Hi Gonz and Lisa, Thanks for the interesting links. Now I know where the name came from. Also another very interesting pice of information from Gonz's article: Why Moss is Desirable for Stuffing: No known insect will attack moss fibre, eat, destroy or live within it. I wonder if the same applies to the living moss, and if so, could it act as a deterrent to insects if it is draped around the top of pots containing broms? For those who don't know of Lantana, it is a real pest in Australia as the description from a recent A.B.C. Gardening Australia fact sheet explains: "Lantana camara might look like a strikingly attractive plant and in some respects the foliage and flowers are quite beautiful. The species is a genus of the verbena family, native to Mexico, the Carribean and Central and South America. But it is now known as a weed of national significance and is regarded as one of Australia's worst weeds. It's invasive, it has potential to spread and it is impacting on the economy and the environment. Lantana was first recorded in Australia in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens in 1841, and a few years later it had spread to gardens up the east coast of the country. By the 1860s it was reported as a weed in both Sydney and in Brisbane. But in spite of its weed status, a few specimens are located in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. Botanica calls lantana the "Jekyll and Hyde of plants" because it's reviled in warmer, wetter parts of world, where it invades pastures and forests and is poisonous to stock, but in cool, temperate parts of the world it forms quite an attractive shrub. Lantana is a problem because it forms a dense thicket. It usually invades disturbed land and river margins, particularly open, sunny areas. Given the right conditions, it spreads quickly. Lantana is a lalopathic, releasing chemicals into the surrounding soil to prevent seed germination, notably of the native flora, so that it eventually takes over native bushland. As with other successful weeds, lantana can spread in different ways. It layers - that is, it produces roots from where the plant touches the ground, and that produces new plants. But more importantly it's propagated by seed. These are ingested by birds and foxes, which spread them through their droppings. This means it can spread over a distance very quickly. But perhaps more importantly, it can produce up to 12,000 seeds from one plant in a year. No wonder it's become a problem weed." I know it's a bit off track but just out of interest for other GW members, I once had an orchid growing mate (about 40 years ago) who had a cousin who owned a farming property in Northern NSW and on his property Spanish Moss didn't grow on the trees, but instead was prolific in amongst the Lantana bushes. Most Australian farmers will quickly eradicate any Lantana on their property but my friend said his cousin preferred to leave it there because he liked the look of the enormous clumps of Spanish Moss hanging from it. It worked for us too, because every time my mate came back from up north, he would bring a large bag full of moss with him which we shared and hung above our orchids, and that is where the Spanish Moss I have in my garden today originally came from. I know it's a useless bit of info., but there it is. All the best, Nev.

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.

Spanish moss is either loved or hated. As a tree expert and my wife, Claudia is certified Arborist, most tree owners do not realize the danger what large amount of moss can do to a tree(s). Little moss is pretty to some and to many is a sign to stop it before it takes over the tree(s). Abundant amounts can smother small or even larger limbs. One pound of Spanish Moss will hold up to two more pounds and maybe more of rain water which then becomes three (3) lbs. Let's say the tree may have 500 lbs of moss and then it rains weight becomes = 1500 lbs. or 1200 lbs of living Spanish moss then it rains = 3600 lbs to a tree during a storm or even hurricane. Now, the University of Florida, back in the 80's, said that Spanish moss should be pulled out of citrus and crepe myrtles before the moss grows too abundant and smother the tree. How about a large limb in a majestic Live Oak? So, how to get rid of moss for those who loves trees being trees? You can spray with copper sulfate, staining problem, but it is a systemic and travels all through the moss. Also, copper in one ingredient in most or all dry fertilizers. Another note for your trees: Remember that most large trees drink up to 75 to 100 gallons of water a day. (These numbers can always be less or more) When you have couple of weeks or more without rain then I recommend that you give the tree(s) 50-100 gallons twice a week for each tree. Several trees (Live Oaks as well) died from a long drought last year and customers thought their sprinklers were doing enough for all plants. Hope this helps and sorry that I may sound that I hate moss but moss is a welfare plant. It can harm the tree, it use the tree and gives nothing good back except to some it looks artistic like it's a Florida tree. I look at a tree full of moss as needing help to lose weight when each tree has enough problems holding its own weight during storms. I love trees and saving them is fun and maybe soon I'll post on how long it takes water to get to the top of a hundred foot tree, live oaks struck by lightning on what to do, and more. I am not advertising but I gave the above information of my wife and I that we are tree experts. I have not listed any last names, websites, phone numbers, etc.

Large oaks that are seen in State Parks and other spots , can decline from Hurricanes , drought , lightning strikes , injuries and stress . A weak tree is susceptible to insect damage , bacteria , viruses and other diseases . This is what causes trees to fail - NOT Spanish Moss . susieq - you are dead wrong in your assumptions . Copper fungicide on a bromeliad ( Spanish Moss ) is applying the wrong product on the wrong plant . From IFAS : " Copper as a fungicide has been used in agriculture since early 1800's. Soluble copper ions are known to bind tightly to sulfhydryl groups, accounting for its biocidal properties. Free copper ions can penetrate through plant cuticles and cause severe phytotoxicity. Water-insoluble (or low soluble) copper salts (""fixed coppers"") are the solution to this problem and has become the major chemical group for bacterial disease control. Some disadvantages of copper materials are phytotoxicity, reduced copper sensitivity among Xcv strains (in some areas), and environmental impact. Copper ions are not degraded in soil and can accumulate to high levels at locations with a history of intensive copper application . "