MOSSES
Moss is a division of Bryophyta, any of at least 12,000 species of small nonvascular spore-bearing land plants. Moss grows throughout the world except in salt water and are commonly found in moist shady locations though there are a few “sun” mosses. Moss is best known for those species that carpet woodlands, forest floors, rocks and other stone or hard surfaces. Mosses break down exposed substrata, releasing nutrients for the use of more complex plants that succeed them. They also help prevent soil erosion by providing surface cover and absorbing water, Oregon forest moss can absorb up to three times its’ weight in water, and they are important in the nutrient and water economy of some vegetation types.

Mosses existed as early as 298.9 million to 252.2 million years ago and more than 100 species have been identified from fossils from as long ago as 66 million years. Muscites, Protosphagnum, Palaeohypnum, and other fossil mosses are similar in structure to modern genera. The large subclass Bryidae makes up most species of mosses, but the subclass Polytrichidae also has some important members. Other, smaller subclasses are represented by only a few species.
                                                                                                            How to Grow Moss
There are 2 general types of moss: pleurocarpous and acrocarpous.
Pleurocarpous moss grows low to the ground and spreads out horizontally very quickly.
Acrocarpous moss grows primarily in clumps and grows in height/thickness before spreading outwards.
Mosses do not flower. At times they will produce small stalks with enlarged tips containing spores for reproduction. These are the sporangia.

If you want to grow your own moss you need to start with moss. You can collect your own if that is an option for you. If you do not have access to your own moss you can order our Fragmented Moss. This is the same quality moss as our other products just torn into smaller fragments to give you larger surface coverage. You can also use our Moss Clumps Sampler or Mini Moss Clumps if you only want to cover a small area. If you do not want to make your own you can order our Paint With Moss, just add water and you are ready to go.
You put your moss in a blender and add water, buttermilk or yogurt (moss needs the acidity), blend well and adjust the thickness until it is as thick as a shake. You can now paint an area, water – lots of watering, and moss will grow.

We live in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon. In our area the mosses are all shade moss. They can tolerate partial sun and very small amounts of direct sun. The more sun the moss gets the more water it will need. If you are in a drier climate you will need to water your moss, especially when you are trying to get it started growing. Once moss is established it is very forgiving. You can choose to allow it to dry out, some of them turn different colors when they are dried, and it will just be dormant not dead. Moss can remain dormant for years as long as it was dried naturally. You just add water to bring it back to life. Not many things that we grow allow this. It is also fun to watch the moss come back to life. The results of re-hydrating moss begin immediately so it’s a lot of fun for young children with proper supervision.

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