Best Moss for Bonsai Tree Look

[LooksLater]

Woo-hoo! Gotta love free n. heteropoda mutts...time to dominate the 'shrimp-for-pennies' market, eh?! )

[HiepSTA]

tote you should tie the moss tightly to the branches with sewing thread or very thin fishing line, and let it grow out naturally, dont just wrap the moss to the branches like that, im going to be blunt about it, your tree looks ugly.

your tree should start out looking like this


then let it grow out, eventually the way the moss grows, it will look like a tree, the way you have the moss right now, itll never look like a tree, it will look like algae tangled in wood branches.

this stump you see in the picture with moss tightly tied to it


eventually turned out like this, which i think looks exactly like the bonsai tree look you are going for.


for that tree i used flame moss at the top, and java moss on the branches

[eklikewhoa]

I agree... thin layers and IMO don't wrap the whole branch with moss... that looks ugly too.

I like to leave a bit of the branch sticking out and then start the moss patch if you have nice driftwood to use if not just the ends get moss IMO.

As for your foreground plants, Fishman1 is right, you need to break up the pot into smaller bunches and plant. I would say a normal pot of DHG should make about 30 little groups/bunches to plant.

[nightster]

Great idea, I don't think I have the ability or patience for that lol.
May have to try it since my rocks didn't work out.

[eklikewhoa]

You get a much nicer spread and when planted clumped straight out the pot you might get some die off towards the center due to lack of light.

[nightster]

You get a much nicer spread and when planted clumped straight out the pot you might get some die off towards the center due to lack of light.

+1 I got 2 pots of dhg and pulled it apart somewhat, I probably could have gone with smaller clumps of grass but it will eventually spread...

[sunkenmetal]

It doesn't take much moss to start with just a really thin layer and some fishing line. Once it grows in it looks nice.

My hands shake to much so I have to use rubber bands.

[Totenkampf]

You get a much nicer spread and when planted clumped straight out the pot you might get some die off towards the center due to lack of light.

yeah i will probably go back this weekend and top the clumps and divide them up a bit. these were the 25$ special from bobs tropicals and werent potted, just little plugs all tossed together every which way. i had a heck of a time getting the roots separated from the leaves as it was. i think i would have gotten more grass from a couple pots for less cash. thats two baseballs of willow moss too. overall i wasnt really impressed with the quantity or size of the plants except for the crypt x willissii 'lucens'. i might try GLA next time if they ever bother to keep anything in stock. i have aborted three orders with them after trying to fill a cart. i dont think the moss is outright ugly at this point but i can see heipsta's point that i will grow in ugly in time. hopefully i will have time to tie that stuff down this weekend too.

[Totenkampf]

tote you should tie the moss tightly to the branches with sewing thread or very thin fishing line, and let it grow out naturally, dont just wrap the moss to the branches like that, im going to be blunt about it, your tree looks ugly.

your tree should start out looking like this


then let it grow out, eventually the way the moss grows, it will look like a tree, the way you have the moss right now, itll never look like a tree, it will look like algae tangled in wood branches.

this stump you see in the picture with moss tightly tied to it


eventually turned out like this, which i think looks exactly like the bonsai tree look you are going for.


for that tree i used flame moss at the top, and java moss on the branches

good point, i dont like the tight wrapped look at all but i can see how the end result will look far superior...so thats back on the to do list

[nightster]

I think trying to find the right piece of wood would be difficult...

[LooksLater]

Yeah thanks for the tip, HeipSTA, I'll keep that in mind if I ever get around to mine!

[Totenkampf]

I think trying to find the right piece of wood would be difficult...

i found that manzanita at pet city after EK posted a pic. it looked really cool but i had to cut it down. it was being sold as a bird perch.