Getting Rid of Moss

[PaphMadMan]

Roundup will absolutely kill the moss, but even the slightest contact with the orchid, even a splash of water off the moss next time it was watered, it will harm the orchid too. It would be safer for the orchid to carefully use a blowtorch on the moss.

I agree that the moss isn't apt to be harmful, and indicates a healthy environment, but it could be annoying for someone who doesn't find it esthetically pleasing.

[Fernando]

Have you ever looked at a moss from close up? Have you ever had the opportunity to look at it with a binocular? I could - and have! - spend hours and hours of my life diving in between these little forests of stems, leaves, sporangiums and watching them grow... mosses and a little plant flowering among them, a mini-droplet of dew on the tip of every tiny leaf - ¿where do I stop?

[Joseia]

Originally Posted by Fernando

Have you ever looked at a moss from close up? Have you ever had the opportunity to look at it with a binocular? I could - and have! - spend hours and hours of my life diving in between these little forests of stems, leaves, sporangiums and watching them grow... mosses and a little plant flowering among them, a mini-droplet of dew on the tip of every tiny leaf - ¿where do I stop?

I am also fascinated by moss, just love looking at moss with a magnifying glass. I grow several types of moss in their own containers kept inside an ExoTerra terrarium dedicated to moss. I especially enjoy growing moss in bonsai containers - you can imagine yourself being in a forest when looking through a magnifying glass. And when I mist the moss, it smells like being in a forest right after it rains. Delicious! When I walk in the woods and parks around my home, I always bring a few plastic sandwich bags in case I find any interesting moss I want to take home.

I once received an order of orchids from H&R in Hawaii, and one of the pots had a really nice patch of moss growing in it. I was more excited about the moss than the plant. I have that moss growing in a clear glass bowl and it has really grown well in my terrarium. I was so happy when that moss started to produce sporophytes, couldn't stop thinking about it for days and spent hours looking at them with the magnifying glass every night for a week.

One thing I have learned, however: don't talk to people about moss who don't enjoy growing plants - they just look at you like you are crazy.

[rbarata]

I think I'm a lucky guy...I like moss.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Joseia

One thing I have learned, however: don't talk to people about moss who don't enjoy growing plants - they just look at you like you are crazy.

"There is a pleasure sure, in being mad, which none but madmen know."

[Sharon's Sheepdogs]

Sorry for being off topic but I love that quote bil, do you know what it's from?

[Salixx]

I love my moss! I tend to transplant it with the orchid on purpose when I repot. It makes everything, even things in something as unnatural at s/h feel more natural.

I've found at least 5-6 different kinds near my home. One grows like a tiny fern mat! I have it growing on the back wall in my terrarium, but it has less form there... which makes me sad, but it's still nice and green.

Of course, I have these little red insects (not mites) that came with the plants I bought from Andy's at the Mass Orchid Show in November that I leave be. They freak out and hide if I disturb things so I haven't gotten a chance to get a real good look at them. They don't seem to bother the plants - I think they eating rotting stuff. I'm a live and let live kind of gal though.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Sharon's Sheepdogs

Sorry for being off topic but I love that quote bil, do you know what it's from?

John Dryden the Spanish Friar, I think. I came across it as a chapter heading in Gerald Durrell's 'My family and other animals.'

[Pattywack]

I have to say, I love moss as well. I have several plants with beautiful moss in their pots or mounts. It just seems to complete the planting.

I ordered moss online to plant in my terrarium.

[estación seca]

I don't think original poster AnonYMoss will like where this thread headed.