carried out focusing on the soil layer. If it dries out, you need to moisturize it. Moss does not like excess liquid. If its color becomes much darker, it is recommended to reduce the amount and frequency of irrigation.

By the way, you can irrigate such a plant using a small watering can or by drilling holes in the cap of a plastic bottle. The optimal interval between moisturizing after the end of the adaptation period is once every three to five days.

Tiny mossy pads love cool air, high humidity, and partial lighting. They do not tolerate direct sunlight. It is recommended to install a container with such a plant in a dimly lit corridor, near the aquarium.

This plant is perfect for the office. Bryophyte only needs two hours of indirect sunlight per day for normal growth and development. Thanks to properly created lighting, their emerald hue acquires an even more saturated color.

Recipes for folk remedies

The most common and effective folk recipes using Icelandic cetraria are:

Decoction for the gastrointestinal tract

A decoction to stabilize the gastrointestinal tract. To 0.5 liters of boiling water or hot milk you need to add 1 large spoon of dried, ground plant. The ingredients should be mixed, kept in a water bath for a while and left for 30-40 minutes. After straining, the product can be drunk. If the medicine is intended for external use, only water is used in its preparation;

Decoction for respiratory diseases

A decoction for pneumonia or acute bronchitis. Icelandic cetraria must first be crushed. The resulting mixture must be mixed in a volume of 1 tablespoon with a glass of milk. The ingredients should be placed in a ceramic or glass container, covered with a lid, and kept over low heat for half an hour. It is recommended to drink the finished medicine hot every evening. Inflammation of the lungs requires the addition of pine buds and fragrant violet root;

Decoction for pulmonary tuberculosis. 20 g of the powdered plant must be placed in a glass of water and heated over the fire for 10-15 minutes. It is recommended to drink a glass of the decoction throughout the day, dividing it into 6 equal parts;

Extract

To get it, you need to pour 100 g of freshly chopped herbs into 1 liter of cold water. The recommended infusion time for the product is 24 hours. Then it is filtered and steamed in a water bath until the original volume is halved. It is recommended to take the medicine three times a day before meals for 14 days to achieve a laxative effect;

Cetraria tea

It is believed that lichen herbal tea can help get rid of colds, bronchitis and pneumonia. To brew it, you need to put 1 teaspoon of dry cetraria powder in a cup of boiling water. The product should be allowed to brew for 10 minutes, after which it can be drunk as traditional tea (best in the evening). The duration of treatment depends solely on the patient’s health condition - as a rule, the period is about a month;

A collection of Icelandic cetraria, toadflax herb, lemon balm and spotted orchis. It is believed that this remedy can help get rid of impotence. 1 tablespoon of herbal powder must be poured with boiling water (1 cup)

It is important to wrap the drink well for 2-3 hours, after which it must be carefully strained and drunk 3 glasses daily

Dry sphagnum moss: growing indoors

The word “sphagnum” is heard by many, but not everyone knows what exactly it means. But this is the same plant from which peat layers are formed. Sphagnum is the last species of Bryophytes from the ancient family Sphagnaceae that has survived to this day. It grows on the moist soil of raised and transitional bogs. Since sphagnum is highly hygroscopic, it absorbs and retains large amounts of moisture. Because of this, areas where there are large concentrations of plants often become swampy. But it is precisely for these properties that it is highly valued in gardening and floristry.

Dry sphagnum moss is actively used in orchid breeding. Since it has low thermal conductivity, its use as an insulating material is widespread in finishing works.

Live peat moss is not sold in flower shops: you can only buy dry one. If you are lucky enough to find it in nature, do not rush to take the plant home. It can be infected with larvae of pests and pathogens of various infections that attack your indoor plants. But you can try to revive dry sphagnum for cultivation at home. But this should not be a store-bought sample (industrially dried moss cannot be restored).

To stimulate the growth of sphagnum moss, fill it with rainwater and place it in hydroponics. To prevent rapid evaporation of water, cover the container with sphagnum with film and place it in a shaded place with moderate temperature. Please note: the chances that the moss will grow are minimal. Therefore, the answer to the question “How to grow dry sphagnum moss” is rather negative.

Types and applications

Most often, gardeners use dry sphagnum, which can be purchased at any specialty store. However, there are situations where live moss is a more effective remedy. For example, it is used for the resuscitation of sickly and fading flowers, rooting cuttings and layering, as well as for germinating seeds that are sensitive to lack of moisture.

Video. Harvesting sphagnum

Unfortunately, live peat moss can only be found in the wild, but it is worth remembering that when bringing sphagnum from the forest, you risk introducing various infections and pest larvae, which can be very dangerous for your home flowers. Therefore, it is better not to use the source material directly, but only for breeding new moss.

Sphagnum grows best hydroponically, i.e. in a container with distilled water. Melt water from snow is also suitable, but not tap water. To prevent water from evaporating too quickly, cover the container with moss with film, creating a greenhouse effect. The temperature is average - about 20 degrees Celsius. For home cultivation of sphagnum, the north side with variable shade is suitable.

How to plant at home

Mosses have been used in design for a long time and in a variety of ways: they are grown for bonsai, used as a decorative substrate around other plants and indoor mini-gardens. Bryophyte can be grown in any container and on any surface. For indoor plantings, you can use decorative glass bowls with a wide bottom and neck, small aquariums, florariums and containers, and glass jars. You can buy planting material at a garden store or nursery, or you can dig it up in the forest.

Drainage in the form of small river pebbles or expanded clay is placed at the bottom of a selected container. The ideal soil for growing moss is coconut substrate for the following reasons:

it has neutral acidity;
it retains moisture well;
is natural and environmentally friendly;
it is a breathable material.

