As usual, you've taught me something new today Jim.
I had no idea moss didn't have roots.
Guess I should do some research.
I've already ordered the Moss Gardening book recommended by Jay Sinclair.

I've seen moss growing on sunny rocks here in central PA.
I'm assuming these are some local variety able to withstand dry spells and
the occasional very hot spell.
Maybe these are the ones I should be looking for.
Sticking them in a blender with a glass of buttermilk or coconut milk seems
like a do-able solution.
Certainly better than wasting a beer !

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Lewis ]
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 12:01 PM
To: Mark Hill - President, EESiFlo Inc.
Cc:
Subject: [IBC] culitvating moss on a large scale

Mark Hill - President, EESiFlo Inc. wrote:
I've read that soaking willow shoots in a bucket of water results in a
good
rooting medium.
Something in willow shoots that's a natural rooting hormone.
Does anyone know if it's possible to mash a bunch of new willow branches
in
a big bucket to create your own rooting hormone ?

I ask this because I'm creating a new garden in my back yard here in
Pennsylvania with HUGE boulders as accents.
Unfortunately, the boulders don't have that aged look, and I was
considering
covering them with a thin layer of dirt and trying to force moss to grow
on
them. As usual, I'm looking for a shortcut.

PS ..... I have an unlimited source of willow trees on a creek bank.


It's true about the willow bark, but since moss doesn't have
roots . . . . :-)

Anyway, just dig up a couple of handsfull of moss from the
woods somewhere, smear and mash it over the tops of the
rocks, then keep the rocks moist and fairly shady and you
will have moss.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Where
everything that doesn't move is mossy -- and even some
moving objects (tortoises).

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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

I had no idea moss had no roots

Well, yes & no. The worst moss for bonsai is club moss, recognized by by
litle red club-like pellets rising from its needle-like base. This moss has
roots and spreads rapidly across the surface by tiny rhizomes. If you see
it growing in any of your pots, get rid of it.
In fact, unless you want moss as a decorative feature for show purposes, get
rid of all kinds growing in your pots, except for saikei and forest
plantings.
Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Hill - President, EESiFlo Inc."
To:
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 4:47 PM
Subject: [IBC] culitvating moss on a large scale


As usual, you've taught me something new today Jim.
I had no idea moss didn't have roots.
Guess I should do some research.
I've already ordered the Moss Gardening book recommended by Jay Sinclair.

I've seen moss growing on sunny rocks here in central PA.
I'm assuming these are some local variety able to withstand dry spells and
the occasional very hot spell.
Maybe these are the ones I should be looking for.
Sticking them in a blender with a glass of buttermilk or coconut milk
seems
like a do-able solution.
Certainly better than wasting a beer !

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Lewis ]
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 12:01 PM
To: Mark Hill - President, EESiFlo Inc.
Cc:
Subject: [IBC] culitvating moss on a large scale

Mark Hill - President, EESiFlo Inc. wrote:
I've read that soaking willow shoots in a bucket of water results in a
good
rooting medium.
Something in willow shoots that's a natural rooting hormone.
Does anyone know if it's possible to mash a bunch of new willow branches
in
a big bucket to create your own rooting hormone ?

I ask this because I'm creating a new garden in my back yard here in
Pennsylvania with HUGE boulders as accents.
Unfortunately, the boulders don't have that aged look, and I was
considering
covering them with a thin layer of dirt and trying to force moss to grow
on
them. As usual, I'm looking for a shortcut.

PS ..... I have an unlimited source of willow trees on a creek bank.


It's true about the willow bark, but since moss doesn't have
roots . . . . :-)

Anyway, just dig up a couple of handsfull of moss from the
woods somewhere, smear and mash it over the tops of the
rocks, then keep the rocks moist and fairly shady and you
will have moss.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Where
everything that doesn't move is mossy -- and even some
moving objects (tortoises).

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++


************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Mark Hill - President, EESiFlo Inc. wrote:


Moss needs acidity umidity north position and not direct
sun ..
it dries out and return to life like phenix ..
moss spores are eveyrwhere as carried by the wind

in Japan are different varieties ( see google) for
different visual effects on bonsais and is cultivated
also in fields ...spores are on sale

As usual, you've taught me something new today Jim.
I had no idea moss didn't have roots.
Guess I should do some research.
I've already ordered the Moss Gardening book recommended by Jay Sinclair.

While spraying the seedlings regularly to provide moisture, on day I sprayed
a very weak solution of ammonium sulfate as the first dose of fertilizer.
The next day I found the entire top soil turning greenish. And in another
two three days it had moss all over.

In another case once I forgot to take out a Bonsai from a water filled tray.
Five days latter when I realized this lapse, I was surprised to see a thick
blanket of moss all over the surface.

Regards

Anil Kaushik
Bonsai Club (India)
Chandigarh "The City Beautiful"


-----Original Message-----
From: Internet Bonsai Club ] On Behalf Of
Nina

Let's separate the apples from the oranges here, folks. Buttermilk is
used for moss culture because it lowers the pH, which some but not all
mosses like. No special plant hormones are needed to get moss to grow;
moss likes to grow. You provide the conditions it needs if you supply
constant moisture and a little fertilizer. The magic ingredient in
this equation is: water.

Nina.

Jim Lewis wrote:
A gentle reminder: There often is more than one way to skin
a cat. (Unless the "Dogma" is a hint? :-)

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************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

"Jim Lewis" wrote in message
...

