Just don't drink the moss milkshake...

I saw this method on the Mythbusters when they were trying to grow moss on rolling stones.

Any ideas if this would work well in a terrarium?

@ghunt, I don't see why it wouldn't. Just be sure to get a low growing variety of moss or you'll end up with a mini forest like I did.

If anyone has information about whether this would be safe for use with reptiles, please let me know.

I've been wanting to put some moss in my corn snake's terrarium for a while, but am worrying about the buttermilk end of this...

I have frogs, and have read about this method for use in frog terrariums, but haven't tried it yet. It is safe for them though, and I am planning on doing it at some point.

I've tried this. It does work pretty well. Be warned...there is a fairly pungent smell involved at first.

At last a use for the leftover buttermilk. I rarely seem to be able to finish off a quart, even with my best intentions.

I did this! It does work, and yes, it does smell. But I'm a big fan of moss, so it was worth it. HOWEVER, moss does thrive in moist, dark conditions, so if you have too much light, you'll have to water your moss or it will dry out.

Ah! My husband and I were JUST watching Bill Nye the Science guy, and this was one of the experiments.

They said "Don't drink it!" so many times, it made us want to chug a gallon of moss-milk.

How pungent is the odor? I'd be interested in doing this, but as all of my space is indoor (condo) I wouldn't want to overwhelm the place. I see the photos in the tutorial are outdoor shots....

Also curious what types of moss are recommended.

Thanks!

krunkinator, I did this outdoors so I couldn't tell you how it would smell inside. I can only tell you that it will smell. As for type of moss, look between the cracks in the sidewalk in a shady spot, or go to a wooded area. You'll see it growing on the ground in places where there's not much sun. Any moss will do. I'd be interested to find out how this works inside. Sort of an interesting idea.

Yes, I wanted to try this on an old multi-paned window frame I'm using as a frame for some of my post cards. I think it would look great, but a little concerned (now) about the smell and the possible damage to the window frame. Will the moss damage the wood?

So...now that I live in the Pacific Northwest, the problem is really getting rid of moss. It grows everywhere you don't want it: pretty much every surface on the deck, on the stone path and stairs leading up to our apartment- which is a safety hazard when it gets slick and you're walking up and down them. With all that said, I still think moss is pretty :)

would this work if i poured it on my patio paved with bricks that have lots of cracks between the bricks? i do get sun and there is moss growing in the front courtyard but it would make our private patio so much softer.

does this promote mold to grow? Anyone know? Cause that's hard to stop when it starts.

would love to see some after photos

Yes, Joan, you can do it. But as I said, if you get a lot of sun you might have to water it to keep it growing. You can also take some of the moss from the front courtyard and literally transplant it into the cracks in your patio. Then poor the shake around and see if it starts to spread. If there's too much light and not enough moisture it might not. Then again, it might. It's certainly worth a try. Good luck!

If I don't want to look around for moss, is there anywhere I can buy it?

Absolutely, pksublime - just send me $20 and a self addressed stamped envelope to buy those sources. For $5 more, my nephew will stare at moss and enjoy it on your behalf, so you can avoid the whole messy business! :-)

creative license, thanks. I'll give it a shot in the next several weeks, whenever I can slot 2 weeks without guests. Can anything stink for more than two weeks? If I can thin out the mixture, maybe that might help dilute the stank. Or I might try to mix it with vinegar? That might kill the culture, but it might be worth a try.

I get the esthetic, but this sort of thing is hilarious to those of us who live where moss will cover anything that doesn't move. How do you grow moss on a pot? Place it my courtyard.

Cool! I've also seen this done to create patterns or text if you're up for a bit of mossy whimsy; it would be a fun project for kids.

To the person who asked if it will damage wood: yes, the moss will hold moisture, which could cause the wood to decay (I've seen a fair number of cedar-shingled roofs turned rotten by moss 'round these parts). I think it's fine for a living tree but wouldn't paint it onto a house or furniture.

If you have a dark, moist spot in your garden, a combination of moss, rocks, ferns and skunk cabbage would look gorgeous.

I read some where that the moss doesn't last too long before you have to do it again, is this true?

While you can use almost any moss, it is important that you match the site/conditions/general substrate to where you found the starter moss. There are plenty of mosses that grow in somewhat xeric(dry) conditions that will not grow in really damp conditions.

@ atomicranch79 -

I recently tried to cover some small flower pots using the method, and I got tons of mold. In fact, the moss didn't grow, but only the mold... Looks like a lot of people have had success, so maybe I'll give it another go.

I was just planning on looking up this "recipe". Very timely. I'm assuming this will work with any moss? As there's tons growing around the creek on some abandoned lots I was planning on harvesting.

It won't work with Scottish moss since its not really moss! I'm attempting to do this on my flagstone walkway, will it grow on sand (that's what I used to grout my flagstone)

J.J.WISE, sand probably drains too freely for this to work (moss grows best in soggy, dank spots. But since this experiment is pretty hands-off and would cost nothing other than some collected buttermilk dregs, it's worth giving it a try! Report back here and let us know how it goes.

My mom has always said that a can of beer works, too! But who wants to waste it on moss? ; )

As MUDDYMUDKEEPER said, different mosses require different conditions (light, moisture, ph-level, air pollution). A moss from a wet, rotten wooden log deep in the woods most probably will not thrive on a more sunny brick wall, on terracotta pots or on flagstone pavers.

I was wondering if anyone had tried using something other than buttermilk--I'd heard of beer before, as skullandsparrow recommended. Any luck with beer? Or maybe something cultured, like yogurt? Or could I put a tablespoon of vinegar in regular milk to curdle it? I don't tend to have buttermilk around.

Does this work on soil?