We thoroughly moisten both the soil and the planting material, lay out the seedlings, slightly pressing them into the substrate. You can see the landing process in detail in the following video:

In the first few days, seedlings should be sprayed with a spray bottle daily. The water must be clean: filtered, rain or melt. Regular tap water can leave a white coating on the planting surface.

When you see that the seedling has taken root and begins to grow, reduce watering to twice a week. The moss should be kept shaded, but in the morning when the sun appears, expose it to the rays for a couple of hours.

Step-by-step photo of the composition in a dish

To create the composition, you will need a clay or ceramic deep dish in which you need to drill drainage holes. Then the bottom is lined with agrofibre, which will prevent clogging of the holes. A small layer of fine gravel is laid on top of the fabric.

Universal soil mixed with a small amount of peat is poured on top of the gravel. Its height should be 1-1.5 cm below the edges of the dish. The accents of the composition are ferns, which are planted in soil and stone. Then they begin to plant moss, which is pressed into the loose substrate.

Use scissors to adjust the size of the moss fragments. Carefully tuck the hanging edges inside the dish.

Subsequent care boils down to weekly abundant watering and daily spraying.

Tiny bryophytes prefer cool, moist air and partial light.

2-3 hours of morning sun or indirect sunlight per day is sufficient. This lighting makes the green tint of bryophytes more intense.

Is moss harmful in an apartment? Absolutely not.

Bryophyte does not cause allergies, is non-toxic, and its ability to accumulate moisture acts as an excellent humidifying factor in the room.

How to grow moss at home

Modern stabilized moss is an innovation for eco-style, allowing you to green and decorate any interior without any hassle or worry. And what it is and how such moss is used in the interior we will tell you today in the article.

Stabilized moss photo

STABILIZED MOSS: WHAT IS IT?

Man has always strived for perfection, naturalness and at the same time stability. Everyone knows the fact that all living things develop, grow and constantly change. But one of the technologies of mankind makes it possible to stop this process in plants, while maintaining all its qualities and even improving some of them. The same thing happens, as in the case of a photo, the captured image of a flower can easily be improved in the Photoshop program, then placed in a frame and hung on the wall and it will delight the eye for many years. Man has learned to adjust the qualities of living nature to his needs. Stabilized moss is one of the brightest examples. Why stabilized? But the fact is that all biological processes in it are stopped. All water in the plant is replaced with a special chemical composition or a glycerin-based liquid. They do not allow him to develop, but at the same time keep him the same as he was at the time of transformation. Physically preserved in this form, moss can later be used in the interior with virtually no maintenance.

Phytowalls made of stabilized moss photo

WHAT ARE ITS ADVANTAGES AND HOW TO CARE FOR IT AND IS IT WORTH IT?

The main advantage of such moss, unlike living moss, is that it does not need to be watered; this will not cause it to wither, dry out or lose its colors and elasticity. As we have already found out, it does not grow or develop, so it does not need to be cut like a lawn. At the same time, in such a “frozen” state, it remains a natural material and absolutely harmless to humans. There is another important advantage: it can be painted in the color required by the corresponding interior. It can serve its owners for up to 4-6 years, but can be longer if placed correctly.

Colored moss

How to care for stabilized moss?

As we have already found out, it requires virtually no maintenance, you just need to follow some rules for its placement.

The place where it is planned to be “planted” should not be exposed to sunlight; like anything made from natural components, it cannot withstand long-term exposure to sunlight. Under such conditions, stabilized moss will last half as long.

Also, such moss cannot be used in the interior of rooms without heating in winter; it is afraid of frost and sudden temperature changes.

It cannot be refreshed by watering; you can use a flower sprayer. You can use a hairdryer or vacuum cleaner to remove dust.

Wall made of stabilized moss photo

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Decorative or stabilized moss

Decorative, or stabilized, moss is a new design solution that can decorate any home. This moss is used to make paintings and panels, which are attached to boards and hung on the wall. This composition looks very original. Stabilized moss (or sleepy) does not require watering or other special care.

Advantages of decorative moss:

retains its appearance for 15 years;
does not require special lighting;
being in a state of sleep, moss does not grow, which means it does not need to be pruned;
dust does not settle on it;
does not cause allergies;
moss is not toxic;
resistant to mold and fungi, and not susceptible to diseases.

On an industrial scale, moss is collected by hand. This selection of material allows you to control the balance of the ecosystem. After collection, the moss is thoroughly cleaned of remnants of grass and dirt, and then subjected to a stabilization process. In fact, the plant is put into a dormant state. But it is precisely thanks to the stabilization process that moss can retain its color and properties for a long time, but not grow. The essence of the process is that a special solution based on glycerin is introduced into the moss. As a result, the decorative moss turns out to be soft, elastic and very beautiful.

Is it possible to make decorative moss with your own hands? There is nothing complicated in the process itself. Another thing is that to create a large-scale painting you will need a lot of moss. If you have enough material available, you can make stabilized moss at home.

Icelandic moss is most suitable for growing sleepy moss. This is what is most often used in decoration.

To prepare a solution for creating decorative moss you will need:

moss - 3 handfuls;
kefir - 0.5 liters;
sugar - 2 teaspoons;
hydrogel - 2 teaspoons;
purified water - as needed.

All components are loaded into a blender and blended for two minutes. Now you need any natural base, for example, a board or cork tile. The prepared solution must be applied to the surface of the substrate, after which moss should be laid out. It will take five weeks for a sufficient layer of moss to form. All this time, the moss must be kept under the film, thus creating a greenhouse.

