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#1
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culitvating moss on a large scale
Hello all,
I was wondering if anyone had advice on mass culitvation and harvesting of mosses for eventual use in bonsai pots. I've noticed moss seems to grow great on concrete and brickwork in my back garden and wonder if this could be reproduced on a larger, non-seasonal dependant scale? Perhaps even a commercial scale? I'd love to be able to go into a bonsai nursery and purchase a slab of moss any time of the year for my bonsai. Tis mid Winter here in South Eastern Australia- averaging 15-6 deg C (59-42 deg F), Thanks - Martin |
#2
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"Martin" wrote in message ...
Hello all, I was wondering if anyone had advice on mass culitvation and harvesting of mosses for eventual use in bonsai pots. I've noticed moss seems to grow great on concrete and brickwork in my back garden and wonder if this could be reproduced on a larger, non-seasonal dependant scale? Perhaps even a commercial scale? Sure you can, I'm not sure about the commercial scale though but you can try the following: Lets say you wanted to cover a piece of bark/driftwood or whatever surface with moss. Take the moss sample and break it up into little pieces. Buy a coconut from the grocery store and drain the milk out into a spray bottle. Spray whatever surface lightly with the coconut milk and then garnish with the little pieces of moss. Insert driftwood/whatever into a plastic blown up packet and seal it. Place in a position where it receives UNdirect sunlight. Coconut milk has natural plant growth hormones and soon enough your moss will have covered whatever it is resting upon. All thats left is to pour your favourite coco alchoholic beverage, sit back and relax and watch the moss grow -- Kind Regards Cameron |
#3
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Buttermilk, which is more widely available than coconuts
in most parts of the world, is a good substitute for your moss medium. Alan Walker http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org -----Original Message----- "Martin" wrote in message ... Hello all, I was wondering if anyone had advice on mass culitvation and harvesting of mosses for eventual use in bonsai pots. I've noticed moss seems to grow great on concrete and brickwork in my back garden and wonder if this could be reproduced on a larger, non-seasonal dependant scale? Perhaps even a commercial scale? From: Dogma Discharge Sure you can, I'm not sure about the commercial scale though but you can try the following: Let's say you wanted to cover a piece of bark/driftwood or whatever surface with moss. Take the moss sample and break it up into little pieces. Buy a coconut from the grocery store and drain the milk out into a spray bottle. Spray whatever surface lightly with the coconut milk and then garnish with the little pieces of moss. Insert driftwood/whatever into a plastic blown up packet and seal it. Place in a position where it receives UNdirect sunlight. Coconut milk has natural plant growth hormones and soon enough your moss will have covered whatever it is resting upon. All thats left is to pour your favourite coco alchoholic beverage, sit back and relax and watch the moss grow Kind Regards Cameron ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#4
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If you are interested in growing moss, a good book is Moss Gardening,
by George Schenk (Timber Press, 1997 ISBN 0-88192-370-2). Entertainingly written, and with lots of information about moss cultivation in various situations. Jay "Martin" wrote in message ... Hello all, I was wondering if anyone had advice on mass culitvation and harvesting of mosses for eventual use in bonsai pots. I've noticed moss seems to grow great on concrete and brickwork in my back garden and wonder if this could be reproduced on a larger, non-seasonal dependant scale? Perhaps even a commercial scale? ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#5
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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. Mark Hill - Harrisburg, PA - Zone 6 -----Original Message----- From: Internet Bonsai Club ] On Behalf Of Alan Walker Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 9:13 AM To: Subject: [IBC] culitvating moss on a large scale Buttermilk, which is more widely available than coconuts in most parts of the world, is a good substitute for your moss medium. Alan Walker http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org -----Original Message----- "Martin" wrote in message ... Hello all, I was wondering if anyone had advice on mass culitvation and harvesting of mosses for eventual use in bonsai pots. I've noticed moss seems to grow great on concrete and brickwork in my back garden and wonder if this could be reproduced on a larger, non-seasonal dependant scale? Perhaps even a commercial scale? From: Dogma Discharge Sure you can, I'm not sure about the commercial scale though but you can try the following: Let's say you wanted to cover a piece of bark/driftwood or whatever surface with moss. Take the moss sample and break it up into little pieces. Buy a coconut from the grocery store and drain the milk out into a spray bottle. Spray whatever surface lightly with the coconut milk and then garnish with the little pieces of moss. Insert driftwood/whatever into a plastic blown up packet and seal it. Place in a position where it receives UNdirect sunlight. Coconut milk has natural plant growth hormones and soon enough your moss will have covered whatever it is resting upon. All thats left is to pour your favourite coco alchoholic beverage, sit back and relax and watch the moss grow Kind Regards Cameron ************************************************** ************************** **** ++++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 +++++ |
