Got Rocks.....

   / Got Rocks..... #32  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Nice job Junkman, hopefully you'll have some really nice quartz veins in that ledge rock when it clears.

I've got a recipe for growing moss if you ever want to speed up the "aging" process on the rock. )</font>

I'd like the recipe for growing moss. I've got this 110' rock retaining wall that needs more moss.
 

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   / Got Rocks..... #33  
Want to grow moss? Add humidity and lots of rain.

Have you thought of flower types that would grow among the rocks and add lots of colour.

Egon
 
   / Got Rocks.....
  • Thread Starter
#34  
Egon....... I am "cultivated challenged". I don't know what flowers when and what is hardy enough to survive without being watered on a regular basis. There is a lot of clay in our soil, so I intend to top dress with loam. I am thinking of planting Black Eye Susan and White Daisey along the top. I am also going to transplant a bunch of Mountain Laurel to the top also, so it will have some green in there. If you or any one else would like to help with suggestions, I would appreciate it greatly. I have twisted wrenches so long, that my thumb is black, not green. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The only thing that I have learned much about is Iris and Day Lillie's. Neither require much care and both flower. I would love to have flowers throughout the entire growing season, but just don't know what to plant.
 
   / Got Rocks..... #35  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'd like the recipe for growing moss. I've got this 110' rock retaining wall that needs more moss.)</font>

I hear spreading yogurt on your wall would do the trick. I don't know which flavors would work best /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif and you'd have to do it when no rain was in the immediate forcast.
 
   / Got Rocks..... #36  
Here it is, told you it was simple...

1. Put a handful of the moss you want to grow into a blender. Just go into the woods and grab a bunch of moss that you like the look of. I don't bother with the garden center stuff, like some suggest.
2. Add 1/2 tsp. sugar and one can of beer (the cheapest brand). You can substitute buttermilk for beer if you want, or try a combination.
3. Blend just long enough to mix the ingredients and break down the moss.
4. Spread the soupy mixture with a spatula or paintbrush over the ground or rocks where you want the moss to grow.

Tips/Hints:

Remove as much dirt from the moss as you can before you start.
Once you've spread the moss mixture, don't over wet it or you will wash the mixture away.
Every now and then spray some dilute beer gently over the area.
Works best in areas that don't receive a lot of direct sunlight, in other words, places where you'd normally find moss.
My best experience was when I used a skunked keg left over from a New Years Eve party. I just wheeled it around and sprayed the rocks... worked great. I'd post pics, but unfortunately it was at my old house. When I get the retaining wall done that I'm currently building, I'll be sure to post updates on the projects board.
Lichens, unfortunately, take a lot longer to grow. So long, in fact, that some are used to date stone walls.

Good luck all, and happy growing. I'll post a list of good rock plants, and shade tolerant plants later, I'm off to teach about snakes now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / Got Rocks..... #37  
It all makes sense but the beer. I would think the alcohol would be a problem. What does the beer do? Unless, in saying "add a can of beer" you meant to the person running the blender!
 
   / Got Rocks..... #38  
Wish I could tell you why it works, but it's not my recipe. Maybe it has something to do with pH, since I believe that alcohol is acidic, and I know I've been told to put lime, a base, down to kill moss. This is just conjecture, however. Besides, there really isn't very much alcohol in beer. From my personal experience, the more stale the beer, the better. Again, don't know why. Had one heck of a moss garden at the old house though. There's actually a moss farm down the road from where I live now, called Sticks and Stone Farm, http://www.sticksandstonesfarm.com/
they might have some helpful info.
 
   / Got Rocks..... #39  
Oh yeah, I highly recommend drinking beer while you do this. One for the moss, one for the chef, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Just drink something better than you give the moss.
 

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