While the moss is not sleeping, it needs to be looked after: water it periodically and avoid direct sunlight. If you are not happy with the color of the plant, you can paint it with natural paints. To prepare a mixture that will put moss to sleep, you will need boiling water and glycerin. They must be diluted in a ratio of 2:1, respectively. You should get a thick mass, which should be poured over the entire surface of the moss. In a month, the bryophyte will fall asleep and can be hung in a permanent place.

Buying decorative moss is not a cheap pleasure. The average price per kilogram is $28. If you buy moss in the form of tiles, the price of the panel is $400 per square meter.

If you have any questions, we suggest watching the video, which describes stabilized moss in more detail.

What to do with an acquired bump

For planting, sphagnum is collected in the forest (only in the northern swampy regions) or purchased from breeders by mail. Before shipping, the green layer is removed from the container, rolled tightly and placed in a sealed bag. During delivery, the green hummock does not die, since a humid microclimate remains in the tightly closed package.

After receiving the parcel you must:

open the packaging and visually assess the condition of the plant;
for further rooting and growth, use the green part;
For long-term storage, dry the sphagnum moss in a cardboard box in a dark place or freeze it in parts in the freezer.

Before shipping, the plant is packaged in bags of about 1 liter. This volume can be divided into several parts: for use, for storage and for cultivation.

How to dry

After collection, the sphagnum must be washed to remove plant debris and insects. Then it is hung to dry on racks in places protected from the sun. The easiest way to dry moss at home is on a stretched cord.

Store finished raw materials in paper bags or boxes, protecting them from the sun and moisture. To keep the moss alive, after washing it, lightly squeeze it out and leave it in fabric bags on the vegetable shelf of the refrigerator.

In this form, sphagnum can be frozen. After thawing, green moss is capable of growth and development. The viability of some shoots will remain even several years after freezing.

Sphagnum moss is valued for its availability, ease of storage and versatility of use. It grows where there is a lot of moisture. One simple, swamp plant can replace many materials for a gardener and simplify the care of the most capricious plants.

Step-by-step master class

You can take moss ready-made or grow it yourself. This bryophyte can grow on any type of surface or container. For indoor planting, you should use a glass bowl with a wide bottom and neck. Alternatively, an aquarium or florarium may be suitable for work. Planting material is bought in a specialized store or dug up in the forest.

First of all, a drainage layer is placed on the bottom of the container, followed by a substrate. The soil and planting material should be well moistened. The seedlings are laid on the ground, pressed a little and sprayed daily with a spray bottle. After the plant takes root and begins to grow, the amount of irrigation can be reduced to once every 3-4 days. Growing moss should take place in a shaded place, but do not forget to expose it to the sun for several hours every day.

To prepare stabilized moss with your own hands, you should first decide on the desired look.

In layers. This plant has a fleecy structure, so it is often used to make monowalls in layers. This option is great for creating a green garden. Moss in layers can be originally complemented with a hummocky look, while creating a rich texture.
Resin moss is characterized by volume, texture, and is quite fluffy.
Bumps. This type of bryophyte has a dense and rich texture. It has found its application in volumetric-spatial compositions that are very similar to the natural landscape.

The recipe for making stabilized moss yourself at home does not contain anything complicated. To carry out the procedure correctly, you will need to follow a step-by-step diagram.

Choose the type of bryophyte to suit your taste.
Prepare the plant. To do this, remove debris and dry remains of flora from it, then wash and dry it.
Make a solution. This is a fairly simple procedure, which requires mixing glycerin and water in a 1 to 1 ratio (usually glycerin is purchased at a pharmacy).
Soak and wait. The bryophyte must be immersed in the prepared solution and left for 14 days. When 2 weeks have passed, the plant should be removed from the solution and dried with a napkin.

The essence of stabilization is that the liquid present in the plant is completely replaced by glycerol. Evaporation of the substance is a rather slow process, so the moss becomes preserved and remains fresh for a long time. Stabilized moss in finished form can retain its freshness and attractiveness for several years. It is worth noting that high-quality stabilized moss prepared at home does not have any odor, since this plant goes into suspended animation and is present in the decor of the room in a dormant form.

If you want to make stabilized moss bright and colorful, you should take a number of necessary measures. To moderate dehydration, the raw material should be slightly dried and softened with steam. It is worth doing this several times so that the moss does not become fragile and brittle. After this, the plant must be sent to a stabilizing sodium solution. After this, you can proceed to coloring.

How to make stabilized moss, watch the video.

How to store sphagnum moss

To store moss for medical purposes, hang it on a cord or strong thread in a warm, ventilated place. You can spread it out on a paper towel on a sunny windowsill. It is worth stirring the mixture 2-3 times a day to ensure uniform drying. If mold appears, the moss cannot be used for medical purposes.

If sphagnum is needed alive for a long time, it is washed and placed in a fabric bag or paper bag. Then place in the refrigerator or freezer. This way it can be stored for several years.

When the material is needed, it is taken out and placed in a slightly damp, warm place. After a few hours it will thaw and continue to grow.

Having learned what moss looks like and where it grows, how it is used, many will have a desire to grow it at home on their own or to prepare it completely free of charge. Sphagnum is a real godsend for gardeners, gardeners and flower growers.

How to grow moss at home

How to grow moss at home? Just don't ask why. And don’t say that it grows well outside. Outdoors - not in a pot on the windowsill.

First, grow it in a large round aquarium with the appropriate surroundings. Admire it. Then we’ll see why, or go nuts, give me two!

Moreover, where it grows itself, let it be there. But at home you still need to work hard to grow something like this. Strict regulations on humidity and amount of light will not allow you to stuff a piece of moss from the forest into a jar and sit and wait for a beautiful picture.