#6
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"Alan Walker" wrote in message
news:000401c58c63$8b503e70$6101a8c0@Alan... Buttermilk, which is more widely available than coconuts in most parts of the world, is a good substitute for your moss medium. Alan Walker Alan I can positively say that you are wrong! It has to be from a fresh coconut. I've been doing this at home via Tissue Culture and it will only work with *real* fresh coconut milk. Try it for yourself. -- Kind Regards Cameron |
#7
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I've read the same thing, Mark. I haven't seen any rigorous studies on
it, but that doesn't mean they're not out there. It rings true to me, because my grandmother's generation occasionally would crush up and dissolve an aspirin and water with the solution. The active compound--acetysalicylic acid--occurs naturally in willow bark. Since willows root easily in water at almost any diameter, you could try getting a big fat willow cutting, suspending it in water, and then using the water as a rooting solution. That way, you get a tree out of it, too. I'd recommend the buttermilk for moss. The recipe I've always heard was successful was to harvest some moss, knock off as much dirt as possible, and put it and a cup of buttermilk in a blender. You can use the resulting slurry to "paint" moss on wherever you need it. Provided it has enough shade to keep from frying, you should have some success. I've also heard you can use a can of beer instead of buttermilk. If you try them, report back so we know the best way to do this. 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. Mark Hill - Harrisburg, PA - Zone 6 |
#8
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Martin,
Not all mosses are good candidates for bonsai lawns. You need a short, close growing variety. I was taught to harvest moss by my late sensei, Tosh Subruomaru. You go out there with a trowel or spatula and scrape up the surface of the moss, then you sweep this into a dust pan, or whatever, and treat like moss seed. It is better to not use moss on your trees, but good to have some on the side you can use to dress up trees for show. Trees with craggy bark that gets moss growing up the trunk is difficult to correct. You never really get all the moss off the trunk and still keep all the knobby bits. Kits --- Martin wrote: Hello all, I was wondering if anyone had advice on mass culitvation and harvesting of mosses for eventual use in bonsai pots. I've noticed moss seems to grow great on concrete and brickwork in my back garden and wonder if this could be reproduced on a larger, non-seasonal dependant scale? Perhaps even a commercial scale? I'd love to be able to go into a bonsai nursery and purchase a slab of moss any time of the year for my bonsai. Tis mid Winter here in South Eastern Australia- averaging 15-6 deg C (59-42 deg F), Thanks - Martin ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ **** "Expectations are resentments under construction." Anne Lamott ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#9
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About the fresh coconut water helping the plants to grow, can I use
that on any of my plants including cuttings and germinating seeds? See, I live in the Bahamas.. I can get lots of fresh coconut water Tekmanx -Zone 25 (Florida/Bahamas) |
#10
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But you aren't trying to root the moss so I'd guess that willow water
wouldn't do diddly. You need a nutirient that promotes the growth of moss, especially its spores. Ideally a weakish fertiliser. This is why anything from coconut milk to buttermilk to diluted manure WILL work. These have long been used for ageing the stones in Victorian rock gardens (tho' I'm unsure whether cocnut milk was used). I'd say most important is selecting the right mosses, breaking it up and then keeping it damp and protected. They are pretty much bomb-proof, so long as you don't let them get dry or sunburned. Kev Bailey N Wales, UK, Zone 9 __________________________________________________ _______________ Be the first to hear what's new at MSN - sign up to our free newsletters! http://www.msn.co.uk/newsletters ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#11
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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 +++++ |
#12
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Dogma Discharge wrote:
"Alan Walker" wrote in message news:000401c58c63$8b503e70$6101a8c0@Alan... Buttermilk, which is more widely available than coconuts in most parts of the world, is a good substitute for your moss medium. Alan Walker Alan I can positively say that you are wrong! It has to be from a fresh coconut. I've been doing this at home via Tissue Culture and it will only work with *real* fresh coconut milk. Try it for yourself. A gentle reminder: There often is more than one way to skin a cat. (Unless the "Dogma" is a hint? :-) Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect - Aldo Leopold - A Sand County Almanac ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#13
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Tekmanx wrote:
About the fresh coconut water helping the plants to grow, can I use that on any of my plants including cuttings and germinating seeds? See, I live in the Bahamas.. I can get lots of fresh coconut water Tekmanx -Zone 25 (Florida/Bahamas) Only if you want ants. 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 +++++ |
#14
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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? :-) |
#15
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Oh ...sounds like a bad idea.
Tekmanx - Zone 25 (Florida/Bahamas) |
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