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Moss, Ferns & Cryptogams

saving moss spores?

14 years ago

Hi everyone,

Not sure if this is a weird question, but is there any way to preserve moss (or moss spores) for future use?

From what I've read, the best way to obtain moss is usually to simply gather it from the wild; it seems difficult to actually purchase, right? I was thinking of trying to collect some moss on an upcoming vacation, but was wondering if there's a way to transport it and keep it viable for when I get home. I think it would be better not to try to travel with live moss. Is there any way to dry it and reanimate it later, so to speak?

Hopefully I'm explaining this properly!

Thanks in advance for any advice...

Comments (2)

cinnamonshops
Original Author
14 years ago
PS -- For clarification, I'm interested in growing moss in small-scale terrariums. So I'm not expecting to grow a huge lawn with little crumbles of collected moss.
lycopus
14 years ago
Depends on the species. Many mosses can be allowed to dry up and will revive later when water is given. Mosses with thin leaves are more likely to do this than ones with relatively large, broad leaves.

Spores would work as well. Spread the spores lightly over the soil, keep moist and eventually you should get some algae-like threads called protonema over the surface of the soil, and from these eventually little shoots.
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