So. We plant moss at home. Stop. How do we plant? Neither species has roots or seeds. How will we reproduce? Disputes, just like in nature. And where can I get them? You can’t wander around with a microscope in search.

It's actually simple. Go for a walk. We don't go into the forest. Forest moss that grows on trees is very aggressive and shaggy. Instead of an alpine idyll, you will get the ruins of a count after a bombing. We need the kind of moss that grows on stones, snags, and old walls. Even just from the shaded side of buildings.

Let's pinch ourselves a little. You can just take the record off

Who writes there: be careful not to damage the roots? You would like a bonus. Nobel

After all, for the first time in millions of years, moss roots were discovered!

And we calmly stomp home. By the way, in nature, the ripening time for spores is approximately July and August.

How to grow in the country?

The easiest way to grow bryophyte is in the country, in the yard or in the garden. There is no need to create optimal conditions or maintain the required level of humidity. The main thing is to choose a dark place for planting. If at the beginning of spring seeds were planted at home and moss has already grown from them, then at the end of May it can be safely transferred to the site.

Before planting, you must inspect the specimen. There should be no dry areas on it, and if there are any, it is better to remove them. You will also need two glasses of water and the same amount of milk. All ingredients, including moss, are loaded into a blender and crushed. After this, the mixture must be taken to the place reserved for the moss and distributed over the surface. Now all that remains is to wait for the bryophyte to take root and begin to grow.

In summer, moss does not grow well due to high temperatures and insufficient rain, so it is better to spray the plant yourself to prevent it from drying out.

You can grow moss in an apartment, in a country house, or in an aquarium. The main thing is to choose the right planting material, and in terms of care, bryophyte is unpretentious. An elegant green lump will be a wonderful decoration for the interior, the outer surface of the walls or the local area.

How to plant a plant on the site

In garden plots, bryophytes serve not only as a decorative decoration, but also bring benefits:

in flooded areas absorb excess moisture;
on rocky soils they are used instead of a lawn.

How to grow on the ground

Let's look at the detailed steps for planting bryophytes:

Prepare the area in advance: level and clear of weeds and plant debris.
Bring the soil acidity level to neutral. Acidic soil is limed; aluminum sulfate is added to soil with a low acidity level (both components can be found in the store).
Using a spray nozzle, generously moisten the prepared “bed.”
The optimal planting method is to divide a larger piece of moss into small pieces and plant them at some distance from each other, pressing them into the soil.
Water the moss daily after planting for two weeks. During this time, the seedlings adapt to the new location.

How to grow on rocks

The instructions given above will not work when planting on rocks, since this requires some kind of adhesion to the surface. Several mixtures can play this role - use the one that is more convenient for you:

200 g/ml each of moss, kefir and water;
200 g of moss, 0.4 l of beer, 20 g of sugar;
200 g of moss, powder of two aspirin tablets, 200 ml of water.

Any of the three proposed mixtures must be crushed with a blender, then applied to the required surface. Treated stones should be sprayed with water twice a week.

How to grow in a decorative pond

To grow a green carpet frame on a pond, you need to purchase water- and breathable geotextiles, which are used in landscape design. On the surface of the water, in the place where landscaping is planned, lay strips of fabric and pieces of moss on top of it. There is no need to water, since the fabric immediately absorbs and retains water, and accordingly, the seedlings are also sufficiently moisturized.

Key points in caring for bryophytes:

mandatory weed removal - mosses, in the absence of root shoots, cannot compete with herbs in the fight for nutrition and moisture;
a few hours of sun in the morning is not necessary, but desirable;
direct sunlight, especially at the peak of its activity, can burn the plant and change its color;
Watering should be carried out exclusively with a sprayer - the plant absorbs moisture over its entire surface;
equally bad conditions for moss are too acidic soil or low soil acidity;
It is imperative to clear the planting of fallen leaves or tree branches.

In conclusion, it is worth adding: today there is stabilized moss on sale that has undergone special processing. This material is used to decorate walls, decorative panels, rugs and other design items. The method of processing the plant allows you to avoid the need to care for it and preserves the original appearance of the bryophyte for many years.

Moss is an inhabitant of damp and shaded forests, so we rarely encounter it in life and know little about this amazing plant. In fact, once upon a time he could replace a medical bandage and show the way to lost mushroom pickers. Green home enthusiasts still use dried plants to insulate their homes. But we are more interested in the decorative side of moss: whether it can be used in landscape design and grown independently in the country.

Vegetable cocktail

If you simply put the plant plate on the bottom of the aquarium, it will dry out. And you won’t get a beautiful landscape. So we'll make a cocktail. No, not for drinking. For lubricating surfaces. To prepare it you only need a blender. Here are some recipes:

100 g moss, 2 tbsp. l. sour cream, 200 ml of clean water.
200 g of plant, 400 ml of any beer, 1 tbsp. l. granulated sugar.
1 tbsp. moss, 2 aspirin tablets, 2 tbsp. plain water.
200 g plant, 200 ml kefir, 300 ml water, 1 tsp. Sahara.

We take ingredients from any recipe. Well, those that are at hand. Together and cheerfully we put it in a bowl or jug. Then vigorously grind with a blender. Let me warn you right away: the smells of cocktails using dairy products are disgusting. Well, nothing. Beauty always requires...

Fundamental Principles

Mosses, or bryophytes, are higher plants without a root and vascular system. They appeared more than 400 million years ago; they do not grow only in deserts and semi-deserts due to the lack of water there. Accordingly, the first condition for growing a plant is a sufficient amount of moisture. Water also serves as a source of nutrition for him.