A gentle reminder: There often is more than one way to skin
a cat. (Unless the "Dogma" is a hint? :-)


Quite right Jim, there sure are many ways to skin a cat. I have indeed tried
the 'milk in the can' version but sadly I lost ALL my cultures, using the
fresh stuff yields much better results. IMHO

Have any of you ever tried using Java Moss? Its an aquatic moss but does
quite well emersed in semi humid conditions
--
Kind Regards
Cameron

Anil Kaushik wrote:


In another case once I forgot to take out a Bonsai from a water filled tray.
Five days latter when I realized this lapse, I was surprised to see a thick
blanket of moss all over the surface.


you must live in a humid country it does not work so
fast here

Marty Haber wrote:
I had no idea moss had no roots

Well, yes & no. The worst moss for bonsai is club moss, recognized by
by litle red club-like pellets rising from its needle-like base. This
moss has roots and spreads rapidly across the surface by tiny rhizomes.
If you see it growing in any of your pots, get rid of it.
In fact, unless you want moss as a decorative feature for show purposes,
get rid of all kinds growing in your pots, except for saikei and forest
plantings.
Marty

Weeeelllll, but "club moss" isn't a "moss." The old common
name syndrome strikes again.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Nature
encourages no looseness, pardons no errors. Ralph Waldo Emerson

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Thanks to all for the great response.
I've tried buttermilk on some boulders and an old tree stump in my garden
but it kept dissapearing (the milk) by the afternoon every time I applied
it. After two weeks of trying I caught the culprit - my rather chunky and
content looking cat sitting on a boulder happily licking away at the
buttermilk. Should I get her colestrerol checked?

Thanks again to all for the great advice.

"Dogma Discharge" wrote in message
...
"Jim Lewis" wrote in message
...

A gentle reminder: There often is more than one way to skin
a cat. (Unless the "Dogma" is a hint? :-)


Quite right Jim, there sure are many ways to skin a cat. I have indeed
tried
the 'milk in the can' version but sadly I lost ALL my cultures, using the
fresh stuff yields much better results. IMHO

Have any of you ever tried using Java Moss? Its an aquatic moss but does
quite well emersed in semi humid conditions
--
Kind Regards
Cameron

Martin said:

After two weeks of trying I caught the culprit - my rather chunky and content looking cat sitting on a boulder happily licking away at the
buttermilk.

solution: There's more than one way to skin a bad cat!

Let's review our plant anatomy:

Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) have no vascular system, no leaves,
and no roots. The leafy green part is haploid (one copy of each
chromosome), but the hairlike stalks with knobs on top are diploid (2
copies of each chromosomes. We humans, in case you don't know, are
diploid). They reproduce by spores.

Clubmosses have a vascular system (hence a true stem), and true roots,
but no true leaves. The plant we notice is the diploid; there's a tiny
free-living haploid stage. They reproduce by spores.

Ferns have true stems, true roots and true leaves (a true leaf has
"veins"). The part we notice is the diploid stage; there's a small
haploid stage that looks like some sort of filmy alga. [our greenhouse
at work is infested with ferns, so I see the haploid stage if I look]
Reproduction: spores.

[You're bored. I know. But now it becomes bonsai-related]

Gymnosperms are pines, ginkgos, larch, spruce, etc. They are defined
by having seeds, not spores. What's a seed? A seed is the haploid
stage now completely tiny and packaged so it never has to live on its
own.

Angiosperms, finally, are flowering plants, and that includes all trees
that aren't gymnosperms.

So show a little respect for mosses, ferns and clubmosses! They are
very cool. And very different.

Nina.

Nina wrote:

Let's review our plant anatomy:

Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) have no vascular system, no leaves,
and no roots. The leafy green part is haploid (one copy of each
chromosome), but the hairlike stalks with knobs on top are diploid (2
copies of each chromosomes. We humans, in case you don't know, are
diploid). They reproduce by spores.

Clubmosses have a vascular system (hence a true stem), and true roots,
but no true leaves. The plant we notice is the diploid; there's a tiny
free-living haploid stage. They reproduce by spores.

Ferns have true stems, true roots and true leaves (a true leaf has
"veins"). The part we notice is the diploid stage; there's a small
haploid stage that looks like some sort of filmy alga. [our greenhouse
at work is infested with ferns, so I see the haploid stage if I look]
Reproduction: spores.

[You're bored. I know. But now it becomes bonsai-related]

Gymnosperms are pines, ginkgos, larch, spruce, etc. They are defined
by having seeds, not spores. What's a seed? A seed is the haploid
stage now completely tiny and packaged so it never has to live on its
own.

Angiosperms, finally, are flowering plants, and that includes all trees
that aren't gymnosperms.

So show a little respect for mosses, ferns and clubmosses! They are
very cool. And very different.

Nina.

She's nice to have around, isn't she? :-)

Save her message. It could be useful. In fact, it IS useful.

I have a whole folder devoted to "Nina's botany and
botany-related information" and I find myself referring to
it often as I try to respond to messages from folks who
apparently never took even HS basic biology.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - What DO
kids take in High School these days? Tattoos 101?;
"Wholistic" Naval Piercing? How to keep my pants from
falling off 102?

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++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Well, Jim, it gives me a chance to use the facts I learned in college
Paleobotany, which, I have to admit, almost *never* come in handy. But
I took the course from Charles Beck, one of the leading figures in
understanding the evolution of the seed, and he was a wonderful
teacher. He held the course at 8 am to discourage casual students from
taking it.

I double-checked my facts (college was a long time ago!) in a very good
book called "Green Plants: their origin and diversity" by Peter R. Bell
(Cambridge University Press), in case any of you ever have a pressing
need to know the life cycle of Isoetes.

Nina. The pokeweed in my backyard is now 15 feet tall: HELP ME!

Jim Lewis wrote:
Save her message. It could be useful. In fact, it IS useful.

Nina wrote:
Well, Jim, it gives me a chance to use the facts I learned in college

Isn't it fun when that happens? :-)

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Nature
encourages no looseness, pardons no errors. Ralph Waldo Emerson

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++