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The mission of the International Association of Bryologists (IAB), as a society, is to strengthen bryology by encouraging interactions among all persons interested in byophytes.

Monday, August 11, 2008

How to grow mosses?

Subject: Re: How to grow mosses?
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2001 12:20:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: Janice M. Glime <jmglime@mtu.edu>
To: bryonet-l@mtu.edu

BRYONET

Adolf and Bryonetters,
There are many recipes for planting mosses. The best I have found is a
suggestion that came partly from Jon Shaw. Try not to disturb the
rhizoids - bring enough soil to keep them intact. Place the moss on soil
surface that you have loosened and push the moss firmly into the loose
soil. Then attach the moss firmly with several toothpicks angled toward
the center to keep the moss from humping up in the middle as it
dries. The contact with soil is important to reduce drying from beneath.
The cheesecloth method is useful for spreading tiny fragments, holding
them in place, and permitting them to grow over rock surfaces. The
fragments can be cut up in a blender or dry mosses can be crumbled by
hand, then planted over the cloth like grass seed. Once planted, the
cloth must be kept damp. This cloth can even be transplanted - grown in
mass in a convenient place and then draped over rock when it develops
young plants. I have not tried this method so I can't attest to its
reliabililty.
My greatest transplant successes have been with Fissidens. This summer
I have successfully transplanted Leucobryum glaucum, Brachythecium
(probably salebrosum or rutabulum), Polytrichum juniperinum, Fissidens,
and Barbula. We have had an ideal year for the mosses - lots of evening
and night time rain and sunny days. The mosses are in partial shade.
I have a file of past moss cultivation discussions for anyone who wants
them.
Janice
***********************************
Janice M. Glime, Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI 49931-1295
jmglime@mtu.edu
906-487-2546
FAX 906-487-3167
***********************************

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