The second condition for the development of bryophyte is the absence of direct sunlight: under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the plant loses its color and gets burned. Bryophytes, as has been said, do not have roots and reproduce like mushrooms by means of spores. The approximate time for spores to ripen is late summer.

Gives airiness to the soil

Sphagnum is also added to the soil in crushed form. Due to its good breathability and thermal conductivity, moss allows air to pass into the soil and prevents the soil from drying out and compacting too much. It is this property that is very important when transplanting seedlings into the ground, because often when removing a sprout from earthen soil, its root system is damaged. From soil with the addition of sphagnum, sprouts are removed easily and without damage.

Strong nasturtium seedlings: 6 useful growing tips

How to grow moss at home: basic principles

Before you start breeding mosses, you need to understand their needs and needs. First, mosses growing on trees will not survive on rock or soil, and vice versa. So you need to place the brought “shred” on a suitable base.

Secondly, mosses need diffused and indirect light. If the sun shines on them only in the mornings or evenings, the mosses will delight you with their bright colors. But the midday rays will make the moss pale, dull, and may even completely destroy it.

Thirdly, the source of planting material is important. Before asking yourself how to grow moss at home, ask specialty stores if they sell it. This way you will definitely be dealing with healthy specimens and will not infect any existing plants at home. If there is no moss on sale, go to the forest. Just clearly remember what came from where, and remove the moss with a layer of turf.

It must be taken as seriously as possible, since it is unrealistic to grow moss at home that was initially placed incorrectly. Any vessel can be used for plantation. But it will look most impressive in a glass bowl, rounded vase or spherical aquarium. In addition, it is easier to create and maintain the desired microclimate in such containers.

To make moss feel comfortable at home, small expanded clay or washed pebbles are poured into the bottom of the vessel. Granulated coal is placed on top of the drainage, and the substrate is placed on it. For soil, take one that is intended for epiphytes and marsh plants, then the mosses will settle in faster. A landscape is formed on the ground and moss is laid out, with light pressure from above. After the landscape is formed, it is watered abundantly to stimulate survival.

The moss composition does not require special attention. But only after the “greenery” takes root. Therefore, the main subtlety of how to grow sphagnum moss at home is to provide it with abundant moisture at first, and then maintain this at a constant average level. The pads should be sprayed daily for a week or two, while monitoring to ensure there is no flooding effect. Condensation should form on the walls of the vessel only in the morning. If the moss covering begins to darken, it means that the intensity of watering needs to be reduced. When the mosses begin to grow, spraying is carried out less frequently, once every three or even five days.

Growing moss at home may also involve fighting mold at the first stage. It usually appears if the “rugs” were not brought from the store. In this case, problem areas are treated with phytosporin. Although some moss growers believe that the plantings themselves will cope with this scourge. But it seems to us that it is better to help them: the moss is weakened until it fully adapts, and it does not need additional stress and load.

If you created an installation in an open flowerpot, then you need to spray the moss daily. Otherwise, it will quickly dry out and lose its decorative effect.

Notes and recommendations

Very often, in recipes for preparing soil mixtures for indoor plants, this mysterious ingredient is found - sphagnum moss. And in 90% of cases it is not explained what kind of moss this is and why it is needed. But sphagnum moss is a unique plant with unique capabilities. And now I will tell you what it is - sphagnum moss, and why it is needed.

Sphagnum moss.

This moss grows mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. In the South it can only be found in the mountains; on the plains it is very rare (but they say that it can be found). But sphagnum moss still grows in large quantities in the North. There, in the North, it is mined industrially and used in construction (as excellent thermal insulation), in medicine and even in perfumery. Sphagnum is also called “white moss” because of its light color.

Properties of sphagnum.

Sphagnum moss has three important properties that make it indispensable in floriculture. This:

Air permeability, which allows you to keep the earthen substrate moist and, at the same time, make it extremely light.
Hygroscopicity. According to this indicator, sphagnum is the absolute leader. One part of its volume can absorb more than twenty parts of moisture! Not even cotton can do this. In this case, moistening occurs evenly, and moisture is released into the substrate equally evenly and in doses. As a result, the soil mixture containing it will always be moist, but not waterlogged.
The disinfectant and antibacterial properties of sphagnum are so high that they have even been used in medicine! The antibiotics, triterpine compounds and many other “benefits” contained in sphagnum moss protect the roots of indoor plants from rotting and other troubles.

Application.

Sphagnum moss is added to soil mixtures of indoor plants that not only require high humidity, but also many others. They love it very much: Saintpaulias, begonias, Dieffenbachias, dracaenas, azaleas, sansevierias, monsteras, streptocarpus, crassulas - and this is only a small part of the list of indoor plants, adding sphagnum moss to the soil, even in small quantities, will save you a lot of trouble. And rooting cuttings in it is a real pleasure. Violet growers, for example, of all the methods of rooting violet leaves prefer rooting in sphagnum.

Of course, residents of the Northern regions can prepare it themselves in sphagnum bogs (white bogs), it is perfectly stored, and it can even be propagated and grown. “Live” moss must be stored frozen (refrigerator freezer); when defrosted, it comes to life. We, residents of warm regions, can only hope for a retail network and the Internet, where you can easily find an online store selling sphagnum moss.

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Description

Javanese, as aquarists also call it, is a hypnotic moss. To properly grow this aquarium plant, you do not need to comply with any special requirements regarding water and lighting parameters that differ from keeping other types of plants and fish. In addition, moss can grow not only in the soil, but also on the surfaces of stones and driftwood, even on the walls of an aquarium, since it does not have a root system.

This underwater inhabitant, properly planted and placed, can make the design of an artificial reservoir unique.

