# Collected Moss - Spray to prevent disease and insects?
**URL:** https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/collected-moss-spray-to-prevent-disease-and-insects/10576
**Category:** Horticulture
**Created:** [April 30, 2023, 12:24pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/collected-moss-spray-to-prevent-disease-and-insects/10576 "2023-04-30T12:24:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Richard\_D](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Richard_D)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2023, 12:24pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/collected-moss-spray-to-prevent-disease-and-insects/10576/1 "2023-04-30T12:24:50Z")
Watched this wonderful, calming video on youtube showing collected moss being placed on a young maple. [春のミニ盆栽たち、モミジ、桜、ボケのミニ盆栽 4月の成長記録【Bonsai diary 盆栽日記 4/30】初心者の簡単盆栽の作り方 やり方 もみじ ミニ盆栽 苔 maple EOS R5 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxAP7IQj3dE)
The bonsai artist sprays both the tree and moss to prevent disease and insects. Can anyone recommend a spray to use in this regard? I’ve always wondered about contamination when using collected moss. Have typically cleaned it in water prior to use but never did anything more.
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### Author:  [@MartyWeiser](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/MartyWeiser)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2023, 2:10am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/collected-moss-spray-to-prevent-disease-and-insects/10576/2 "2023-05-01T02:10:58Z")
I do not spray my collected moss before I grate it and combine with grated sphagnum for top dressing.
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### Author:  [@antelion](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/antelion)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2023, 10:43am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/collected-moss-spray-to-prevent-disease-and-insects/10576/3 "2023-05-04T10:43:31Z")
Why would you want to apply any broad spectrum spray (against insects and disease??) to a healthy tree? I guess it depends on your approach with pest and disease management. But the Japanese tend to be chemical heavy.
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### Author:  [@Richard\_D](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Richard_D)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2023, 11:42am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/collected-moss-spray-to-prevent-disease-and-insects/10576/4 "2023-05-04T11:42:37Z")
As you might tell from my original post, I prefer not to and have not to date. I do not spray trees “routinely”…only if/when absolutely necessary (due to fungus or insects). And even then I tend to use insecticidal soap or a mild fungicide.
The video linked to above made me question if the collected moss I tend to use could be contaminating my trees. Trying to gauge if introducing a pathogen or insects is a real concern or an unlikely scenario.
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### Author:  [@antelion](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/antelion)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/collected-moss-spray-to-prevent-disease-and-insects/10576/5 "2023-05-04T12:16:50Z")
I have a hard time seeing the contamination topic. There is no thing such as a sterile garden environment. As long as you collect healthy moss which does not sit next to infected trees there should not be an issue. A healthy strong tree is the best approach.
Treatment makes sense for me if it is against a known and present issue. Drenching the root system just because can only have a negative impact on the rhizosphere and the symbiotic relations we sek to develop and foster there (see healthy tree remark above)
as always “imo”