All You Need to Know About Mood Moss Care and Growth
When incorporating mood moss (Dicranum scoparium) into your garden, terrarium, or landscape design, you bring into your spaces this verdant, plush, and striking representation of the tranquil beauty of the entire forest. Whether you are a professional, or new to the field, the ability to grow and take care of mood moss will be the foundation of your exquisite and easily designed green spaces.
Often, this species moss is awarded for the deep rich green and thick and soft yet dense cushions of moss with a unique, soft look that it provides. That is the reason it is called mood moss since the look changes according to the moisture level of the moss.
What is Mood Moss (Dicranum scoparium)?
Mood moss is a moss species that is under the Dicranum genus and is one of the most common species of moss. It is easy to find across the Great Lakes region, the Appalachian Mountains, and even parts of the Pacific Northwest. In closed shady and wet areas of the forest, it can be found on the forest floor, and can sometimes be seen on rotting tree trunks decorated with the moss or on the ground around tree trunks.
One way to identify this specific plant is the way its leaves are positioned. This plant has slightly curved which uniformly point in the same direction, creating a windswept or coiffed effect. This plant also has a very small stature, usually at a height of 1 to 5 inches. This plant is also fast growing, forming dense clumps spread in many wide directions. This is a non-flowering plant that reproduces without seeds or flowers. Instead this plant reproduces during the summer via capsules that rise above the plant and release spores.
Key Characteristics:
- Hardiness Zones: 1-7
- Light Requirements: Full to part shade
- Mature Height: 1-5 inches
- Mature Width: 3-4 inches clump, but stretches wide
- Soil: Likes acidic, humus-rich soil but can thrive in many soil types
Its texture is one of the most appealing reasons to admire mood moss. The color of mood moss is a living green and looks plush when soil is hydrated. When this moss becomes dry, it will hold its shape but can quickly recover when given soil moisture. Any gardener will appreciate the health and vigor of this plant by the moderate care it requires.
Growing Mood Moss
Mt. Mood moss is easy to grow and is a simple moss to care for. You can grow mood moss as indoor or outdoor moss and care for it with the same basic principles.
Establishing Your Moss
Your mood moss will be the most vulnerable in its first growing stage. During its first one to three months of growing, keep your moss consistently hydrated to help it attach to its new growing environment.
Gently water your moss two to three times a day for two to three minutes. It is best to use a light misting spray or gentle water system, as stronger water streams may disrupt the moss clusters. You need to keep the moss, the soil, and the surface beneath the moss damp without making it soggy. After the three month mark, feel free to keep the same watering schedule if you want your moss to grow faster and thicker.
Care and Keeping
After about 3 to 6 months, mood moss becomes self-sustaining and does not need to be watered that often. For outdoor moss gardens, rainfall should be able to keep the moss alive, especially if it is a shaded, humid area. If it is a very dry time, it is best to water the moss 1 to 2 times weekly to make sure the moss is getting enough water.
If the moss is kept indoors in a terrarium, the water needs will be higher. Closed terrariums have self-sustaining water systems and need very little water. Open terrariums need to be misted often to keep the moss wet.
Mood moss is not fit for areas with a lot of foot traffic. It can be damaged pretty easily and is best fit for a decorative element in rock gardens, standing gardens, and places that need to be decorative and can be looked at without being disturbed.
Creative Uses for Mood Moss in Your Landscape
In your landscape, there are also so many creative things that you can do with your mood moss. It can be used in so many different ways to add color and style.
Here are some adorable uses for mood moss:
Terrariums and Vivariums: This is one of the most common applications of mood moss, providing a perfect miniature wilderness carpet for closed or open glass enclosures.
Rock Gardens: Mood moss can be trained to grow over and in between stones in shady gardens, softening the landscape and providing a perfect counterpoint to the hard, rough textures of the stones.
Ground Cover: Where there is some deep shade and grass doesn’t grow as well, mood moss can serve as a nice, low-maintenance ground covering. It helps keep the place clean and moist.
Topiaries and Living Art: Mood moss can cover topiary forms or be used to create living wall art. Its ability to adhere to surfaces makes it great for all sorts of crafty projects.
Accenting Potted Plants: A layer of mood moss placed at the bottom of a potted tree or a clustered group of ferns creates a polished, professional look and retention of soil moisture.
Looking At Other Great Types of Moss
Mood moss is great, but there are many other types of moss you could explore for different textures and shades of green. Popular choices include Cushion Moss and Broom Forkmoss.
Cushion Moss (Leucobryum glaucum)
Sometimes called Pincushion Moss, this moss grows rounded, dense, cushion-like mounds of moss. Its color is whitish-green and silvery-green and makes a great contrast with dark green mosses like mood moss. Like mood moss, cushion moss grows best in shady areas with acidic soil. However, this moss is more sensitive to moisture than mood moss and can rot from being overwatered. This type of moss is a great option for dry, rocky areas and rock gardens.
Broom Forkmoss (Dicranum scoparium)
Mood moss and Broom Forkmoss can often be confused for one another, and they even share the same scientific name. Broom Forkmoss gets its name from its leaves, which sweep to one side like the bristles of a tiny broom. Broom Forkmoss is great for giving a forest a nice windblown appearance and has the same care requirements as mood moss.
Bring the Forest Home with TN Nursery
Would you like to add the beauty of mood moss to your garden or terrarium? This moss is a great choice for adding color and texture. It is also a very low maintenance moss. This moss is perfect for adding charm to any area. The moss also has a soft, velvety feel, and a bright green color that creates a peaceful style.
We raise and nurture many species of native moss plants. We provide married lawn care and weed free en route so your moss can grow freely. Head back to your garden to explore our moss selection today. The moss is a unique addition to your garden.
FAQs
How do you take care of mood moss?
Moss Mood moss can be taken care of by putting planting in a shady spot. It is to be misted 2 to 3 times a day during the first few months by getting established. After it grows it is highly adaptable and only needs to be watered occasionally.
Does mood moss spread?
Moss mood does spread by slowly growing from its undergrowth and outer area continuously to grow a carpet over time. To encourage this spreading it needs to be hydrated continuously.
What are the downsides of moss lawns?
Moss lawns don't tolerate foot traffic well and prefer shady environments. Therefore they are not able to be used as cover for lawns in places with a lot of sun and use by families.
What is the lifespan of Mood moss?
Mood moss is a plant that can last for a long time. As long as it is taken care of by keeping it in the shade and watered well a piece of it will be able to spread for many years.
Is mood moss hard to take care of?
Not really, mood moss is not hard to take care of because it is one of the easiest to grow and take care of. Once it is established, it takes even less care of, so it is good for beginner gardeners.
Where is the best place to put a closed terrarium?
A closed terrarium is best in a place with bright, indirect light. Direct light can trap extra heat in the glass, burning the plants. A good idea is to put it in the north window.