True, in this case the moss is an epiphyte, that is, it does not parasitize on them. Moreover, it performs a useful function - it absorbs decay products and harmful components that accumulate over time in the aquatic environment.

It must be said that this feature is characteristic of many tropical plants, both aquatic and land, and the Javanese comes from Southeast Asia. By the way, its name comes from the name of the island of Java, where it also grows in large quantities.

Appearance of the aquatic organism:

the plant has a thin, soft and long stem (from 17 to 45 cm);
the leaves are small, thin, up to 2 mm, with sharp tips, their color depends on the degree of illumination and oxygen level: younger ones are light green, and older ones darken over time;
Javanese also has many tiny rhizoid organs - peculiar roots in the form of threads, with the help of which it is attached to glass and various objects;
The plant can be located both on horizontal and vertical surfaces.

Java moss in an aquarium can form a real soft green carpet that looks quite exotic, but first it needs to be grown and secured so that it does not spread.

Retains moisture in the soil

Due to its unique hygroscopicity (moss is able to absorb moisture 20 times its own weight), sphagnum retains moisture in pots with seedlings. This factor is very important, since central heating in an apartment greatly dries out the air, which means that the seedlings need to be watered frequently. Moss solves this problem. Typically, pots or flowerpots with seedlings are mulched with moss, thereby providing the seedlings with a positive microclimate.

Popular types of moss for country house design

Delicate green pads of a round, slightly convex shape are formed by Leukobria moss.

Plants of the genus Leucobryum take root well and develop in the shade, on moist sandy soils, although a small amount of sunlight will not harm them either

Hypnosis moss is used to decorate stone or concrete paths, patios or low fences. Previously, it was used in dried form to insulate wooden huts.

The genus Hypnum thrives on rocky, woody and brick surfaces, although it is often used to create lawns

All mushroom pickers are familiar with Kukushkin flax - small vertically elongated columnar plants. This is Polytrichum vulgaris, a striking representative of Japanese moss gardens.

Plants of the genus Polytrichum commune prefer moist forest soil or wetlands. In favorable conditions, the plant reaches a height of 35-40 cm

Green moss Dicranum is a real find for decorating stones and concrete fences.

Small round pads of a bright green hue are small in height - up to 4 cm, so they adhere well to vertical surfaces

Fern moss creates dense, picturesque thickets and, with its carved leaves, actually resembles a fern.

Thuidium simply loves shady areas of the garden and solitude, so beware of making compositions with this moss and other plants that it will definitely survive

Sphagnum is often used in indoor floriculture and for growing ornamental plants in the garden. The stems of the plant are added to the flower soil to make it looser and softer.

Peat moss comes in many vibrant colors, from pinkish-red to rich green. The best places for its growth are the banks of streams, artificial ponds and natural reservoirs.

As you can see, growing moss is not that difficult. Its cultivation does not require financial costs, and the benefits are incomparable: even in the dull off-season period, evergreen mats will delight you with the brightness of their colors.

The tiny plant, which creates a soft, dense emerald-colored covering, is an integral part of the forest landscape. Moss growing in a garden area greatly enhances the landscape. Now imagine that you can grow this green carpet right at home! How to do it? Let's find out.

Representatives of the Bryophyte family, along with ferns, are among the oldest inhabitants of the Earth. The earliest paleontological finds place their age at approximately 0.4 million years ago, towards the beginning of the Carboniferous period. In total, there are over 10 thousand species of moss on the planet, and the botanical classification defines about 177 families. Experts identify the following families among the main varieties:

Tetraphys mosses;
Andreevs;
Leafy (95% of the whole class);
Polytrichous;
Sphagnum;
Takakiaceae;
Hepatic;
Anthocerotaceae;
Pottiaceae (the largest family - 3223 species).

Classification according to the type of green cover created by bryophytes is also acceptable:

Pleurocarpous – creates a “carpet” that spreads low over the surface and actively grows in breadth;
Acrocarpous - grows in bushes and at first grows tall, becoming thicker, and then begins to grow horizontally.

Moss is extremely easy to grow. It grows and develops without feeding, does not require special care, and can withstand harsh conditions, diseases and temperature changes. The peculiarity of the plant is that it does not bloom and has spore reproduction.

Application

All parts of the plant are used as an affordable, environmentally friendly material. Living tops are used in medicine and veterinary medicine. Together with the dried part of the stems, green shoots are used in gardening, handicrafts, and in construction using logs and timber. The lower part, which has turned into peat, is an excellent garden and garden fertilizer.

In its purest form

Sphagnum moss grows in lowlands and, thanks to its unique combination of properties, is applicable in a variety of areas:

Due to its low thermal conductivity, it is in demand in construction (as insulation and insulator).
Disinfects and deodorizes premises, eliminating unpleasant odors. Particularly effective for signs of mold or rot.
The peoples of the north use layers of moss as warm, hygroscopic blankets for children.
Sphagnum moss is used to create filler for baby diapers (Johnson and Johnson), as well as in the production of sanitary napkins.
Official medicinal preparations from sphagnum exist in Europe and China.

But the main use of sphagnum is floriculture. This material is indispensable for growing orchids and other delicate, moisture-loving plants. Moreover, moss has many uses.

As a substrate component

When preparing soil mixtures, both living tops and peat are used. In Canada and Germany, moss is bred specifically to be added to garden substrates.

When sphagnum is added, the soil becomes highly hygroscopic. Water is retained without the risk of root rot or substrate deterioration. Plants always have access to moisture, and root respiration is not disturbed. Moss slightly increases the acidity of the soil, which should be taken into account for plants sensitive to this indicator.

