Growing moss?
by
Therese C
+3
Does anyone on here know how to grow moss
indoors? I am talking the soft, ground-level, bright green kind. I have a
project I am doing for my grand children of a living city in a 150 gal
aquarium. The grass and trees inside need to be done with moss (my
idea) so it remains more realistic. Any ideas would be greatly
appreciated!
indoors? I am talking the soft, ground-level, bright green kind. I have a
project I am doing for my grand children of a living city in a 150 gal
aquarium. The grass and trees inside need to be done with moss (my
idea) so it remains more realistic. Any ideas would be greatly
appreciated!
This is the kind of moss I am wanting to grow indoors in an aquarium.
6 answers
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@Therese C I just happen to have done my Masters Degree project on Bryophyte Ecology. Bryophtes include Moss and Liverworts. Culturing from scratch is pretty difficult and can take a long long time. Mosses are very simple plants that lack vascular tissue and have to transport all water and nutrients cell to cell. This slows down their growth rates significantly. You would be far more successful transplanting moss from some forest nearby. The normal moss plant we see is actually the Gametophyte and grows from spores. People have tried to grow moss from spores but it is pretty tough. More success has been had by making a slurry of mature plants ( with sporophytes) and spreading that on the substrate and keeping it moist. Moisture is key...but too much and you can foster a mold farm. http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/moss.html go to the link above and click on the animation tab at the top...you will be treated to a nice video on mosses lifecycle
KMS Woodworks
on Oct 11, 2012
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That's a very interesting degree @KMS Woodworks ! @Therese C can you post a picture of the project when you are done? It sounds like it's going to be really neat, I'd like to see what one looks like.
Jeanine Wester
on Oct 11, 2012
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@Jeanine Wester I would be more than happy to post when finished!
Therese C
on Oct 11, 2012
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@KMS Woodworks thank you so much! I was wondering about the success rate of growing common moss. The link certainly helps!
Therese C
on Oct 11, 2012
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I'm thinking you would have the most luck using Ceratodon purpureus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratodon_purpureus it is one of the most widespread species and is a bit more drought tolerate than some others. https://www.google.com/search?q=ceratodon+purpureus&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=9-h2UMnqOeeqywGHx4HYCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=997&bih=420
KMS Woodworks
on Oct 11, 2012
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The video was great! Thanks!
TJB-INC Landscape Contractor
on Oct 22, 2012
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