How To Collect & Prepare Moss For Terrariums, by Terrarium Designs on YouTube. 1 min 32 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 32 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Choose a damp, shaded spot such as the north side of a wall, a log or bare soil under trees. Look for bright green moss that lifts away cleanly.
Take only a few small patches from a large mat and leave the rest to regrow. Never strip a whole area, and ask the landowner first.
Slide a flat knife or spatula under the edge and lift the moss in one piece. Keep the thin layer of soil attached to the base.
Put the pieces in a container and keep it out of direct sun. Shake off loose soil and pick out twigs, leaves and grit.
Rinse the moss in a bowl of room temperature water. Swirl it gently rather than rubbing, which tears the fine tips.
Soak the moss for about five minutes so any insects and dust float away. Lift it out and squeeze it lightly, not bone dry.
Lay the pieces flat on a paper towel and press them gently so they stay even. Trim off brown or crushed edges with scissors.
Store the moss in a lidded box or bag with a light mist of water if you are not planting straight away. Keep it cool and out of sunlight.
Press the moss onto your terrarium substrate so the base touches the soil. Mist it well and keep the glass out of direct sun for the first week.
Tips and common mistakes
Moss from lawns and paving is usually the wrong type, so collect from shade where it already grows thick.
Skip moss growing on protected land, nature reserves or private property without permission.
Wild moss can carry tiny insects, so the rinse and soak step is worth doing every time.
Store moss for no more than a week or two, and mist it if it starts to feel crisp.
Questions
Can I use moss from my own garden in a terrarium?
Yes, as long as it is a shade-loving type and you clean off the soil and debris first. Rinse and soak it before planting.
How much moss should I take?
Only what your terrarium needs, usually a couple of palm-sized patches. Leaving most of the patch behind lets it regrow.
Will wild moss bring bugs into my terrarium?
It can carry small insects, springtails and slug eggs. Soaking it in water for a few minutes removes most of them.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