For most potted crops, adding a small amount of sphagnum moss is undoubtedly beneficial. The microclimate improves significantly, and the absorption of nutrients occurs faster. Improving the soil due to beneficial microorganisms contributes to the better development of indoor plants.

Sphagnum (high-moor) peat can also improve soil structure. It is used not only in home floriculture, but also in the garden. But such an additive significantly acidifies the soil. It is used only in areas with significant alkalization or for plants that require an acidic soil reaction.

As a top dressing, moss is practically useless. Improvement in the condition of plants occurs due to the general improvement of the soil and the development of beneficial microflora.

To cover the soil

Mulching has become a common technique for floriculture and gardening. Sphagnum moss perfectly serves as a covering material. For plants in pots, such mulch retains moisture, which is very useful in dry indoor air.

Watering mulched houseplants can be reduced by more than 2 times. Additionally, flowers receive protection from fungal and bacterial infections. The soil in pots covered with sphagnum does not become moldy, and the roots get sick much less often. Irrigation water, passing through a layer of sphanum, is additionally filtered.

To use moss as mulch, simply spread it on the soil around the stems. In this case, sphagnum can touch tender shoots or trunks. There is no damage to the stems at the points of contact.

In the absence of watering for a long time, sphagnum is able to support plants by releasing moisture. This property of moss is especially useful for those who leave home for a long time and want to take care of the condition of their indoor flowers.

Use for garden or vegetable garden:

Outdoors, sphagnum moss can also be used as mulch.
Young plants are covered with layers of moss in preparation for frost.
Sphagnum moss can be used to wrap trunks and branches of heat-loving plants as winter approaches. At the same time, the wood does not rot or deteriorate during thaws.
When covering the soil, the lower part of the sphagnum, gradually dying, turns into peat already on the site, enriching the soil and increasing its looseness.

Living peat moss is often planted in ordinary flower beds or alpine slides as an original decoration. The decorative properties of sphagnum allow you to create realistic rocky landscapes. The microclimate in such flower beds improves noticeably, and exotic plants acclimatize more easily.

For garden crops, sphagnum is a salvation from overheating of the soil in summer. Under a layer of moss, the soil is always several degrees cooler than the air. This mulch is not suitable only for herbaceous berry plants: strawberries and wild strawberries. Under a layer of sphagnum, their roots are prone to damping off.

Like drainage

Dry sphagnum moss is often placed at the bottom of planting containers to create a drainage layer. Moss absorbs excess liquid when watering and releases moisture when the substrate dries. In this case, the effect of preventing diseases of the root system is additionally achieved.

Compared to other drainage materials (expanded clay, perlite), sphagnum occupies a much smaller volume and performs the same functions.

Like a rug

Living sphagnum is one of the most unpretentious plants. It requires only moisture and warmth to develop. The ability to grow in low light conditions allows it to be used in a room such as a bathroom. Modern designers have come up with a way to create an eco-friendly and healthy bath mat from ordinary moss. In this case, the plant is planted directly in special boxes, without any substrate.

There is no need to care for sphagnum moss in the bathroom. Daily watering upon contact with wet feet is enough for him. In addition, sphagnum will absorb excess moisture from the air, destroy unpleasant odors, and prevent fungi and mold from appearing in the bathroom.

To humidify the air

One way to save plants when the air is too dry is to place them in trays of water. This technique is required on particularly hot summer days or in winter, when the heating is on.

If you lay sphagnum on pallets, or supplement it with a layer of expanded clay, the air will be humidified more evenly, and the flowers will receive an additional flow of oxygen. In such cases, it is more effective to use live moss. Sphagnum moss should be watered no more than once every few days. On particularly hot days, live moss is sprayed in the morning and evening.

For rooting cuttings and young plants

Sphagnum moss grows around aspen trees and is very effective at rooting vegetative shoots and germinating seeds. The results of such propagation are always better than with classical methods (in water, sand or soil).

Methods of using moss for rooting and germination:

Simply place the seeds in damp moss and wrap them. Excess moisture will be absorbed by the sphagnum, and the planting material will not mold. You will have to moisten such a package no more than 2 times a week.
Cuttings quickly take root when wrapped in damp moss. Germination of even fairly thick shoots of roses gives good results. They also root the leaves of any indoor plants, for example, violets, which are prone to rotting of the petioles.
Seedlings of garden crops develop well in layers of sphagnum. This method is especially suitable for tomatoes. To do this, instead of soil, pieces of moss are placed tightly on the planting cups. The remaining steps for planting and growing are standard.
The bare lower parts of the stems of any ornamental crops can be wrapped in a layer of sphagnum and secured with thread or thin wire. The same technique is appropriate for plants with aerial roots.

With vegetative propagation of garden bushes and trees, it is possible to achieve rooting of living branches without cutting. To do this, notches are made on the selected branch and the area is wrapped in damp sphagnum moss and polyethylene on top. This structure will not need to be moistened often. After the roots appear, the branch is cut off and then used as a seedling.

For winter storage

By laying the collected bulbs or root vegetables in layers of sphagnum moss, you can significantly extend their shelf life. Moss provides constant humidity and air access, so rot or mold develops much less frequently.

In the same way, bulbs of garden perennials and dahlia roots can be stored. When stored in wet sand, they often become damp, and without minimal moisture they tend to wither and dry out.

To protect against fungal diseases

The antiseptic and bactericidal properties of sphagnum appear both when used as drainage and when ground dry moss is added to the soil. When preparing soil mixtures, peat and sphagnum do not require preliminary sterilization.

It has been noticed that fungi do not multiply in substrates with the addition of moss. In addition, sphagnum can inhibit the development of pathogenic spores in neighboring pots.

