Growing moss on rocks

[Mark]

Anyone tried it??? I've heard that it works but never tried it myself. Seems there are a million recipes for making the 'slury'. Some involving yogurt, mayonaisse, buttermilk, beer, etc etc.

[cgland]

I tried it a few years ago, but it eventually died. The HO really needs to be diligent with multiple daily mistings to keep it moist

[Mark]

Chris
What was your recipe and how long did it take to grow ???

[GreenMonster]

Hey genius, at the pace you move, you outta just transplant the moss that's growing on your azz.

[Mark]

PUNK

How's construction?

[cgland]

a handful of moss, a splash of buttermilk, liquified in a blender then sprayed on the desired surface

[GreenMonster]

he he :)

shop is almost done. sitework is close, but lots of finish work to do. house is decked and walls going up.

when is your punk azz coming by to check it out?

[Mark]

a handful of moss, a splash of buttermilk, liquified in a blender then sprayed on the desired surface

how long until you had growth......were you selective in what moss you chose? I know some mosses are more heat/sun tolerant than others

[Mark]

he he :)

shop is almost done. sitework is close, but lots of finish work to do. house is decked and walls going up.

when is your punk azz coming by to check it out?

I just wish we lived closer to each other so we could see each other more often! Did I say that out loud? I mean um yeah....been working late at the factory and when I git home I have ta make sure my woman's doin everything i wan her ta do.
Seriously, I need to get out there to check it out. I need to get the boy dirty and use to being around equipment. Have you even seen him yet???

Here's a pic of the kids a month or so ago

[cgland]

2-3 weeks for some decent growth. Not really selective, just grabbed dome that was already on site

[Grn Mtn]

I planted some steppables in some joints of a walkway I did were the stabilizing sand washed out (bad batch), the stuff is still alive and growing. Can't remember the exact type but I think it was steppable tyme, sun and heat tollerant.

[Flyscaper]

Another good alternative that we like to use is Mazus Reptans. It does well with foot traffic and has nice blooms in the spring thru early summer depending on the variety you choose

[Mark]

Primarily looking to hide scratches on boulders with true moss, but that ground cover Mazus looks like a cool plant. I've never even heard of it before.

[CaptainsLS]

I would use Lichen. Add a cup of sugar to a gallon of water, spray the stone on a weekly basis. If you can find some lichen and rub the lichen into the sugar-water mixture on the stone you might see almost instant results.


edit- I try to buy stone with much lichen on it from the stone yard. Spreading the lichen with the sugar-water just accelerates and spreads the growth rapidly

[ClearValley]

I have had a lot of success with sedum
Sedum cauticola: Sedum kamtschaticum : Sedum repestre and spurium

[Mark]

I would use Lichen. Add a cup of sugar to a gallon of water, spray the stone on a weekly basis. If you can find some lichen and rub the lichen into the sugar-water mixture on the stone you might see almost instant results.


edit- I try to buy stone with much lichen on it from the stone yard. Spreading the lichen with the sugar-water just accelerates and spreads the growth rapidly

Really???? I've never heard of that mix. What kind of time frame are you thinking when you say "almost instant"

[Flyscaper]

One more to throw in could be Delosperma Cooperi 'Hardy Ice Plant'

[CaptainsLS]

Lichens are weird things. I'm not sure if they are even considered a plant? There are noticeable different kinds around and some grow thicker and faster than others. You could use the buttermilk I guess, but we built a stone wall for a lady that was a member of the local garden club. That's how I found out about the sugar water mix.
The difficult part about growing moss is getting it started. Lichen is much easier in that respect. Once it starts it just spreads and spreads. She got them started without introducing the actual lichen, just created the environment for them. Add the lichen and sugar-water and they should start right up. About a month and we saw new growth latching on and spreading in the sprayed areas.

[4seasons]

Mark did you try your mix? if you did how did it work?
Captain...
what color was your lichens that you grew.
I have a customer that really wants moss, but lichens
would work also.

[CaptainsLS]

Captain...
what color was your lichens that you grew.

I think they were white/green/brown colored. Whatever lichens you scraped off from a remote area and applied to the desired area (with the slurry) seemed to reproduce more of the same.