I love outdoor spaces filled with overgrown blooms, piles of mismatched pots, bits and bobs of weathered sculpture and richly textured blankets of moss. Though moss could be associated with the words dilapidated or swampy it is actually a very healthy vegetation in that it has no known pests or diseases. It's also extremely forgiving and requires little to no maintenance. It's soft on your feet if used as a ground cover, stays green throughout colder months and is really easy to propagate. Learn how to grow your own moss after the jump.
What You Need
Ingredients
Existing sample moss from a yard or a garden store. It can be dead or alive.
Equal parts buttermilk and water
Tools
A blender
A paintbrush (optional)
Instructions
1. Measure two cups of water and two cups of buttermilk.
2. Pour both into the blender.
3. Top with moss to fill the blender.
4. Blend until you have a milkshake consistency. You want the existing moss to separate.
5. Paint or pour the mixture on rocks, fences, foundation, bricks, ceramic pots, trees or wherever you'd like to see moss grow. You can get creative and draw pictures if you'd like or write things if you're feeling fancy.
Additional Notes:
Use a mister to keep moss moist for the first couple of weeks and if possible grow your moss in a shaded area. The moss should start to grow within 3 weeks.
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(Images: Tanya Lacourse)
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Thank you so much for this how-to. I have considered turning my shady backyard lawn over to moss as grass doesn't grow well there, and the fertilizer and watering requirements for grass don't sit well with me. Now I know how to do it.
I'm fascinated! Buttermilk, a blender, and a paintbrush are not exactly what I think of as gardening tools, but I suppose I'm still a novice gardener! I love your idea to paint things with the moss. I would love to see some after pictures if anyone has them :)
Just google "moss graffitti", there are many inspiring images.
What a cool idea - and a great use for buttermilk. I have a desire to turn my grass over to moss because...am I crazy?
Didn't ya'll do this project on here last year and had it never grow?
There's a brand shown on here months back that makes ground up ready to go moss you add stuff to and guarantees even growth with time. It was called Moss Milkshake I believe (I know around me its tough to come by a good bit of moss)