For making hanging baskets and supports

Sphagnum moss is easy to create hanging baskets and planters. Also, blocks and supports for plants with hanging roots are formed from ready-made moss plates.

To create a hanging basket, just take a mesh base, lay wet layers of sphagnum on it and fill the resulting container with soil with a small amount of swollen hydrogel. You can plant flowers in such a basket and hang them on the terrace or in the garden. The design will retain moisture for up to 3 days even in extreme heat.

For philodendrons, monstera and other aroids, special supports are made from sphagnum. To do this, an elastic garden net made of plastic is rolled up into a tube and filled with moss. The structure is installed directly into the flower pot when transplanting.

Moss absorbs excess moisture from the soil. Additionally, it can be watered from above. The aerial roots of domestic flowers growing on such supports receive enough moisture and the flowers do not lose their decorative effect even in hot weather.

Decorative moss for the garden

In landscape design, moss is used to decorate the garden. The plant does not require care, develops quickly and recovers from unfavorable conditions. Using low-growing species, you can disguise protruding tree roots and ugly stones, or decorate a statue or bridge. The dense green covering in the recreation area looks like a velvety carpet.

Decorative moss on stoneSource kitchengardenr.com

Moss decorations in the garden Source kvartira.mirtesen.ru

Moss prefers to grow in shady areas of the garden. To make the plant take root faster, it is recommended to increase the acidity of the soil with peat. In the heat, the culture stops developing, so in the evenings the surfaces are sprayed with water from a spray bottle. During the winter, it is prohibited to whitewash tree trunks on which living decorations are located.

Moss decor on stoneSource yandex.uz Decorating tiles with decorative mossSource bing.com

To decorate the landscape, designers often use moisture-loving cuckoo flax with tall stems. Flowering hybrids include white and Anders saxifrage. Externally, the crops resemble bells on thin legs that stand above the moss. For vertical gardening, low-growing dicranum, which prefers coniferous trees, is suitable. The fern variety helps to create dense openwork thickets on the site. Peat lichen has variegated shoots and loves sandy soil.

Carpet of moss under the trees Source tr.pinterest.com

Blooming species of mossSource yandex.ru

Moss rockery Source teresasplants.com

How to prepare

Peat moss, sphagnum, can be found not only in specialized stores. A fresh, living plant grows in a shady deciduous forest, near lakes and swamps. Sphagnum is especially common in the north of the country.

Harvesting moss yourself is not difficult and has only a few rules:

the highest quality sphagnum grows in shady places;
harvesting is carried out in the fall before the onset of cold weather, during maximum growth;
for medicinal purposes, sphagnum can be collected from May to early September;
to obtain living plants and further cultivation, only the green tops are cut off with scissors;
a patch of moss can be easily removed from the general carpet, but it is not recommended to disturb the entire covering unnecessarily;
Most often, the upper (green and whitish) part of the sphagnum is cut off using a knife, or individual bunches are pulled out.

When preparing a large volume of raw materials, they try to take moss from different parts of the sphagnum meadow. This way the plant will quickly make up for losses and restore growth by next year.

When harvesting sphagnum, try to avoid swamps. Carpets of sphagnum moss often hide deep bogs, and horseflies and mosquitoes are especially annoying in damp places. In addition, moss collected from trees or on small hills is easier to dry.

Features of collection

Moss, which is made using the stabilization method, has found its application in interior design, decorating facades, terraces and gardens. In this way, you can decorate not only a private space, but also a shopping complex, store, hotel, clinic. Such a plant can be colored red, orange, blue, black and other colors. The variety of colors allows you to make paintings, panels, living walls from stabilized bryophyte, decorate ceilings in an original way, and create green areas.

This non-toxic and absolutely harmless material is characterized by durability, no need for maintenance, attractive appearance and wide possibilities of use. The first stage of canning is the selection of vegetation.

Collection must be carried out at certain times of the year. In this case, it is worth taking only mature representatives of the flora.

Fundamental Principles

Mosses, or bryophytes, are higher plants without a root and vascular system.

They appeared more than 400 million years ago; they do not grow only in deserts and semi-deserts due to the lack of water there. Accordingly, the first condition for growing a plant is a sufficient amount of moisture. Water also serves as a source of nutrition for him.

The second condition for the development of bryophyte is the absence of direct sunlight: under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the plant loses its color and gets burned.

Bryophytes, as has been said, do not have roots and reproduce like mushrooms by means of spores. The approximate time for spores to ripen is late summer.

Did you know?
Scientists conducted an interesting experiment with a sample of bryophyte found icy in Antarctica. Having defrosted the plant, it was placed in an incubator and, despite the fact that the sample, according to biologists, froze fifteen hundred years ago, it returned to life.

Appearance

Now it’s worth telling what sphagnum moss looks like - the photos still give only a fairly superficial idea.

He cannot boast of a particularly outstanding appearance. It has a very thin green stem that starts at the root and stretches upward. It is distinguished by its emerald green color. The upper part is covered with small leaves arranged in a spiral. By the way, for the sake of clarity, it should be noted that this moss actually has no roots. And that brown part, which not very experienced botanists perceive as a root, is an old, dead part of the plant.

Sphagnum, despite its small size, is a perennial plant. As cold weather approaches, it freezes to continue life in the spring. It only grows upward, not sideways. The lower part dies over time, rots, becoming peat.

The stems grow very densely, most often in damp places. Because of this, only the upper part receives the light necessary for the development of green plants. And in the lower, shaded area, chlorophyll is destroyed over time, and it becomes white. Over time it rots, turning brown.

It reproduces, like most mosses, with the help of spores. They contain germ cells grown on the stem. After ripening, the sac bursts, and thanks to water and wind, light spores are carried over a considerable distance.