I have not been at this long enough to have moss grow on my pieces yet. From what I've learned here and at other forums is it may depend on your mix, any additives or if you've used a sealer on it.

I've heard that moss can grow just about anywhere without much help but it still needs a place that isnt hostile for it to grow.

I'll be interested also in other responses.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, where moss will grow on the PEOPLE if they move too slowly! It also grows on our roofs, trees, sidewalks, & discarded wood.

The first question: does moss grow there naturally at all? If it doesn't, you're probably going to have a hard time getting it to grow. And if it doesn't grow there naturally, there probably are no moss spores around to land on your hypertufa to START it growing.

First, the hypertufa has to be cured and soaked or left out in heavy rains. Cement is naturally alkaline, & moss won't grow in alkaline conditions, they require ACIDIC conditions.
The easiest way to leach the alkality out is to soak the piece for several weeks, changing the water twice a week or so. Toss a handful of baking soda or some vinegar into the water.

You don't say what methods you've tried to grow the moss. Basically, you need some moss and a carrier (buttermilk, yogurt). If the moss is dry, rub it between your hands and turn it into a kind of powder, then mix it into the carrier. Smear or paint it onto the surface of the hypertufa. Let it set in a damp, always-shady place & spray it lightly & frequently to keep it damp.

Good luck!

Sue

Peat does add acid to the Tufa but not all Peats are created equally. Some are far more acid than others.
Pine needles crushed and used in your tufa will help as well.
BUT the main #1 reason most pots won't grow moss is because they are left in the RAIN, or under a sprinkler.
This washes the baby mosses off before they can get a good grip and they are slow grippers.:)
So if you want moss keep you tufa damp, cool, but out of sprinklers and rain. If you hose em, you can't grow moss on em.:)

Hi Ivan
Here is a picture that I've posted before. I live in the Pacific west coast British Columbia so like belgian pup says moss will GROW!!!
I used a beer and chopped moss mixture to get it started growing. I kept it dry like David said for a bit.

{{gwi:65882}}

Here's a mossy tree with a peacock.
It's not hypertufa but I really like how mossy trees look. I want to make some hypertufa trees or something treelike for my garden.

{{gwi:67128}}
Debbie

I can grow moss on anything. Doesn't have to be acid, that's an urban myth. The damp humid situations that moss prefers tend to be acidic situations, but moss will grow on concrete or even on straight limestone.

Here's moss on a concrete footing:
{{gwi:67129}}

Simple fact is ...........
if part of your yard normally grows moss then this is the area to keep your tufa moss wanna be.

If you do not have a spot that supports normal moss growth then IMO you are fighting a losing battle.

I brought a handful of moss home from the park and pressed it into the soil of my shade garden and forgot about it.
2 years later it is popping up in every damp nook and cranny. Love it !

Best of luck to ya ;-)

Thanks for all the replies to my plea. First of all people who grow moss in the Pacific Northwest, you make me sick. You lucky dogs. I'm sure it would grow overnight there.
Believe me , I have tried everything, beer, yogart, buttermilk, praying. I know about acid and akaline conditions.
I have moss growing in the shady part of my sothern Indiana yard, so I know it grows here.
The comment I think might be my problem is the rain on my troughs. I just thought it was good for them , but maybe the moss is gettine washed away.
You have given me the confidence to try yet another time.

lvannote,

cure/leach your tufa, cause fresh tufa and crete can be caustic.

Find some moss growing in an environment similar to the location for your tufa. Glue your moss to your tufa then regularly mist your tufa twice a day for about a month with rainwater or distilled. Make sure that moss gets no direct sun and plenty of shade for that month. Use 1/4 strength miracid fert or similar acidic fertilizer for acid loving plants every two to three weeks in Spring and Fall. Go to this website:

http://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/

and download the Moss Grower's Handbook by Michael Fletcher. Page 18 tells of gluing moss to substrate, in your case your tufa.

Southern Indiana, particularly sandstone areas that are shaded and frequently damp and have high humidity should have about 100 - 200 different species of moss. Look in shaded damp ravines. I have seen brachythecium growing on smooth brick. You could just pick the moss up off the brick. Only gravity and a sheltered location kept the moss in place.

Generally moss needs a way to attach to a surface. In time it can atach to a rough surface, but almost never to a smooth surface. Moss found on rocks will do well on tufa. Moss found on logs or soil may not. Moss transplants best from similar surface to similar surface.

Rick

Just a note: the alkaline/acid thing is NOT a myth. Fresh concrete is alkaline and will NOT grow moss, and if you put acid-loving plants (like an azalea or rhody) in a fresh tufa pot, even planted with acid soil, the alkali is going to leach to the roots and kill it.

The difference is that older concrete has been changed by time and weather, and has become neutral, thus allowing acid-loving plants to live on, in, or nearby.

Here in the PNW, many people have had their houses built with concrete foundations, and planted rhodies along the foundation. The alkali leaches out and kills the plants.

BTW, Ivannote, if you want to come here and scrape all the moss off my walkways, roofs and stepping stones, you are very welcome! It's another case of too much of a good thing. :-)

Sue

Sue, I don't think anyone is denying that concrete is alkaline. If they are, I will happily confirm that concrete leaches out sodium hydroxide, otherwise known as lime, and it is highly alkaline.

I just disagree that moss only grows in acid conditions. Moss grows anywhere that it can stay moist. Moss is not a rhododendron, it is not harmed by alkaline conditions. Not all species anyway. It will grow on limestone, it will grow in concrete, it will grow on a pane of glass is you keep it moist.

Moss on brick:
{{gwi:67130}}

Moss on limestone rock:
{{gwi:67131}}

'download the Moss Grower's Handbook by Michael Fletcher'.

I've been trying to download this pdf file, without success. Please could you give me a site where I would have success in doing so? I'm in Fort Lauderdale, semi-tropical climate. I know some moss DOES grow here and sould love to see it groing in my shady spots!
Thanks.

this page,

http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Resources/Downloads.htm

right click on the link below, and choose 'save'

hth

Here is a link that might be useful: fletcher moss handbook

Thanks Straw_dog. Success!

I have tropical seeds for exchange if you are willing to part with some of your moss! I just KNOW that at some point I'll be successful in getting these stubborn beauties to settle in my heat! (zone 10).

All these seeds are from my garden:

Aristolochia Ringens. Pipevine. Polydamus butterfly larvae food.
Bellamcamdia Chinensis. Blackberry lily. Orange flower
Brunfelsia Americana. Glorious clove-like fragrance at night
Brunfelsia Nitida. Queen of the night. Clove like fragrance at night.
Cananga Odorata. Older seeds. Chanel # 5 is made from these flowers. Large tree.
Cassia alata. Yellow. Sulphur butterfly larvae food.
Cassia ? itÂs a small one. Sulphur butterfly larvae food
Cestrum Diurnum. Fragrance of milk chocolate. Butterfly nectar food.
Clitorea ternate vine. Brilliant blue flowers. Seeds abundantly
Nasturtiums. Climbing. Mixed: red, orange & peach. .
Passiflora Foetida. Various butterflies use this as larvae food.
Jatropha Multifida. Luminescent red. Butterfly nectar food.
Telosma Cordata vine. Seeds from last year. Fragrant
Tomatoes. Native Florida Everglade tÂs. about 1" in size.