Mulching containers with Spanish moss?

18 years ago

Years ago I had a job with a plant rental company, maintaining interior plants and 'plantscapes'. We used Spanish moss (the gray moss that hangs out of trees in warm, humid climates; a tillandsia if I am not mistaken?) to sort of mulch the containerized plants, primarily so the soil would not be visible. It did not seem to break down much, just sort of get icky colored from watering and would eventually have to be replaced.

I was curious of anyone has ever used it as a mulch for containerized plants outdoors in very hot climates? I would like to find a cheap or free source of mulch for my potted roses, fruits, perennials, herbs, etc., to help reduce the amount of heat the soil absorbs. Where I am, it is already in the upper 90's and sun blazing every day. I would like to find ways to reduce the amount of heat the pots and soil absorb (probably going to paint the containers with some kind of light colored plastic paint like that Krylon stuff that bonds to plastic and vinyl). I have access to all the spanish moss I could ever want. All I will need is a rake to pull it down out of the trees with and trash bags to put it in. It seems that it would be cooler than bark mulch because of the color.

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Comments (5)

anitamo
18 years ago
I've only tried it once on a conifer I have in a container. It's still there, although I think it has broken down some. It seems to last a long time. It's expensive, so I only did the one pot. I bought a small bag for almost 5.00, I think it was, and it was just enough to do that one pot. That would be amazing to have it grow in the trees for all the free mulch I'd want. I never knew where this stuff came from, so thanks for the botony lesson.
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zeina
18 years ago
Hi Hennie,
I have used moss (although not the one you are referring to) to mulch all my pots and containers. It sure seems to help reduce water evaporation, keeps soil moist, and has reduced frequency of watering. However, I would be careful of insects and / or larvae that might live in the moss and spread to the soil, I had some problems (although not in all pots) with worms and earwigs that appeared shortly after I mulched. I resolved that with Diazine, although as I said, not all pots got infected. So make sure you inspect the soil regularly... Cheers!
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Sorry about not being able to answer your questions Tennesseestorm. This is the first time I've been logged into this site in over 6 months! Now to your questions. I saw on another Spanish Moss forum that it is cold hardy to 5 degrees. It has survived here to temps. as low as 8 degrees thats all the colder it's been here in the last 2 years which is the legnth of time I've been growing spanish moss here. When single digits or an ice storm warning are predicted it comes into the garage or an unheated room just long enough for the nastyness to pass then its back outside. Also I have not misted my moss in about a year(except for the drought last summer) and it is still doing great. in regards to your moss that died the moss needs to have as close to the original light conditions as possible or it could be burned up if it was originally in the shade and is moved to a sunny exposure. I had the same thing happen to me and it was all taken from part shade and moved to afternoon sun. Due to this error I lost half of my new moss chunks. I need a clarification. Did you say it was dead even before you took it out of the box? If so how long was it in there? If I missed any questions or you have anymore feel free to ask. Started a new area of plant emphasis, hardy cacti and succulents. I am also growin a Balsam fir, American larch, and Dawn Redwood. So far as I know I am the only person in this part of TN (middle TN) grow the first 2 trees listed. Also have other plant stuff to talk about if interested.
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Abstract from John O. Whitaker and Carol Ruckdeschel "Spanish Moss, the Unfinished Chigger Story," Southeastern Naturalist 9(1), 85-94, (1 March 2010). There is a widespread belief in the southern parts of the United States that Trombiculidae (Chiggers) are common in Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish Moss) (Bromeliaceae). However, no chiggers were found among the 3297 organisms collected from T. usneoides and T. recurvata (Ball Moss) in trees and from the ground on Cumberland Island, GA. The organisms included 1721 Acari (mites), and in order of decreasing abundance were Psocoptera (barklice), Collembola (springtails), Araneae (spiders), Coccidae (scales), Thysanoptera (thrips), Formicidae (ants), Isopoda (sowbugs), Diplopoda (millipedes), Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera larvae. The millipede Polyxenus fascicularis (Polyxenidae) and the ensign scale insect Orthezia tillandsia (Ortheziidae) were of particular interest because of their rarity and host specificity, respectively.
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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Spanish Moss and Ball Moss1 Nancy P. Arny2 Many animals use Spanish moss for protection, taking cover in thick masses of pendent strands. Many insects and other invertebrates hide in moss masses, making it an unlikely choice for bedding by campers. The prevalence of "red bugs" or chiggers in the plant is legendary. Spiders, thrips, and dozens of other insects hide in the moss as well. This abundance of invertebrates may or may not be the reason that at least two species of bats also use festoons of Spanish moss for cover. Both red bats and pipistrelles use masses of Spanish moss as day-time resting sites. (copied and pasted from the University of Florida Website) Chiggers along with all their creepy little friends thrive in Spanish moss. Anyone who lives around it knows not to handle it with bare hands or arms. Be careful if you don't want to get eaten up!! Does anyone know how to kill the bugs in Spanish moss so you can bring it inside to decorate with?
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Westview
18 years ago
For Heaven's Sake BE CAREFUL with Spanish moss. I grew up with the stuff in Florida. If you get it off the trees it will probably be full of chiggers!!!!! itchy, itchy, itchy. If you use it--just use the sterilized kind, don't be tempted to bring a bunch back from your vacation in Florida!!! By the way, if anyone needs a really good water retaining mulch (especially if the pot is too full and regular mulch keeps washing out) use your old liners from hanging baskets. They probably ought to be put in boiling water first to kill any "uggies" in 'em but boy does this material hold the water in--I find it very useful.
Betsy
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aktnyc
18 years ago
What about microwaving it?
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socks
18 years ago
Or maybe freeze it.
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Mulching containers with Spanish moss?

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anitamo

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