Different types of moss can add a stunning, lush look to gardens and parks. If you’re looking to add a touch of green velvet to your own backyard, you’ll be happy to know that growing your own moss is actually pretty easy! Here’s a breakdown of the best ways to get your moss garden started.
Different Ways to Grow Your Own Moss
If you want to cultivate your own moss, you’ve got a few great options depending on where you want it to grow. The most common methods include:
- Reviving dried moss,
- Using the “buttermilk method” for stones and walls,
- Growing it from spores,
- Or simply dividing existing plants.
Reviving Dried Moss
Moss is incredibly resilient and has a serious will to survive. In many cases, even moss that looks completely dried out can be brought back to life. Just spread your dried moss over a layer of peat-sand mix and keep it consistently moist. After a few weeks, you should see those plants turn a vibrant green and start forming a thick carpet.
Cultivating Moss with Buttermilk
Since moss doesn’t have traditional roots, it doesn’t actually need soil to thrive. Instead, it uses tiny structures called rhizoids to anchor itself to almost anything—including rocks and brick walls. To help it stick and give it a little nutrient boost, a buttermilk “smoothie” works wonders.
To try this, toss a handful of moss, two cups of buttermilk, and a little water into a blender and pulse until you have a creamy, spreadable consistency. Paint this mixture onto your chosen surface before pressing small pieces of moss onto it.
Growing Moss from Spores
In the wild, moss spreads naturally via spores. You can use this same process for a more controlled setup at home.
You can collect spore capsules from wild moss yourself, or pick up a packet of spores at your local garden center. Just a heads-up: many store-bought “moss” seeds are actually Irish Moss (Sagina subulata). While it looks like moss, it’s technically part of the carnation family!
To start your spores, use a fine brush to dust them onto a seed tray filled with a peat-sand mix or succulent soil. Cover the tray with clear plastic wrap or a bag to keep the humidity high. Keep the soil damp, but avoid spraying from above for the first few weeks so you don’t wash the tiny spores away—always water from the bottom.
In just a few weeks, you’ll see the first green sprouts. Once they’re big enough to handle, you can move them to their permanent home in your garden.
Propagating Moss by Division
If you’re looking for the quickest and easiest route, division is the way to go. Simply take small clumps of moss from your garden or the woods and tuck them into a container with the right substrate. Once those small pieces have grown into larger cushions, you can transplant them wherever you like.
