An ethical solution if you want to grow moss indoors
I am fascinated by cultural differences in gardening. In Japan there are more than a dozen named cultivars of moss, the basis of an ancient tradition of moss gardens, but in the UK the only thing you can buy in a garden centre with the word “moss” on it is moss killer. It wasn’t always this way. In the 19th century, as part of the obsession with ferneries and terrariums, special “moss gathering” trains were organised from London to the South Downs. Sadly, as most temperate mosses won’t survive the excessive warmth of indoor growing, fresh supplies were constantly needed, leading to a decimation of some natural populations. For those that long to grow moss indoors, there is a solution that is ethical and effective: aquarium shops.
An unusual thing about plants sold for the aquarium trade is the practice seems to exist in a parallel world to the rest of horticulture. This means they have thousands of species that most landlubbing gardeners have no idea even exist, including loads of ornamental moss cultivars. Despite being specifically selected for growing underwater, these adaptable species will be just as happy grown on dry land, as long as humidity levels are kept up – in fact they are commercially grown that way. They make perfect inhabitants for terrariums, living walls, indoor water features and as groundcover over the soil in pots containing bigger plants, such as bonsai.
Continue reading...from Home And Garden | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2ETPxCo
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