How Do You Take Care Of Moss On A Bonsai Tree?

Moss is a great addition to a bonsai, but some people struggle to keep it alive, so I will go though the best ways to care for it.

It is actually very simple and doesn’t really require much effort, but will go through all that below.

How Can You Ensure That Moss Stays Healthy On A Bonsai?

The easiest way to make sure is that moss stays healthy and thrives is to just make sure it gets everything it needs, which isn’t much.

Moss is actually pretty tough and can survive some harsh environments, so it does not take a lot to keep it happy. Really it just needs Light and Water, and so long as you can give it these two things, you shouldn’t have much of a problem.

The great thing is that you will be giving your tree these two things anyway, so really you just need to care for you tree and the moss should automatically get what it needs to stay healthy.

Make Sure The Moss Can Get Light

Moss does need light, but it doesn’t need a lot. You will find a lot of moss growing happily in the shade and so long as your tree is outside and has access to normal light levels, then this should be more than enough to keep it happy.

People often worry that their tree is blocking the light to the moss, which can happen, but I wouldn’t worry about it. You are much more likely going to suffer from giving your moss too much light…which causes it to dry out.

Sometimes you cannot avoid this, especially during the summer when the sun is stronger and you will of course want your tree to be exposed to as much light as possible.

I would rather my tree was at optimum health, rather than my moss. This does usually mean that my moss does look better over winter compared to the summer, but that is okay.  

Make Sure The Moss Gets Water

Water is extremely important for moss, without it, it will dry up and look ugly.

Lucky moss is pretty tough and if it does dry out, you can just water it and it will perk back up again.

Is It Necessary To Water Moss Separately From The Bonsai Tree?

If you are watering your tree correctly, than this should be more than enough water for both your tree and your moss.

This does mean you need to water from above, so make sure you are watering the top of the bonsai pot and letting the water run through the pot. This is the best technique for your tree as it pulls the water through the pot, along with oxygen …however, it’s also best for your moss as it is basically getting water poured directly on to it, which it can absorb and use for its own needs.   

The Environment Plays A Role

I think it is important that to note that a lot the times the health of your moss is dictated by your environment.

I get asked a lot about my moss and how I keep it so healthy, and honestly, it is more because of my environment than my care regime.

Yes, I do exactly what I say above, I make sure the moss gets enough light and water, but really a lot of my success is because of my environment. Moss just loves to grow here. I don’t really need to do anything, it just grows!

This is the same for Japan, the conditions there are very friendly for moss, so it should be no surprise that they have such lush moss on their bonsai.

Most people who contact me with problems are in more arid environments and it does make things a lot harder, for both the bonsai and the moss.    

What Do You Do If The Moss Goes Brown Or Dies?

Sometimes your moss will dry out and it will go brown. This can happen in the summer when the sunlight is strong and the temperature is higher.

If this does happen you can just water the moss (and the tree) and it should perk back up. Moss really is like a sponge, you add the water and it will just suck it all up and plump back up.

Sometimes moss does change colour throughout the year, it can still be quite healthy in the summer, even if does look a little brown, as the season change and the light and temperature changes it will become more green.

Occasionally moss will die and when it does you will notice that no matter how much you water, it just doesn’t perk back up. It also usually starts to peel away from the soil, so if you moss is no longer gripping the soil, I would just pick it off and throw it away.

You can either try and replace it, or just leave the area alone, as normally some new moss will fill the gap that has been left. 

(You can read more about – What Are Some Common Mistakes When Using Moss On A Bonsai?)

How Can You Regulate The Amount Of Moss That Grows On A Bonsai Tree?

Moss can be a slow grower, but it will reach a point where it just seems to explode with growth and be everywhere. If you find this happening you can regulate how much there is by simply removing some.

I often pick clumps off the pot, especially when it is getting too close to the trunk, or even actually growing on the trunk.

I also find that sometimes the moss gets too thick, so plucking a few clumps out allows you to see the soil underneath and then you can tell how your soil is doing and better understand if your tree needs water or not, as sometimes it can be hard to tell when there is too much moss.

Moss can also grow upwards, which can start to look strange. If you find this happening you can just prune the moss down to height with scissors. It can sometimes look a little brown and patchy after this, but it usually sorts itself out after a few weeks.

(You can read more about – How to Moss a Bonsai)

Conclusion

As you can see, caring for moss is not difficult.

You really just need to keep your tree healthy and by default, you will be giving the moss everything it needs …light and water.

Occasionally the moss may not look great, but like all things, nothing can be perfect all the time.

However, so long as you are looking after it, it will stay healthy and be a great addition to your bonsai pot. For the small amount of work it takes to maintain it, moss really is worth it for both the health of the tree and the aesthetics it brings. 

(You can read more about – Frequently Asked Questions About – Moss on Bonsai)