Nice article. I've tried numerous times to grow moss on a set of cinder lock stairs I built - trying to replicate the moss staircase at THBG. I bought the Moss Milkshake, I've tried the moss and buttermilk in a blender, I've tried putting pieces of moss on the steps. All to no avail. In the meantime, I cannot stop moss from growing on a corner of my patio. Maybe I should just relocate the steps?

Moss like/require acid conditions, the concrete blocks may be too alkaline for them.

Claire

Some mosses require acidic conditions. Some don't. Saying all mosses require acidic conditions is like saying all plants require acidic conditions.

My bad. I just found this site:
The truth about moss - dispelling moss myths

"Moss prefers acidic or nutrient poor soils. True or False?

False -Most mosses are not particular about the pH or nutrients of the substrates on which they grow."

Claire

I had to google the moss steps at Tower Hill, since I've never seen them, and this is what I read:

The Moss Steps are made of the sedimentary rock Castalia stone, "harvested" from farm fields that were once part of Lake Erie in Sandusky County, Ohio. A moisture-retaining calcareous (limestone -based) stone, it is the perfect substrate for mosses.

So maybe the problem with growing moss on concrete block steps has more to do with that material not holding water, or not being porous enough to allow the 'rootlets' (I don't suppose that's the right term) to anchor the moss?

Anyway, those THBG steps are nice!

Hi dtd, "So maybe the problem with growing moss on concrete block steps has more to do with that material not holding water, or not being porous enough to allow the 'rootlets' (I don't suppose that's the right term) to anchor the moss? " Boy, not in my yard. Little green plants grow everywhere and have for the 39 years I've been here. Photo below shows moss, Lord only knows what variety, growing on concrete pavers that face west and north. The paver walkway in front of our house faces directly west and moss has filled in between every paver. So my moss seems to love concrete and full sun.

Disagree with relocating moss though. If a patch is dislodged by my foot or some other insulting implement, I replace it, as one does a divot on the golf course. Interesting NYT article.

Jane
Picture was taken last sunset, so light isn't super, but it's moss on concrete.

Here is a link that might be useful: Oldmosswoman blog

This post was edited by corunum on Thu, Apr 10, 14 at 10:27